Page 55 of Connected

“Hudson, will you shut the fuck up—geez, you’re givin’ me a damn headache. You do know I didn’t call you in here to fire you, right?”

“Oh… Oh, you didn’t? Oh, okay. Well, that’s good. And in that case then maybe I could take back the thing I said about my bonus? No… no, you’re right. I’m zippin’ it right now, mm-mm… not another word—not a peep.”

“Good. Look, I need to know where your loyalty is Hudson. And I also need to know if Michael’s asked you to do him any special favors as of late?”

“Um… No. No nothin’ really. I don’t have much to do with Michael orthatplace. You know Dana does the bar in there and she oversees Michael’s stuff cos it’s more her jam than mine if you get what I mean?”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. Hudson, I’m thinking of making some changes around here—you up for a promotion?”

“Uh… yeah, yeah I guess so—maybe? I guess it depends on what it is. Oh no, no please Boss, please don’t put me in there. I can’t be around them. I mean, I love my job an’ all, but I can’t do vamps. They just… well, they make my skin crawl. I like ladies—guys—normal stuff, not that kinda thing. I mean don’t get me wrong I like gettin’ a little tied up now and again but… hell they’re just plain fuckin’ weird. I’ll do anythin’ but just not in there.”

“No, no I’m thinking of getting rid of the vamps altogether. Make it more of a… exclusive area—for richer wolves. I mean now I got Kat on the books well I’m thinking of attracting a better class of wolf.”

“Oh, really? Only…. well, Michael said the thing with Kat was only temporary. So, is she gonna be doin’ this all the time? Cos if that’s the case then… Hell yeah! Yeah, I’ll do it,” he grins excitedly. “Oh my God, I have some great ideas. I know some ladies will definitely pay more for a—”

“Whoa… Wait, just slow down. I have a few things to take care of first. But… if I do it, then I’m gonna need a new club manager. Are you up for more responsibility? I mean, it’ll be a serious step up from parading your wares behind the bar—a lot more serious. Can you handle that? Hudson, I need loyalty—someone loyal to me and me only. I know I can only get that from wolves. Technically you’re my pack, so can I count on you? I’d hate to have to get someone new behind the bar but…”

“Oh uh, yeah sure. One-hundred-percent loyal. No, I would never dream of… So, hey does that mean my pay increases too? I mean, I’m happy to do it for the same but if—”

“Hudson, you’ve been here for a long time—I’ve known you personally for decades and the one thing I’ve realized is you’ve always shown to be a loyal wolf. I guess I could increase your pay—might even throw in a car and an apartment—if you’re a really good boy.” Rhys smiles with a wink. “Things have gotten a little too lax around here, and I let my control slide. It’s time I took it back. So, if Michael does anything, anything you don’t like—something that makes you stop and sniff for more than a minute, then you come to me. If there’s someone on his guest list who orders the wrong type of drink, you come to me. You’ve shown you can be trusted, now it’s time to get rewarded—think about all those extra ladies you’ll get then.” Rhys smirks as he leans back in his chair.

“So uh, what about Michael?” Hudson cocks an eyebrow, slightly apprehensive. “I thought you trusted him—I thought he was loyal.”

“Michael’s a shifter. He has no loyalty—except maybe to himself, and that will end up getting him killed. But you’re right—I trusted him—but not anymore. From now on, you need to be my eyes and ears. Do you understand me?”

“Yeah, perfectly. Hey, Rhys, you know why I’ve been loyal? Because ever since I left the commune, I’ve never seen anyone else as my pack leader—I’ve never pledged loyalty to any other pack except yours.”

“That’s good… Because Hudson, from up here, I see everything, and I know everything. Those cameras, they’re everywhere—places you can’t even imagine. And if you lie to me, then we’re gonna have a big problem.” He sips his drink as his eyes focus directly on the large wolf. “You know the old warehouse out by the docks?”

“I don’t know it, but I’ve heard you and Klaus talk about it a few times.”

“Yeah well, I used it when I started out. When I first left home—I used it for my incoming shipments. Oh, it’s only a small place, I keep it more for sentimental reasons—reminds me of what I had when I started out—nothin’. I have a much bigger place now—well two or three, actually. But that small one at the docks, I pretty much keep it empty except… I don’t. I let a clan of hyenas stay there—sure I know they’re vermin and I often think about cleaning them out, but for now they live there. Hell, they think it’s a palace because most of them were homeless before that place. The thing with hyenas is they’re fighters—hell, they’ll fight over the smallest scrap of food—but they’re real good at it. Sure, some are clever movers, hustlers, and they make the best damn pimps—probably because they don’t have any moral compass. They’ll pretty much do anything you ask them to. The question is how do you get them to do it? I’ll tell you how—food. Hyenas love food—they’re always fuckin’ hungry. So you feed them well, then they’ll do whatever you want. The good thing is, they have great eyes and ears. They’re so low on the food chain that no one takes any notice of them, and that’s how you get information.”

He laughs smugly as he slides back in his leather seat and his feet thud as he throws them back up onto the desk. “I don’t get out there as much as I used to—perhaps I should take a trip soon and check on them. It can cost a lot of money, to keep a clan well-fed. I kept the cost down by throwing them fresh meat from time-to-time. Do you understand what I’m saying Hudson or is it just this whiskey rambling?”

“No, I understand you perfectly. And don’t worry,” Hudson nervously coughs, “I’m one hundred percent loyal. My lips are always sealed.”

“Good.”

Rhys takes a breath staring upwards watching the camera feeds on the wall monitors. A huge smile fills his face as he looks at the limo parked outside the entrance to the club—Kat and Ryan now leaving—climb inside.

“Hey, Boss…” Hudson apprehensively interrupts the silence. “You know, I’ll never lie to you—I swear.”

“Oh, I know you won’t—you don’t wanna be hyena food, do you?” Rhys grins, not taking his eyes from the screens. “Now, you need to get your pretty little ass back to work and go make me some more money. Oh, and Hudson… get someone to bring me another bottle of this malt, I feel like gettin’ drunk—hopefully, I’ll find a little porn to watch.”

Rhys leans the chair back and picks up the remote control laid on the desk and scrolls randomly through the various camera feeds. “Hey, tell Klaus I don’t wanna be disturbed for a while. Close the door on your way out.”

***

“Ms. Morgan, the limo driver will take you wherever you need to go—Rhys insisted and said he’s at your command.”

“Who, Rhys or the limo driver?” she laughs as Eric opens the door for her. “Well… I guess this saves the fare on a cab,” she smiles grabbing at Digby’s hand pulling him inside the limo. They settle on the long leather seats and Kat opens a new bottle of champagne—which she then swigs directly from the neck. Hitching her green dress around her waist, she then straddles her legs across Digby’s lap. “So, should we get him to take us the scenic route home?” she grins teasingly.

“Well, I was more thinkin’ the shortest route, especially if you’re thinkin’ of gettin’ fresh with me, cos I really wanna get you outta that damn dress.”

“Well, I thought you could get me out of it here?”

She has a tempting glint in her eye and as she bites at her lip she slides the thin shoestring-straps down her arms. Peeling the green satin fabric from where it hugs her breasts, she then rubs her hands over them—it makes her nipples peak into hard little beads that tease from the center of soft plumpness that surround them.

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