Mercenary and the Beauty
Groaning at the piles of paper that was now burying her. "Jesus, why on earth did he let it get this bad?" Amelia wondered out loud. Lifting her eyes, she looked around the small office realizing that this was going to take a couple of weeks to complete. Standing up, Amelia walked through the tattoo shop looking for him, she was going to yell at him, or perhaps maybe kill him.
Walking into the garage, she found him working on his bike, clearing her throat to get his attention, smirking when he looked up, "Tool, you and I need a come to Jesus."
Putting down the wrench, his eyes found the little blonde leaning against the doorway, "Oh, about what Pixie?"
Rolling her eyes at his name for her, "Your office is a mess," walking down deeper into the garage, giving him a smile, "Amelia, come to my shop, I need some paperwork filed, it'd be a day's work." She said trying her best to imitate his voice. Poking his shoulder, "Lies!"
Tool laughed hard, "OK, I may have exaggerated, a bit." Wrapping his arms around her, "But, I can only trust you to fix it." Putting his hat on her, "Please Pixie?"
Rubbing her face, "I'll come by as often as I can, but I swear to all that is holy, don't you ruin all my hard work." Giving him a look, "Oh, you're getting me food, I'm starving." Turning on her heel, she could hear him laughing as she walked back to the office. Placing his hat on the bench as she left the garage.
Tool watched her go, she was probably one of his dearest friends, outside the boys, she was the only he really trusted. No one would ever expect them to be friends, but by things happen for a reason.
FLASHBACK -5 MONTHS AGO
He found himself sitting outside his shop, the guys were out on a mission, and sitting inside alone was not something his head needed, it got too dark in there for him some nights. Blowing out the smoke from his pipe, he made the motion to stand, but the sound of a car pulling around the corner caught his attention. Instinctively he reached for the gun that he kept in his back, his eyes never leaving the car, but he did a quick sweep to look for potential threats.
Looking at the dials on her dashboard, she could see that her vehicle was about to die, Amelia didn't even look around, she just got out and popped the hood, gently putting it up, she used her phone as a flashlight, trying to see if it was something obvious. Frowning, when it wasn't glaring her in the face. "Damn it."
Tool could see that she had no idea that she was near someone, a part of him was about to turn around and head back inside, but as he looked her over, she was a tiny thing, and oblivious to the potential danger that this part of L.A had to offer someone like her. "Need any help?" he called out. Chuckling as she jumped at his voice.
Turning to the noise, she looked up to find an older man standing outside a tattoo shop, instantly kicking herself for not paying attention. She really needed to work on that. Letting out a sigh, while her observational skills needed work, her instincts on people never failed her, she could see that he wasn't a man you'd want to fuck with, but she was 98% sure that he wouldn't hurt her. Figuring it was that or wait for a tow, only God would know how long that would take. "Yea. Seems like my car is on the way out, I can't see anything obvious."
Making his way towards her, by the time he was up on her, she was barely up to his chest, "Shine the light here." He said pointing.
Doing what he said, she watched him grab some tubes and moving them around. Keeping quiet, she figured he'd tell her to call a shop to fix something.
Seeing that it was one of the hoses that lead to the engine, "I can fix this in my shop, keys." Holding out his hands.
Blinking at him, "Um, in the ignition." She said to him. Amelia watched him punch a code into the garage door and it slide open.
"Head inside." He instructed. Jumping into her mustang, he was pleasantly surprised that it was a manual. Interesting. Bringing it to life, he could see that she was right, the dials were indicating that there was a problem, at least she noticed it before she blew her engine.
She found a bench, and sat as he pulled her baby in. Looking around, she could see that he worked on a lot of cars, bikes, and further on the table she could see that he had, very very big guns. "Oh. My." She muttered, shaking her head, she wasn't going to ask, it certainly wasn't her business. Instead, she focused on him working on her baby, that was her business.
As his he took off the hoses, he looked over to see that her eyes found some of the weapons, smiling at her eyes, she was shocked, but turned away, not wanting to bring attention to that. Interesting. Most people would ask questions or appear scared, he could see she wanted to ask, but found her focusing on what was in front of her. "I'm Tool, and you are?" he asked her.
Blinking at him, "Amelia." Another quick look around, "So, a tattoo shop and a mechanic shop. Interesting combo." She remarked.
Smirking, "Yea. I like working with my hands, and I love tats, and machines." Turning towards his inventory of car supplies. "Not going to ask about the guns?" he questioned, figured make her as uncomfortable so that she would give an honest answer.
Clearing her throat, "Not my business." Of course, she wanted to know if she was in the den of some crazy arms dealer, or assassin, but it really didn't matter, once he fixed the car, there is a 99% chance would never come back here.
Tool nodded, "I like you." Getting back to work, "So, what brings a tiny thing like you out here?"
