Page 1 of Dark Endures

The Interview

Maddox

Fea bursts into my office, waving a piece of paper in her hand. “You need to hire someone for me.”

It’s four o’clock on a Friday, and the calmest woman I’ve ever met looks like she’s about to have a mental breakdown. I close the curtains. “What’s the problem?”

“You need to hire this woman. Her name is Mindy Peters, and she’s in trouble.”

Everyone around here is in trouble. “If she’s in trouble, send her to The Nest. I’ll have a few guys escort her. But we help children here, not grown women. And I don’t have an opening.”

“Make one. This woman won’t go to The Nest.” Fiona shoves the flyer in front of me on my desk.

“I can’t just make a job.” That’s not quite true. I can do anything I want, but what I don’t want to deal with is some teary-eyed woman and her drama.

“How often have I asked you for something?”

Every day. But I’m not stupid enough to say that.

“Not the little things. This is big. Find her a job. She likes those snakes of yours, and she has experience. Let her clean the cages or something.”

Let her clean the cages? “These aren’t some snakes. These are all highly sought-after rare breeds of snakes. They cost tens of thousands of—”

“Don’t care. Otto will be leaving for vet school soon. He can train her and you’ll have someone to take care of those nightmares of yours.”

“You know, I don’t—”

Fea puts her hand on her hip. “Maddox Locke.”

And with that, I’ve lost. “Fine.”

“Good. She’ll be here in an hour. She said she can start tonight.”

Tonight?

“I don’t need to tell you to pay her well, but be kind to her.”

“Kind. I’m always—”

“Don’t even try that with me. You’re rude to every available woman on the face of this earth. Be nice to her.”

That’s not true. I’m not rude… abrupt maybe and very pointed, but I’m not rude.

Fiona does scary well for the kindest person I’ve ever met. She’s also the most beautiful woman. And completely unavailable to me and every other man. We would have made a good couple. Instead, we’re the closest of friends. “Fine, I won’t be rude. But for the record, this is a bad idea.”

Fea turns on her heel and walks to my open office door. “Thanks, Maddox.”

“Whatever.” I lift up the piece of paper, which is really just a flyer advertising pet care services.

Why did I ever agree to Emilia’s wild idea?

***

Canyon steps into the open door of my office precisely an hour later. “Your interview is here. I think you should hire her.”

“Oh, you do?” Because I absolutely don’t think so.

“Yup. She likes snakes and isn’t afraid of me.”

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