It was surreal watching this conversation unfold centered around her, and she’d barely spoken a word. They were negotiating her employment.So bizarre.Cleo was taking her spokesperson role very seriously.
Barry rolled his eyes. “Four shifts a week. I’ll pay her under the table.”
Cleo rested her arms on the bar. “How long is the shift?”
Addison muffled her chuckle and glanced up at Barry.
“Eight to closing.”
Six hours. Not bad. She’d saved up before the trip to Killcreek, but this would allow her to make some extra cash. It wasn’t a bad gig. Cleo had her own life with things to do. Their earlier conversation proved that Cleo was making her a priority. This would alleviate the pressure if Addison wasn’t always available. Why shouldn’t she take it? It was a win-win for everyone. Except for…
“One fifty,” Addison countered.
Barry’s face shaded to red, and his nostrils flared. He leaned over the bar. It was an intimidation tactic that may’ve worked on some people.Not me.She’d been a bartender too long and dealt with unhappy, overgrown-man children more times than she could count.
“That’s highway fucking robbery. How the hell do I even know if you’re any good?”
The man at the bar finishing his drink lifted his glass. “She’s good.”
Addison smiled and winked at the old man before turning her attention back to Barry.
“You can take his word for it. Or don’t. Not going to affect me much, but I’m thinking it will affect your customers, and in turn, your income. Said it yourself. You don’t have anyone to fill in for you.” She popped an onion ring in her mouth and stared back at Barry as his glare hardened. “It’s only highway robbery if you can find someone to do it for cheaper. Can you?”
“I think hiring her for one fifty is your best bet,” Cleo said.
“Oh, is that what you think? Did I ask you, Cleo?”
Watch that goddamn attitude, Barry.It was on the tip of her tongue, but Cleo handled it.
She frowned. “No. But if you want a second opinion on what’s fair” —She reached for her bag— “I can call Wraith. I’ll let him know you don’t think much of my opinion and ask what he thinks.”
His face paled slightly and he waved his hand.
“Fuck!’ Barry snapped. “That’s not what I meant. Put down your phone.”
Cleo turned, smiling. “Oh, okay.”
Barry shifted on his feet and gripped his hips. Addison kept her smile at bay, but she was thoroughly amused by the fear tactic Cleo used.Well done, girl.
Barry sighed. “One fifty.”
She flattened her hands on the bar. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a bartender.”
And I’ve got a job!
****
Meetings with Inez weren’t mandatory for the whole club. Except for Ace and Cross. It was rare that both the president andVP weren’t in attendance. Occasionally, one would serve without the other. This specific meeting required a few other members. Cross, Ace, Wraith, Gent, and Cypher had arrived an hour ago to discuss the ongoing concerns about the deal bartered with Satan’s Hex. As of now, there weren’t any direct issues, but Cross had reservations whether they could maintain the distribution without going out of state.
“They pay?” Inez asked, taking a deep drag from her cigarette.
“Yeah,” Ace said.
“And you know who they’re selling to?”
“Yeah.”
Inez scoffed. “So what’s the fucking problem?”
