Page 155 of Breaking the Rules

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"Is that a threat?"

"Yeah."

"Not your best work."

It's not. He's doing this as a favor to me, not the other way around. "Still. If you're showing me the books."

"Not these books." He motions to the spot next to him. "I don't have access."

"Really?"

"You thought I would?"

"I guess you're still a guest." I move around the counter. Until I'm three feet from him. Then two. "Did you think about Ryan's offer?"

"Yeah."

"If you're broke, seems like a good deal."

He rolls his shoulders back. "I'm gonna take it. Just have to figure out some other shit first."

Like whatever it is that used up all his money.

And got him to leave his last job.

Or maybe he got fired.

I couldn't really tell from the reaction I got when I called Blacklist Tattoo.

But then if someone called here for dirt, I'd purposely lead them astray.

I can gossip about my friends all I want. But if someone else starts shit, they're going down.

"I did some stupid shit," Hunter says. "Made some bad decisions. That's how I ended up broke."

"Now?"

"Not exactly rolling in it."

"But…"

"I'll get there." His fingers brush my wrist. "You know how much I make?"

"Not exactly."

"Explain how my salary works." His eyes meet mine. They bore into mine. They demand something. Something that isn't educational.

But I do need to learn this. "You don't get a salary."

He nods.

"You basically rent the chair here. Like at a hair salon. You charge clients something within the shop's rates and pay the shop a percentage. Then you get tips. Well, minus the percent I get."

"What did I make this week?" He turns the screen to me.

It's his records.

I guess he has access to those.

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