“It’s wrong,” I told Hans, who was chewing on another carrot stick while he grinned at me. “This has to be wrong. He added it wrong or…”
I shook my head, not sure how else to explain what was written on the bill. The male had left me a fifteen-hundred-dollar tip. But that wasimpossible.
“It has to be a mistake or ascamor something,” I gasped, holding out the bill to Hans. “Check it again!”
“I already checked it,” he assured me, shrugging and leaning back against the counter. The kitchen was bustling behind him while he took his break. “It’s real. That’syourtip.” He bit into the carrot again, the loud crunch making me flinch along with the smugness I heard in his voice.
“But…” I trailed off, and he shook his head.
“It’syours, and you’ll be getting it with your weekly check,” he said, reaching out to squeeze my arm. “I know you’ve been struggling, Em. Consider this a good thing and don’t fight it.”
My breathing was shallow as I stared at the bill. If I took this money, I’d be able to make this month’s payment as well as a big chunk of next month’s, I could even consider taking a few shifts off from the Bureau.
It was the one that I had the most issues with. Yes, the others were running me ragged and they were a lot more physical, but I couldn’t stand to go into Mr. Berard’s officeone more time. A break or even a change of shift to a shorter one would be great.
He arrived late most days, so if I took the morning sorting shift—which was less pay, but no interaction—then I should be able to avoid him. Excitement brimmed inside of me at the thought. I wanted to screech with joy, but I kept it in.
I still couldn’t believe that Krusk had tipped so much. How rich did someone have to be to toss that kind of money around? Lin was aluckygirl.
I ignored the ache in my chest that that thought created. I would behappyfor my friend. I didn’t have the time or energy to spend on a male anyway. I had to ensure that my family—which now only consisted of myself and my grandma—was taken care of.
Taking a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes shut, stopping the tears from flowing. I was definitely going to sob with joy, but I wasn’t going to do it at work. I had at leastsomedignity left, after all.
I handed over the bill to Hans, who had a quiet smile on his face, as he shooed me toward the room at the back of the kitchen where staff kept their things. I entered the changing room, quickly putting on my street clothes, in a daze as I did.
My mind was still spinning with disbelief. When I was younger, I’d always considered myself a lucky person. I alwayshad the best toys, the best food, the best parents—the best ofeverything. But in one moment, that luck had gone bad.
In one single moment, everything had changed, and I never thought I would ever be lucky again. But as I remembered the scribbled numbers on that bill, I crossed my fingers—and my toes as well—that my luck would staygood.
The sudden vibration of my phone startled me, and I jerked hard, my fingers and toes uncrossing automatically. I slapped at my pocket, fumbling with my phone and holding it in front of me, before I felt a truly happy grin cross my face for the first time in a long time.
Grandma.
I couldn’twaitto give her the good news.
CHAPTER 9
Krusk
Ipaced inside my brother’s apartment, ignoring the half-carved wood that sat everywhere while I stewed internally. When we’d parted ways at the restaurant, I’d waited for my mate to come out, hoping that I would be able to drive her home. I’d stood there for almost an hour before I opened the door a little, lifting my head to scent the air.
Gone.
She’d left and she’d taken another way out so that I wouldn’t be able to follow her. While I appreciated that she was concerned for her safety, I also wished she’d been able to allow me to escort her so that no one would try to touch what wasmine. If another male so much as looked at her…
My thought trailed out, but I heard the terrible growl leaving my chest and there wasn’t a way for me to suppress it. I didn’t know how she got around. If she had a car, she’d have to start getting comfortable with me walking her to and from it. And ifshedidn’thave a car, then she was either going to let me drive her everywhere she needed to go or buy her a car.
Not knowing was going to drive me insane, but my brother had talked me out of tracking her down by her scent and instead waiting for him to dig up the information on her that I would need. Enka had slapped me on the back with pride while Tasia had narrowed her eyes at me.
“Nostalking,” she’d insisted, tapping my chest with a firm finger. “If you do that, she’s just going to get angry with you.”
“I’m notstalking,” I muttered, scuffing my shoe on the floor, admonished. “And Enka followed you!”
“But she ran away,” Enka insisted, holding his hands up as though he was completely innocent. “Ineededto stalk her.”
Tasia pursed her lips and rolled her eyes as Gabbi yawned hugely, lifting her head from where she’d been consistently gnawing on Enka’s shoulder, smacking her lips together and blinking at everyone. She held her hands out to her mother who took her for a quick cuddle and kiss, before returning her glare to Enka.
I grinned as I realized that her ire was now focused on him. “You neverneedto stalk anyone,” she huffed.
