Loose Lips

(17) - Bad Mood

Chapter Seventeen

Wood sat in his office as he watched Hondo fix into the car, watching him laugh. He already had to force the young man to even come into the shop and get to working onto the car since he had a lot of money riding on a special private race at the end of the week to settle a debt giving him some breathing air to fully maneuver and maybe give him the chance to see Zela... if it was possible.

"Can't believe you kept this shit open," Marshall caught his attention as he walked in the office taking a seat on the couch as he looked around sporting his swollen eye. He didn't mean to pop Marshall that hard, but he needed the reality check from someone.

"Because it's my primary source of business." He answered as he blindly searched through papers, signing a few along with stacks of cash as he placed it into the manila folder, licking it closed.

Marshall looked around seeing the same environment from when it was just an empty building and dream to Wood. He knew how badly Wood wanted to open up a shop strictly made for racing, which started off great but ended up with Wood making deals way deeper. Although it landed his best friend in jail and him separated from his daughters, he was trying to make some positive changes.

"Are you still moving through here?" Marshall asked looking out of his office into the garage watching the familiar face walk around the blacked out Challenger.

"It's how I survive." Wood sighed as he caught Marshall eye down Hondo as he looked under his hood laughing, catching Marshall.

"You know my workers?" Wood asked as he glanced up, watching Marshall study Hondo like a hawk.

"Looks like a familiar face." He answered slowly.

He knew that Hondo was with Zela, but he wanted to confirm if Wood knew himself.

"Your fiance introduced me a while back, like a year ago. Said he had bigger responsibilities to take. Aside from his personal life, he's moved weight for me and attempts to race, but he's been occupied lately with some girl." He explained as Hondo glanced over at Wood, who nodded over at him.

Since the day he met Hondo, he knew the young man held the right qualifications to be someone great whether it was legally or illegally, but he always held it back for some reason. Hondo reminded Wood of himself so much, he made it his business to push Hondo to be at his highest potential.

Marshall laughed to himself as he leaned back on the couch, cheesing at Wood.

"What?" he asked as he looked at his best friend as he shook his head raising from the couch and walking out to the garage making Wood follow.

"Okay so what do you want to eat?" Hondo groaned as he fixed his phone against the tool box as she watched her lips pursed together as she tapped her cheek with her index finger.

"Hmm what options I got?" She asked as he shook his head and wiped his hands against the already dirty rag attached to his hip and picked up his phone as he turned face to face with Marshall and Wood as he shoved a rambling Zela into his pocket.

"How can you protect someone being in a garage?" Marshall spoke as he smirked making Wood glance over at him puzzled.

"Marshall?" Zela's muffled voice as Wood's brow twitched looking down at his pocket watching him reach in and take out his phone and aiming the camera towards Marshall instantly making him smile.

"Hey baby girl," He answered as he glanced over at Wood who now started daggers into Hondo like a close enemy.

He honestly couldn't believe how tied everyone he knew, knew his baby and as much as he wanted to be there, he had to keep his distance. As long as the private race went smoothly he would have his time.