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Tony hesitates. “Yeah, I want the job.”
“Good. Now shut up, finish your beer with me, and watch the damn game. You start tomorrow. Come out to the build site and dress like fucking MC. No more suits and shit unless the job calls for it.”
Tony grins back at me before reclining his chair to watch the game.
* * *
A couple of hours later, I leave Tony’s and return to the build site. Josephine is making her last rounds for the day and Punk trails behind like a good watchdog.
Talking with each construction worker is not something most architectural engineers typically do, but it’s standard practice for her. Josephine’s team adores her, and it’s a lot to do with her caring about all of them, not only with the work they do but in their personal lives too.
The second crew whom she hired has quickly fallen in love with her as well. There have been whispers amongst the workers, hoping she’ll take them out of temporary help and making them permanent fixtures.
With all the contract jobs she has scheduled between finishing the MC headquarters, our new home, Lloyd’s barbershop, and now a cottage for her parents, it’s safe to say she will be offering all of them full-time positions with Holland Build and Design Solutions.
I match my pace with hers as she approaches her last worker for the day. Cliff is overseeing the landscaping, which will be going in next week. The two of them talk shop while going over the upcoming deliveries of trees, shrubs, flowers, dirt, and mulch. They grow giddy the more they brainstorm about the project. It’s cute watching my woman geek out over her work.
Punk seems uneasy, watching me out of the corner of his eye, and I have no fucking clue why. I’m about to ask him what gives when Cliff walks away, but Josephine turns to me.
Reaper approaches us, cracking his neck, and acting like he’s about to go into battle. “Let’s do this,” he says, jacked up.
“Do what?” I ask, eyeing the three of them curiously.
Josephine scowls at my brother. “Reaper, you jackass, I wanted to do this at home in private.”
Reaper throws her a desperate look. “Or we could not do anything.”
Say what?!Something’s up and I want to know now. Waiting ‘till we get somewhere private is only going to make me more anxious and temperamental.
Josephine looks resigned as she does her meditative breathing. She’s obviously the spokesperson. Reaper is bouncing back and forth on his toes like he does when he’s about to get in the boxing ring. He must be the muscle to stop me going off the rails, seeing as he’s the closest to my size. And Punk stands there with his arms across his lean chest, his face skyward, completely uncomfortable.
I pop my own neck and knuckles in preparation for battle. What has them all worked up, I have no clue, but I’m about to find out.
I eye my gorgeous Pixie. “All right, spill.”
She looks at me, tentatively. “You know the night terrors I was having the first week after, well, after ‘the incident?’” Josephine refers to Jacob attacking her as ‘the incident’ since it’s difficult for her to say his name.
Confused, I nod but say nothing.
Josephine blows out a big whoosh of air. “Well, after you left for Los Angeles, I started having more of them, a lot more, sometimes two or three in a short span of time.”
Shit.Here I was telling Josephine’s parents she was improving and I come to find out things have regressed.
“Aw, Jo,” I coo, pulling her into my arms. “I’m glad you told me, but seriously, you never have to be worried about telling me anything. Having my brothers as your back up isn’t necessary.”
Punk and Reaper exchange a look. Obviously, I only know half the story. I side-eye my men. “What else?”
Punk shakes his head adamantly, and Reaper cracks his knuckles.
“They did everything they could to calm me, but each night terror was followed with me going into a panic attack. The two of them took turns restraining me and were awake all night. Hades was guarding all night, too—the first alert system.
“I went to counseling the next day and talked at length with my therapist. That night Opal offered to sleep with me in the bed, and I accepted. My night terror was bad, and I struck out and hit Opal,” Josephine says against my chest, shame lacing her voice.
Jesus.I know she can get violent during a night terror, but I’m used to taking a beating—Opal is not.
Reaper starts chuckling. “Gauge is going to be pissed once he sees you bruised her perfect fucking globes.”
Josephine glowers at Reaper. “I’m relieved I didn’t punch her in the face.”
