“Trouble”

Adam had been on the job filling in down at the garage now for the past week and he was slowly becoming more acquainted with the way Colin and Arthur ran things there. Once he’d realized that in order to get along with Arthur he’d have to let the lad think he was in charge, things began running much more smoothly for him.

The first few days, however, had been hell. Arthur was constantly nit-picking everything Adam did, right down to the way he wore his hair.

“A bit on the... longish-side, don’t you think?” Arthur had told him in passing one day, as he stood breathing down his neck while Adam was up to his arm-pits in grease.

Adam had given him a look that let him know the lad had gone too far this time, and so Arthur quickly retreated to the safety of the office, leaving Adam to his work.

Now that the two had an understanding of sorts, Arthur mostly left Adam alone, which suited him just fine. Today, however, was pay-day, and earlier Arthur had given Adam his first paycheck, which he’d already taken down to the local bank and gotten cashed during his lunch break. Not a load of cash, but at least he’d be able to pay on a few debts he owed and have a little to put aside for a house, too.

Adam reached for the knob on the garage’s built-in sound-system and turned the music up louder, then slid underneath the SUV he’d been changing the break pads on. He sang happily along with the music, then suddenly it shut off – to be replaced by a familiar voice.

“Well, well, well, looks like I finally found you’re hidey-hole, Mate,” the rough, gravel voice said, as a hand reached out, grabbing Adam by the ankles and pulling him out from under the car.

“Dob,” Adam said, surprised to see the big man, who stood with his arms folded in front of him and a look of disdain crossed his face.

“Thought you’d get away without paying me what’s due, that it, Laughlin?”

Adam swallowed hard, his hand still firmly gripping the large socket wrench he’d been using under the car. “’Course not, Dob. Just fillin’ in here for a rellie is all. I was... going to call... when I got the chance.”

“You ain’t got no rellies, Mate,” Dob stated flatly. “I should know. I’m the reason you ain’t got no rellies.” He glared menacingly at the younger man, his fists clenched. “Now, you wanna tell me the truth as to what you been up to, Mate, or am I gonna have to get my new suit here dirty?”

“I... um... got married... couple weeks back. This is my new brother-in-law’s place. Like I said, I’m just filling in here for him for a bit.” Adam’s mind was reeling, he glanced over the big man’s shoulder, trying to see what Arthur was doing inside the office and hoping the young lad might decide to poke his nose out here.

“You got...married? Well ha! Ha! Ha!” Dob laughed heartily. “Just cause you went and took up with some sheila don’t mean you can run off and forget about our little agreement, right Mate?”

“Umm... no, no. Of course I haven’t forgotten, Dob,” Adam replied, nervously. “I’m just getting settled here, don’t even have my own place yet.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that, Mate,” Dob sneered, “This here place looks like the perfect set-up for a side-gig, if you get my drift.”

“Yeah, yeah I do,” Adam said, softly. “When do you want me to... start?”

“Soon as I contact you. Be expecting my call. And Laughlin...”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t fuck this up or I’ll fuck you and your new family up.” The big man smiled wickedly, then turned and walked out of the garage bay.

Adam let out the deep breath he’d been holding in and swore, the wrench making a loud clinking sound on the garage floor as he let it slip from his grip.