Page 21 of Biker's Enemy

Terms of Employment

Quin Nash agrees to provide childcare services for Tanner Hollingsworth’s daughter, Avery Hollingsworth henceforth known as AVERY for the duration of Tanner’s inquest into Avery’s identity and parentage:

Ican’t help but wonder what happens if he finds out that Avery doesn’t belong to him. What happens to the little girl then? So far, I haven’t met her, but I sit across from Tanner in a leucite chair parked at a pristine leucite table, and stare at the contract he drew up for the care and protection of the daughter he isn’t sure is his.

My curiosity is getting the better of me, I have to admit. And I have demons. Demons that I believe this man can protect me from. If he’s enough of a psycho to drug my glass of water and drag me out to the middle of nowhere…

It feels like someone twisting a dagger in my chest. I suppress my fears and concerns about Tanner’s sanity, focusing on his promises and the contract. We’re even further away from what I did and he makes a good point about getting Hunter and Juliette involved. If he really wanted to hurt me, he could have done it already.

Maybe it’s a weird way to think about things but I spent so much time in captivity that I can’t help it. My mind feels in tune with predators and I don’t know how I feel about that. Probably nothing. I haven’t felt much of anything since the crime I committed.

The crime I’m desperate to bury.

I keep reading before the weight of what I’ve done closes around my heart. I have to expand my chest with deep breaths to keep the pressure at bay.

Confidentiality Agreement.

Quin agrees to keep the name, identity and all information about AVERY secret including her existence. This includes keeping this information from Juliette and Hunter Sinclair, all her family members, friends, and associates. Severing this confidentiality agreement will result in swift and merciless punishment decided by Tanner Hollingsworth or in his place, his aunt, Debbie Hollingsworth.

Quin requires written consent from Tanner Hollingsworth before disclosing any personal or identifying information whatsoever about AVERY.

I understand secrets. I don’t get why Avery has to be a secret, but it shouldn’t be that hard to keep her existence a secret. I can always tell Juliette that I’m working as Tanner’s housekeeper or something that sounds believable since I wasn’t exactly the tidiest person growing up.

The contract continues identifying my nannying responsibilities.

Quin Nash’s Nannying Tasks

Quin agrees to care for AVERY as follows, completing each of these tasks daily and submitting a verbal report to Tanner Hollingsworth in person or over the phone at the end of each day. In rare cases, Tanner Hollingsworth will request Quin submit this report via email.

AVERY requires daily feeding, bathing, dressing and constant supervision. During her sleep times, AVERY must be monitored by the home’s internal security system and the alarm must always be turned on.

Quin must maintain a safe and clean environment for AVERY at all times, subject to random inspection by Tanner Hollingsworth.

Quin must be responsible for age-appropriate educational activities for AVERY and must spend at least two hours a day engaged in active developmental play. AVERY must also maintain a consistent routine with naps, meals and bedtime.

AVERY is not to be put to bed after 8 p.m.

Quin must perform housekeeping tasks related to AVERY such as laundry, tidying her play areas, diaper duty and preparing meals for AVERY.

Written down, the tasks don’t seem impossible. Tanner doesn’t seem concerned with the fact that I have no experience with diaper duty or preparing meals for toddlers.

Quin Nash will be compensated for her work at a rate of $2,500 per week. This money will be dispensed every Sunday at 4 p.m. after her completed week of work.

I put my finger beneath that part of the contract and read it twice just in case I made some type of mistake. That doesn’t seem to be the case. I glance up at Cash, whose round blue eyes haven’t left my face since I began reading the contract.

“It’s not a mistake,” he says calmly. “This job simply requires discretion.”

“Right.”

“You have functional bank accounts, I presume?”

I glance up at him and not, trying not to betray my nerves.

“I can always pay you in cash.”

“Maybe cash would be better.”

It’s not that I don’t trust Hawk and Juliette to help with my problem, but I don’t want infusions of cash into my bank account drawing the attention of law enforcement. It might be an unnecessary precaution, but I won’t feel safe needing to interact with any bank to access money. Especially not a bank with video cameras.

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