Page 13 of Broken Chains

"If Kenneth's any indication, she'll turn out just fine."

"You're too sweet for your own good, Peyton."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Luke Larken," I said, and Kenneth turned white at the realization. "Are we all cool then?" I asked trying to speed things along.

"I'm good," Luke said. "It's your territory, so your call, Collier."

"I'm going to say okay, for now. I'd like to meet him and see for myself, so you have a six-week approval for a trial."

"You really are the best little brother, you know that?"

"Love you too, Pey. Don't make me regret this."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

I hung up the phone and turned to Kenneth.

"How much trouble am I in?"

"Relax. I said I'd handle it. We have a six-week trial approved. Thomas will stop by eventually, just ignore him and do your work and all will be fine. There's nothing to fear, Kenneth."

"I'm going to have to tell Oliver now, aren't I?"

I gave him a stern look. "You mean you haven't already?"

He gave me a sheepish look.

We spent the next several hours playing in the dirt and discussing plans for the greenhouse. I was giddy with excitement that it was finally coming to fruition and couldn't wait to get started.

Oliver

Chapter 6

Luke Larson had stopped by to congratulate me on the birth of my daughter. At first I couldn't fathom how he knew. My father had been pissed when he came home to find the minivan in the driveway and a baby in the house, but he'd vented then gone on about his own business, ignoring us all. So far it hadn't been a problem, but I picked up two more part-time jobs to make up for the job I'd lost at Powell's. I was trying to save up for a new place of my own. It had to be something big enough for me and Evie, plus the boys. There was no way I was leaving my brothers behind with our asshole of a father.

To my shock, Luke had explained an interesting call he received from Thomas Collier regarding Kenneth. I was going to kill him when he got home. I couldn't believe he was irresponsible enough to drag my daughter into enemy territory like that. I didn't care what the job was. Nothing was worth that kind of risk.

I tried to calm down my anger when I heard the van pull up. They were home, safe and sound, that was the important part. I tried to remind myself that as they walked in.

"Hey Ollie, we need to talk," Kenneth said.

"Damn right we need to talk. Guess who paid me a visit while you were out?"

He gulped. "I'm sorry. I didn't know when I accepted the job. I swear!"

"Luke Larson came by here, Kenneth. I mean sure, he's a nice enough guy, but I don't need the new Alpha up in our shit. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking I got an amazing job, one I can take Evie along with me when you need me to, and it pays fourteen dollars an hour."

"What? That's insane. What the hell do they have you doing over there?" I couldn't fathom anyone paying a sixteen-year-old that much for anything.

"Kate's Diner has a greenhouse behind it. Peyton wants to cultivate it to grow their own vegetables year-round."

"Cool," Tim said, clearly paying attention to our conversation for once. "Any chance she'd be interested in hydroponics?" he asked excitedly.

"Maybe," Kenneth said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. Who's Peyton?" I asked, and my body warmed just from saying the name aloud. No way could it be the same girl that had gotten me fired and lit me up from a simple look.

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