Page 78 of Rex

Aria: Yeah, I’m home now. All systems up and running. Get back to work, slacker boy. Miss you too!

I nearly jump out of my skin at the noise that vibrates between my ears. Jerking my head up, I see Pigeon holding two trash can lids, and he’s getting ready to bang them together again.

“If you do, I’ll disassemble you until Ivy can’t identify your body without dental records,” I croak out.

“You were sleeping so pretty, but it’s time to wakey the fuck up,” Pigeon says with a grin, but he sets the lids on the couch instead of assaulting my ears again.

Sitting upright, I rub my hands hard against my eyes and then glance at the clock. Fuck, I fell asleep sometime after 5am, and it’s now eight thirty. I stand, stretch, and head for the bathroom. When I return, Pigeon is gone. Walking to the front, I head straight for the coffee maker, nodding at Marti on my way past her desk.

I stand with my filled cup and sip from it while staring out the front window. It takes a moment, but my eyes finally realize Aria’s car is parked in the lot, minus the spray paint. Turning to Marti, I ask when it showed up.

“Trigger just dropped it off, and Reeves is giving him a ride back to the shop. Reeves said he and Horse would run it to Aria’s office when he gets back here.”

“She’ll be happy to have it back,” I mutter, but I’m not sure I believe it with how excited she was to drive my car.

“I’m getting ready to order supplies. Is there anything you need to add to the order form?” Marti asks, and I shake my head in the negative.

Walking down the hall, I stop in Reeves’ office doorway and watch Horse. He’s sitting on the couch, laptop balanced on his legs. He’s busy with something, and I don’t want to interfere. I start to walk off but turn back and speak.

“You can move the office supplies into the equipment room and take the supply room as your office, Horse. There’s a desk and chair in there already. I’ll have Marti order everything else you’ll need.”

“Thanks, Rex! Appreciate it,” Horse says as he closes his laptop and gets to his feet. “Going to go do that right now. Unless you need me for something else?”

“No, go get settled in,” I answer, then walk to Pigeon’s doorway.

Glancing around, I see a half-finished bottle of water. Picking it up, I sling it at Pigeon, hitting him square in the chest. I smile when I hear his gasp and smile wider when he looks in my direction.

“Was that nice? My wife will not be happy knowing that I’m being abused at work,” Pigeon says before his face turns serious. “I would have helped out this weekend, Rex.”

“I know that, Pigeon, but you have the ranch and Ivy, and she works harder than any of us. She needs you.”

“Why don’t you and Aria come out to the ranch for a day? We can grill meat and drink beer,” Pigeon asks.

“I’ll ask her, but I’m sure she’ll love that. Thanks.”

“I gotta ask. What the hell was Reeves doing in your room that morning if you’re into Aria?” Pigeon questions, eyebrows raised.

“I still don’t have an answer for that. We were apparently drugged, and shit got real, but he wasn’t there with me. I guess he spent the night, or at least some of it, sleeping it off in my tub,” I answer with a wide smile. “He thought he was in his own tub, and before you laugh, while he was still out of it, he thought he had been with you.”

“Not sure I can ever look him in the eye again because what the hell? If he had been with me, he’d never have forgot that shit,” Pigeon states while I laugh loudly at him while pointing at his face.

“You’re upset just thinking you could be forgettable!”

“Go back to work before I tell the Prez you stand around sexually harassing one of your employees,” Pigeon orders in a disgruntled voice.

I laugh all the way back to my office, where I promptly add items to Marti’s supply order. Maybe there will be less wrestling if they all have their own office. I doubt it, but it’s worth a try.

Hours later, I sit back and survey all the info I have gathered for Gunner. I’ve found some very interesting things that should keep him off my back and give the Morales family a place to start. This doesn’t mean I’m done with the traffickers, but I can take a breather.

I have also decided to send out the video we have of Aria’s stalker to see if anyone can recognize the man. Aria and I both felt there was something familiar about him, but neither of us can place what it is exactly. I should have done this immediately but with everything going on, it skipped my mind. I’m an idiot.

First, I compile everything I have for Gunner into a file and email it to him. I call and explain what he’s about to receive and how everything connects. The big guy is in a much better mood today, so I’m hoping he and Ava have ironed out their issues. Being on the receiving end of his ire is not a fun place to find oneself. When my club president apologizes in a more thorough way for his prior behavior, I’m not surprised. Gunner is a hard man, but he has to be to run an MC club. He’s never been an unfair man, though, and that’s why the apology doesn’t come as a surprise. I assure him we’re good, and we disconnect.

I suddenly realize that I should be able to make it home this evening, and I call Aria to see if she wants to spend time together.

“Hi, Rex.”

“Hey, Aria. I’m going to get out of here at a decent time tonight. Are you going to be busy?”

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