Sighing, "I got turned around, and before I could pull up my maps, Bruce started acting funny. So, yeah." Frowning, she pulled out her phone, punching in her address to see how far off course she really was. Smiling, only 15 minutes away. Sweet.
"Where you from?" he asked.
"I just moved here from Denver. I probably should have memorized a map before I started just driving." Picking at her nails. "Thank you for this."
It didn't take him too long to fix it, but as they got to talking, it was obvious that she was smart, and kind. Something that he felt he needed in his life. Hours passed before she realized that it was almost 3 am.
"Fuck, I got to get going home," Yawning. "I have work in the morning."
He could see that she was barely keeping her eyes open, "I have a spare room, you look like you're about to pass out." Holding his hands up, "I'll be a perfect gentleman." Smiling at her.
While it should have scared her, something told her he was not going to hurt her. Standing up, she grabbed her bag that she kept in the car in case of emergencies, "Deal." With that she followed him to his apartment, smiling at all the designs that were all over the room.
As he watched her close the door to the bedroom, he knew that she was going to be important to him. Perhaps she was the light that he needed in his life.
END FLASHBACK
Laughing at the memory, she has been a staple in his life often, she was his little secret, not that he was worried about his brothers, but they spent so much time together that it wasn't so strange that they had their own things without the others knowledge.
Heading inside, he found her on her knees sorting paperwork, "I'm gonna shower, I'll order some food." He said at the doorway to the office.
Looking up, "You're the best." Frowning, "Minus this mess you made." She said, indicating to all the papers on the floor.
Laughing, he made his way up to his apartment. Not realizing the guys were on their way back early.
Toll Road was tired, while his body was sore, it was his mind that seemed to be exhausted. He loved his job, and wouldn't give it up for anything, but he suspected that he was just lonely. There wasn't shortage of woman out there that loved to fuck a bad boy, none of them were worth more than a night, nothing to latch onto.
His eyes found Lee, he was feeling the effects of this life, his little girlfriend figured that he was gone so much that she'd just shack up with another dude. Ends up getting with a guy that slaps her around, stupid. Why was it hard to find someone that could get this life? Perhaps that was his problem, he never told Lacey anything, made up so bullshit story. But how do you explain this job to a rational human?
Piling into the shop, the guys started putting their gear back, Barney took out the cache of weapons, started to put them in the lockers, but it was a gasp that caused all 6 men to look up.
Amelia was so focused on work that she didn't hear the garage door open, or the bikes come in. Standing up, she looked at the small headway she made, smiling at her progress. Figuring that she would go get a soda from the fridge in the shop, but as she walked into the garage, she found 6 giant men staring back at her. Instantly nervous, especially with the fucking giant guns that were now scattered around the room. Not even bothering to say a word, she just shrugged her shoulders and went to the fridge to grab her coke.
Toll watched ever move she made, her sundress flowed around her body like a second skin, her hazel eyes looked at each one of them, but when she locked her eyes with him for that brief second his heart sped up.
Barney looked around at the guys then back to her, as she made her way back to the shop, "And who are you?" he asked.
Turning towards the voice, "An indentured servant. You?" she asked. As far as she knew, they could be here to hurt her friend, and Tool never mentioned anyone else that comes to the shop. So, until Tool told her they were cool, she wasn't going to give them more than basic information.
Smirking at her, "You're a smartass. What's your name?" he asked. He could see the amusement on the guys faces.
"I've been called worse. And my mama told me not to talk to strange men, so, alas, no names for you." Turning to head back in, she found Tool coming down, "Tool, there are giant men in your garage. With really big guns." With that she headed back to the office shutting the door.
Slapping his face, "Shit." Walking out to find the guys staring at the doorway that she just left. "Back early I see." He motioned to all their gear.
Barney nodded, "Who was that tiny smartass?" he asked his friend. Looking past him trying to see where she was at.
"That is Amelia, she's my friend," seeing the look that Barney was giving him, "Not like that you sick fuck, she's a sweetheart." Giving the guys a look, "Don't go messing with her." Knowing now that they've met her, they would want to know her. Rolling his eyes, "Come on." Indicating to head into the shop.
Each one of them filed in the shop sitting around, looking for her.
Opening the door to the office, "Come on Pix, meet the guys." He said to her.
Looking over her shoulder, "So, their friends?" she asked standing up.
"Yeah. I probably should have mentioned them." He teased.
"Really? Cause nothing is more fun than walking into a garage having fucking giants look at you. It was awesome." Stepping out into the shop she found them all staring at her. Rolling her eyes. She looked at Tool.
Hearing what she said, caused them all to laugh a bit. But they waited patiently for Tool to make the introductions.
Pointing to them, "Pix, this is Big Barney Ross, Lee Christmas, Gunner, Yin Yang, Hale Ceasar, and last but not least, Toll Road. Guys this little thing is Amelia."
