Page 2 of Astrid
“Morgan called Hank, my boss at Brotherhood, and asked questions. She needs a communications person to set up cameras on the house, garage, and vehicles. I think the last person had a run-in only two days ago, and she was shot at. She had some information, but they don’t want to go to the cops yet until they have more.”
“Wow, I’m very intrigued now. I’ll have to keep an open mind when I go there to see her. It’s what, a ten, twelve-hour drive from here?”
“Yes,” Angel laughed as she leaned back and picked up her sandwich again. “Want to hear some scuttlebutt?”
“What?”
“I heard that Morgan has six smokin’ hot brothers there at the compound working for her.”
“I’m not going there to hook up with anyone. If I stay, it’ll be to do a job,” Astrid said firmly, then tossed one blonde curl out of her eyes. “But, if there’s nice eye candy to look at, I’m not going to pretend I’m blind and not look.” She grinned at Angel’s expression, and they both burst out laughing as they finished their meal.
In the parking lot, Astrid pointed to the far side of the lot and grinned. “That’s me.”
“Don’t tell me that’s a military Jeep.”
“Okay, I won’t.” Astrid laughed as she looked at her olive-green Jeep and the small trailer attached to the back with her Harley on it. “Oh,” she said as she looked at Angel with wide eyes. “Come with me.” Then, she grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the Jeep. After she opened it, she reached across to the floor on the passenger’s side and came out with a gift-wrapped package to hand to Angel.
“What’s this? It’s not my birthday.”
“I know, but I don’t trust anyone, so what better way to get you what you asked for six months ago than in a birthday gift.” At Angel’s frown, Astrid leaned in and whispered. “Cameras and trackers.”
“Oh,” Angel laughed, and looked at Astrid with a joyous grin. “I can’t wait to see what you got me. If you don’t mind, I’ll wait to open it when I get home.”
“Not at all. Just let me know if you need anything else. My number is still the same.”
“Thank you, Astrid.” Angel wrapped one arm around her to give her a hug, and whispered in her ear, “Give Morgan and Boswell Two a chance. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“Thanks, Angel, I will.” Astrid stepped back, then climbed into her open Jeep. Once she was buckled in and started it up, she gave a small wave and pulled out, heading east to a possible new life. As much as she’d told Angel she’d give them a chance, she still had her misgivings about her potential new job being too good to be true, but she would go there with an open mind.
* * *
John Stuart groanedwhen his alarm went off, and reached out to shut it off, on the way to the alarm, his fist slammed into the corner of the table next to his bed, causing him to rear up and swear. Once he’d silenced the annoying piece of technology, he flopped the blankets back and made his way into the bathroom, swearing again when he tripped in the sheets, and ended up face-planting on the floor. The first thing he saw after turning on the light was blood between his knuckles and the small piece of hanging skin. The second thing he noticed was the slight redness of carpet burn where his forehead had hit the floor when he’d face-planted.
“Great, just what I fucking need,” he mumbled to himself, then climbed into the shower. Because there were five men that needed to use the bathroom, John didn’t take a long time in the shower. He went in, did his business, then got out. Standing at the sink in a towel, he was shaving when his triplet, Josh came in behind him and climbed into the shower. As he shaved, he swore three times as he cut himself. By the time he put the fourth piece of tissue over his cuts, he thought his brother, Alex, had the right idea of not shaving every day. Granted, John didn’t have the excuse of not being able to use both hands, but still, it would be better than cutting himself. He winced as he slapped shaving lotion on his face, causing him to suck in his breath sharply. He left the bathroom, and went back out to where his bed was, and quickly dressed after making up the bed.
By the time he made it up the stairs, the others were gathering around the kitchen, and he grabbed a cup to draw his first cup of coffee for the day.
“Son of a bitch!” John yelled when the coffee overspilled, and ran over his hand. After cleaning it up, he lifted the cup to take a sip, and yelled again as he missed his mouth, and ended up pouring half of the cup of steaming coffee down the front of himself. Slamming the cup down, he quickly whipped off his shirt to mop up the mess, not caring about the old tee. Once everything was cleaned up, Alex took pity on him and carried his cup to the table, and took his shirt from him, and when he returned from the laundry room, he tossed his brother a clean one.
“Is this one mine?”
“Does it matter?” Justin grinned at him. “Rough day at the office?”
“Hell, not only did I spill my coffee, but I cut myself shaving, and busted my knuckles on the nightstand trying to shut off the alarm, but not before getting tangled in the sheet and face-planting in the middle of the fucking floor.” He held out his hand, and everyone winced at the torn skin. “Is today Monday?” He groused as he dug into the platter of pancakes Ava had set on the table.
“Nope.” Several of his siblings grinned at him.
“Thank god.”
“But, it is Friday the thirteenth,” Joyce said as she set the platter of bacon on the table, and began pouring orange juice for anyone who wanted it.
“No, it’s not.” John frowned. “Is it?”
“Yep,” everyone said, and John just moaned. After breakfast where nothing else happened to John, the men went out to continue working on the new office site, while the women cleaned up, and headed toward their offices.
Hours later, John screamed in frustration and threw his hammer across the room. When the claws embedded themselves into the dirt, Chuck walked over, removed it, and brought it back over to John, but the other man held up his hand and shook his head without taking it.
“I know you’re the boss, but maybe you should take a break. You’ve been breaking everything you touch. I’d say maybe you should go back to bed, but it’s almost lunch time. Why don’t you go in and start making lunch for us?”
