Fourteen #3
I plate his food and lower myself into a chair next to him as I set it in front of him.
“If I do, it’ll only be until training’s done.
I hear it can be tiresome and take up a lot of time.
” Hopefully not too much to keep me from tending to the new problem I gave myself in the barn.
Fuck, I really didn’t fully think this one through.
I did, but more so using the emotional part of my brain than the rational side.
He really is better here, though. And I can’t lose sight of why either.
“Well, maybe we can bring dinner to you some nights. Stop by on weekends and help with farm shit. You’ll need it.”
My lips turn up a little and I nod. “Sure. And I appreciate it.” Maybe this place is mostly a hell hole, but my friends at least help make it more tolerable.
Them, my mom, and my new hobby. Not because of him, but because of what I’m getting out of it.
Me and whoever else he’s fucked over. And since he’s no longer going to be a problem that I can’t easily control, it’s time I start thinking how to take care of an even bigger one. Hayden.
“It’s never a problem, man. We’re always here for you. You know that.” He looks over at me, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Yeah . . . speaking of which . . . I have a bit of a favor to ask you.”
“Yeah?” He quirks a brow, shoving another bite into his mouth.
“Yeah, and if you can’t, it isn’t a big deal,” I say nonchalantly.
His expression grows more curious. “Wait . . . you aren’t asking me to help you bury a dead body or anything, because if you are . . . please, please let it be Hayden.”
I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “No, it’s not that. It may involve him, but it’s not that.”
“Is it ’cause you need help? If that’s the case, Reese may be more ideal since he’s less squeamish when it comes to blood.”
“No . . . that’s not . . . I’m not going to kill anyone.”
I bite back another laugh when his face falls in disappointment and he starts chewing his food again. “What is it, then?” he asks after swallowing the piece of chicken.
“I need a hundred bed bugs.”
His eyes widen, and he drops his fork. “One hundred what now?”
“Bed bugs,” I add, emphasizing each letter. “I found a guy who sells them, but only to someone working in pest control.” I pause, meeting his gaze. “That’s where you come in.”
His jaw ticks and he picks up the fork again, looking down at his plate. “Yeah, I can do that. When do you need them by?” He shovels more food onto his fork like this is some normal lunch conversation, his expression going back to neutral.
“Whenever you can get them. I’ll give you the money today and the guy’s card. I’ll tell him you can pick them up whenever you’re ready.”
Taking in a breath, he nods. “How about tomorrow? I’ll be off then.”
“Sure.” I sit up taller in my seat, reaching for my wallet, and he rests a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t get you a welcome home gift yet.” He winks and I snort.
“It’ll be a welcome home gift for someone, but not me.”
Something mischievous enters his eyes and he grins. “Sounds like the perfect time to be a fly on someone’s damn wall.”
“You sure you’re okay with this?”
“I mean, it’s just me buying bugs to try out a new extermination technique. That’s all. If they happen to be stored here, then they do, and no one has to know they are.”
I lower my head, nodding. “Thanks, man.”
“Sure. As soon as you said who it involved, I knew the answer would be yes, because fuck that asshole.” His fork scrapes against the plate, eyes burning with unexpected anger.
“He do something or—”
“Oh, he did something alright,” he bites out.
“He took a job that should have been mine. One I’ve been working my ass off for.
I had it in the bag too, and then he had to go beg his uncle for a job.
Or daddy did.” His face is stone when he looks at me again.
“He got the manager position I was told to apply for by my boss all because he knows someone who knows someone. Just like that, I was kicked to the side.”
“Seriously? They can’t just do that.” I’m pissed for him.
He’s a hard worker, and no doubt he should have gotten that job.
But that never matters in this fucking town run by the wrong people, does it?
Much like Blake’s dad, Hayden’s family holds a lot of power here.
The man did help destroy my dad’s business after all, causing him half his client list.
I’m sick of ducking my head and avoiding being on these people’s radar. It didn’t exactly work with everyone either. I was and will always be heavily on Hayden’s and Blake’s.
“They apparently can when important people get involved.” His hand bunches on the table, his brows turning down. “It’s whatever. Men like him will always come in first.”
“Not always.” I grit my teeth, digging the heels of my boots into the floor.
Jimmy’s eyes lift and a corner of his lips tilt up. “At least not without a price to pay. Now, about those bed bugs. I might be able to squeeze in a pick-up time today.”
He’s right about things coming with a price. Jimmy just doesn’t realize exactly how hefty Hayden’s is adding up to be. This is only the beginning, and when I’m done with him, he won’t have much to offer in the end.