Waving at them, "Hi." Looking at the one Tool pointed as Barney, giving him a nod. She felt like she was on display. Especially by Gunner, he was staring very intensely at her. Biting her cheek, she knew that it wasn't the right time to get snappy. So, instead she stepped closer to Tool.
Lee liked her instantly, she was cute, nervous, but she kept it together, "And how do you know our old friend here?"
Looking at him, British, interesting. Her eyes locked on his, smirking, then looking at Tool, "Jesus, Dad, are you ashamed of me?" she deadpanned.
Spitting out his beer, "DAD? What your mouth!" he choked out. Wiping his face, he could see that she was trying so hard not to laugh. "You're hilarious."
The guys laughed at her. Toll Road was surprised that she was so comfortable with Tool. He did want to know about how they became friends. Looking around the room, they all did.
Shrugging, "I try." Turning back to the Brit, "I got lost, and my car broke down right outside the shop," pointing to Tool, "He fixed my car, and well, somehow, I decided to be his friend. If I would have known you actually had any, I may have reconsidered." She teased him.
Wrapping his arm around her, "That's it no food for you."
Giving him puppy eyes, "No. Pizza is life." Sitting down on the chair, she looked over the men, "OK, so ask questions, because I have work to get to in there." She said pointing to the office.
Caesar instantly loved her. Sassy. "Why are you working in the office?" he asked.
"Because he asked me to clean it up and file his paperwork. I agreed because I am an amazing friend." Looking over at him.
Gunner stared at her, there was more to her than what she was letting on, he'd figure it out, "Why haven't you come around before now?" he asked. His voice was gruff.
Finding his eyes, "I am here a lot." Using her head, "It's you, that haven't been around when I was here." Looking at Tool.
Toll looked at Tool, "Why's that Tool?" he asked.
Patting her on the head, "Because, we all have secrets that we keep from each other, she just happened to be mine." Looking at her with an apologetic face.
Shrugging, she looked at Toll Road, "But I guess the secrets out." Looking at the guys, she could see that they were all really close.
Barney thought she was OK, she wasn't here to cause drama, he could put up with that. "Aren't you going to ask about the weapons?" he asked her.
Shaking her head, "Nope. Don't care. Not my business." She could see their confusion, "Look I'm sure you're all very good "mechanics" but, unless what your doing effects my life directly, I do not give a shit." Which was the truth. It didn't take a genius to put the pieces together, they were Mercenaries. Standing up, "OK, Q&A is over," Kissing Tool on the cheek, "I'm going to finish up, and head home." With that she walked past Toll Road giving him a small smile as she passed, and headed back to the office, quietly shutting the door. Finding her place on the floor, she put her ear buds in and put some music on, not wanting to know what was going on outside that door.
Toll Road felt his heart speed up as she smiled at him. Fuck. She was gorgeous, kind, funny, and seemed to be at ease around them. She was perfect. But the self-doubt that always plagued his mind, she either had a boyfriend, or if she didn't, she would never consider someone like him. Turning his attention back to guys, he could see that each one of them were forming their own opinions about the young woman that was now in the office.
Hours passed, eventually she got off the floor, wiping the dust off her body. "Gross." Looking at her hands and legs. All covered in dirt. Slowly opening the door, she could see they were all bullshitting about something, heading straight to the bathroom, she washed her hands and face as best she could. Stepping back out, she found them all watching her, "No, that's not creepy at all." She said to the room.
She smiled as they chuckled at her. Looking down at Tool, "I'll be back Friday after work," smiling at guys, but her eyes found Tool, "DO. NOT. TOUCH MY. WORK." She said poking his shoulder. "We clear?"
Standing up, "Yes ma'am." Indicating that he was going to walk her out.
Turning towards the guys, "Pleasure meeting you." With that she let him lead her out the shop.
Opening her car door, "I'm sorry for them being sprung on you like that."
Giving him a hug, "Don't worry about it, I get it, you "mechanics" are a unique bunch. But you trust them?" she asked, wondering how she should proceed.
Squeezing her shoulder, "With my life." Which was the truth.
Nodding. "See you Friday." Jumping in her car, she headed towards her house, her mind filled with their faces, but it seemed to settle on one in particular.
Tool headed inside finding them all watching them, "She's right, that's creepy."
Caesar smiled, "So, is she going to come around more, now that she knows about us?" he asked, hopeful. She looked like she was fun person, not that he didn't love his boys, but he was a goofy type.
Shaking his head, "I guess so." Looking at them, "Seriously, she's a good girl, don't be a bunch of dicks to her."
Barney wanted to know why he cared so much, "She's not your girl, so what's up with it?" he asked.
Looking at the room, "We've all seen some dark shit, for me, she's a little light that I have. She's special." Shrugging his shoulders, "You'll see. If you actually get to know her, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about."
The guys all shared a look, silently agreeing to give the woman a chance.