Page 39 of Rex

Turning his head to face me, he holds out his hand, palm up. Shaking my head in disgust, I lay his blackmail money in hishand. Craig makes a show of slowly counting each bill, then gives me a nod and a small, slightly demonic smile before tucking his cash in his pocket.

“I either need a second job, or the kid has to come up missing,” Reeves mutters.

“If I give you a referral of someone who might hire your particular type of services, can I get a discount?” I ask, suddenly having an idea.

Craig instantly perks up, considers my words, and then slowly nods.

“Depends on the payout from this referral you’re speaking of,” he states, all business now.

“Want to have dinner with me and Candy and discuss this?” I ask with a grin.

“Text Mom and let her know I’m with you. Where we eating?”

“You’re going to hell for sure. Axel finds out you brokered a deal between Craig and Aria for his payback, you’re going soon,” Candy states, then snort-laughs.

“It was a stroke of genius. I get a major discount. Aria is elated at having Craig’s help, and Axel gets a smackdown. What’s not to love about that?”

“Governor Douglas needs to put Craig to work on his political opponents. State of Colorado would never be the same.”

“No shit,” I answer with a chuckle.

We drive in silence for a few minutes before I speak again.

“Do you think someone like Aria could be with someone like me? Not for a night kind of thing, but maybe long term.”

Candy’s silent for a long moment before answering.

“I’m not sure I understand why you would question that. I get that she’s well-educated, from money, and all that jazz, but in the end, does any of that ever really matter? You don’t have the same formal education she has, but you’re the smartest person I know. You’re kind, considerate of others, and the kids love you. If she was the kind of person who couldn’t be with someone like you because of your differences in upbringing, then she’s not the kind of person I’d call friend.”

Now I’m the silent one, carefully thinking over her words. When I speak, I say the smartest words that have ever left my mouth, and they leave Candy laughing her ass off.

“When I grow up, I want to be you.”

The security business has steadily gotten busier, and Gunner finally gave me permission to hire someone to run the front end. Today is a day packed with interviews, and I’m excited to find the perfect person for the job. Qualifications don’t actually matter as much as other aspects. I can easily teach anyone to answer the phones, make appointments for installs, and speak with customers who come to the business. I need someone who can be discreet, efficient, and not need constant supervision. As Pigeon said, I need someone who’s the complete opposite of him, Horse, and Reeves.

Gunner had originally suggested the job to Candy, but she shot it down immediately and eloquently. She said, and I quote, “I’m not spending my day smiling at people when most annoy the fuck out of me. No fucking thanks. I’ll continue cleaning stalls and shoveling shit at the animal sanctuary and know that I’m making life a little nicer for ones that I do care about and not ungrateful humans.” Gunner decided to leave the decision up to me at that point.

“If you choose a woman, please don’t hire an ugly one,” Reeves states as he enters my office. “I already have to see you, Horse, and Pigeon’s ugly faces all day.”

“Hire someone who will take care of us. You know, like someone’s grandma. Fresh baked goods and homemade foods brought in would be awesome,” Horse adds his thoughts as he stops in the doorway.

“My wife said you should hire a guy so Reeves and Horse don’t spend all day in the office getting in trouble for sexual harassment,” Pigeon says as he shoves Horse out of the way and enters to stand next to Reeves.

Ignoring all three, I continue reading the info I have on each candidate.

“Rex? Did you hear what I said? We should have some say in who gets hired because we have to work with them too,” Reeves insists. “Maybe we should hang out here today and sit in on the interviews.”

“No, you shouldn’t. Get your shit ready for your appointments, and get out of here. I don’t want a potentially great candidate to meet you three idiots and turn the job down,” I say.

“Not nice, dickhead,” Reeves mutters and leaves my office.

“Fine, I’ll go to work, but if one of them shows up with snacks or treats for us, hire them immediately. You know I don’t have a grandma to spoil me,” Horse states before walking out.

Instead of leaving, Pigeon takes the seat in front of my desk. I ignore him for several moments before he gets tired of it and speaks.

“What’s going on with you lately?”

“Nothing,” I answer way too quickly to be believable.

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