Chapter Seven
Roadkill managed to hold on to his temper as he walked Jenna through a routine, teaching her how to use machines and watching to make sure she was doing it right. He didn’t want her hurt because he hadn’t done his job properly.
“Why don’t you go on up, walk the track for ten minutes then you can spend another fifteen in the hot tub or sauna. They’ll help you not be so sore tomorrow. Want me to come up with you?” Roadkill said as he watched Jenna’s flushed face.
She puffed out a breath and shook her head.
“I can manage. I’ll see you on my way out?” she asked.
“If you like. If you don’t see me, ask Bobby Lee. He’ll know where I am or Slide. He’s up next to the front desk..”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything as she picked up her towel and headed for the locker rooms and the stairs up to the track.
He waited until she disappeared from view, then went up to check in with the prospect and let him know he was going to be in his office for a few minutes and to send Jenna back if she came back before he did.
In his office he dialed Cypher.
“Yo, how’s it hanging?”
Roadkill shook his head.
“I need you to look someone up for me.”
“No problem. Who is it and what do you need to know?”
“His name’s Mason, that’s the only name I have. But he works at, possibly manages, possibly owns, the Driftwood Lounge.”
“Sure, I know who that is. That’s Mason Burkett. He owns the place. What else do you need to know about him?”
“Everything. I want to know where he lives, who he spends time with, who he’s screwing. I need every speck of dirt. If he had an overdue parking ticket, an ex who said he abused her, a whisper he’s using his position to harass his employees, I want it. I want everything you can find on him.”
Cypher let out a low whistle. “What’d he do to piss in your whiskey?”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s not a club issue.” They didn’t know it had to do with a woman he couldn’t keep off his mind, even when he should be paying attention to other things. Not that he’d told anyone, only done his best.
“In that case, this is going to cost you.”
Roadkill rolled his eyes. He’d expected this but had hoped the club hacker would let it go, at least for now, but apparently this wasn’t his lucky day.
“What do you want?”
“I’ll take a bottle of Blanton’s.”
Roadkill bit his lip as he considered it. Not exactly what he’d expected his brother to want, but he could do it. But if he was going to pay that much for bourbon, he was going to make sure to get what he wanted out of it.
“All the info, and your secrecy. You tell no one what you’re doing or who it’s for.”
“Granted, for everyone but Hex. I’m not going to lie to the prez, not even for you.”
He considered it for a moment. “I’ll get the whiskey. You can have it when I get the information on Burkett.”
“You got it. I’ll have a basic report by the time you close the gym, more in depth might take a little longer.”
“No problem. I’m not in a huge hurry, though I would like it sooner rather than later.
” Roadkill made a mental note to hit the liquor store and pick up the whiskey on his way back to the clubhouse.
Or maybe he’d send Bobby Lee over instead.
It would give the kid something to do, when Roadkill wasn’t giving him every shitty job he could think of.
He finished his call with the club hacker, and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. Imagining what he’d like to say to the fuckwad who had made someone as beautiful as Jenna feel bad about herself.
He didn’t know how much time had passed but he figured she’d be about done upstairs, and he didn’t want to miss her on her way out, so Roadkill headed back to the front desk. Once there, he sent Bobby Lee off to check on the laundry again and took the ugly chair Phantom had brought in for himself.
Sinking into the seat, he realized why the asshole had brought the ugly thing in. It was far more comfortable than it looked. Damn. He didn’t want to get up now that he was here. Maybe that was part of why Phantom rarely moved once he sat here.
“You’ll be here tomorrow?” Jenna asked as she approached the desk.
“I will be, but I don’t want you coming in tomorrow. Give it a day in between.”
She frowned. “But the more I work out, the faster I’ll get in shape, right? Why would I wait?”
“While it seems that way, that’s not really the way it works, not exactly.
First, you’ll need to work up to more. Build muscle and that takes a little time.
The more muscle you build, the more you can lift, the longer you can work out, and yes, the faster you’ll get into shape.
Besides, you’re going to be sore tomorrow.
You’ll want to stretch, like we did before the weights, but don’t push yourself too hard.
Pushing too hard and too fast leads to injuries.
There’s something else you need to do too.
” He watched her curious how she’d react to this part.
“What?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Drink lots of water, I mean lots. And eat. Anything high in protein would be best.” He reached under the check in desk and opened the small fridge he kept there.
Pulling out a protein shake, he shook it hard and handed it across to her.
“Here start with this. You need protein to build muscle, trust me on this.”
She looked at the bottle as if it was radioactive and he was telling her she had to drink it.
“Jenna?” He waited until her gaze moved to his face. “Do you trust me? I won’t do anything to hurt you, you know that right?”
She blinked then took the bottle.
“Thank you.” She looked toward the front glass, the back to him. “I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days then.” She turned for the door, twisting the top and breaking the seal on the shake he’d given her.
“Jenna?” He’d spoken before he realized he would.
She paused.
Roadkill snatched a card off the desk and flipped it over. “Here’s my number. You need anything. Anything. You call me. I’ll make sure it happens.” He scribbled his number on the back and held it in her direction.
She gave him a half smile he wasn’t sure how to read. “Even if what I need is someone to listen to me whine?” She took the card and looked at it.
“Even if what you need is someone to listen while you cry.” He didn’t know what had come over him or where these words were coming from, but they felt right, so he went with it.
She looked back up at him, watching him silently for the span of several seconds, then she nodded once. “Thank you.” Jenna turned and pushed her way out the door.
Roadkill couldn’t help but watch as she got into her car and drove away.
He didn’t like that her boss was harassing her, but he’d have the information to make sure it stopped soon. In the meantime, he wondered what the Warriors could do. Did they have a job they could put her in?
He texted Papa Smurf.
**Roadkill: You still thinking about hiring someone to work the front counter and handle paperwork?
He pocketed his phone without waiting for a reply. Papa Smurf wouldn’t find the message until he took a break and sat down for a few minutes. Roadkill watched the direction Jenna had gone and wondered if she would let him get her a new job. Wouldn’t know until he tried.