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“Boys,” Mom snipped.“Play all you want, but do not embarrass my girl.I’ll bend you both over my knee and take Quinn’s spoon to your backsides.”
“And I’ll help her,” Aunt Quinn promised, placing my usual glass of Dr Pepper on the table.“You two be good.If I hear either of you upsetting Nishia, I’ll tell your fathers.”
“Big whoop,” Kingston snickered.“I’m not scared of him or you, Ma.Neither of you ever raised a hand to me.”
“That’s probably why you’re such a pain in the ass,” Mom told him.
“You never touched Jack either.You saying that’s why your son’s a dickhead, Auntie?”
Aunt Quinn cocked a brow at her son before amending, “I’ll tell Raven.”
He lost the grin and lifted both hands.“I give, Ma.No need to play dirty.”Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he dropped a kiss on top of her head and grinned down at Nishia.“Enjoy, ladies.Jack, I’ll get that steak out for you, cuz.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” Mom called after him.
I stole a fry off Nishia’s plate and tried to stretch my legs out a little more under the table, watching him go until he disappeared into the kitchen.
“You’re kind of an asshole today,” Nishia complained, picking up her burger.
Mom snorted out a laugh, nearly spitting her Diet Coke across the table.Shaking my head at her, I leaned in closer to my little fairy, kissing the tip of her nose.“I’m always an asshole, just not with you.”
Pleasure flared in her eyes.Picking up a fry, she stuffed it into my mouth.“I guess that’s acceptable.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
nishia
After shuttingdown the front desk computer, I started gathering my things.It had been a busy three weeks, but I kind of liked working at Barker & Reid Construction.It was hectic at times, but between Elias and Samara, I was rarely bored.With all the time I spent on the phone with complete strangers, it was exhausting, but I felt like I was making a difference.
Jos told me every day how thankful she was for me, praised my competence, and told me regularly she was going to have to give me a raise already.I didn’t understand how anyone could not be able to do what I’d been doing for weeks now, but apparently the past receptionists had been more intowhoworked at the office than doing their job.By that, I took it that the previous women had crushed on Elias.
Or maybe it was Samara they were starstruck over.
Either way, I wasn’t affected in the same way and was able to focus on getting work done without royally fucking up the computer system.
Samara came out of her office, empty coffee mug in hand.“Ugh, I hate indecisive clients,” she muttered as she walked toward the coffeepot.“Nishia, you are legit an angel for keeping the coffee fresh all day.You’re a lifesaver.”
“Did that Lynn woman change her mind again?”I asked, making sure my desk was in order.I knew I would be busy from the moment I walked through the door Monday morning and wanted to make sure everything was ready to hit the ground running or I’d feel out of sorts all day.
Annoyance radiated off Samara as she added creamer to her coffee.“Do you have any experience burying a body?”
Her question surprised a laugh out of me, but when I glanced at her, the expression on her face was serious.“No?”
“You asking or telling me, fairy?”she grumbled.
Laughing again, I picked up my phone.“Telling.Sorry, I’ve never buried a body before.”
“You’re a Hannigan now, so that will probably change sooner or later.”
I cocked my head at her, my smile lingering.“I’m kind of okay with that.”For Jack and his mom, I’d do anything I had to in order to protect them.I might even consider getting rid of a body for Hawk if it came down to it.But I’d kill for Gracie without hesitation.Delaney and Ronan too; both of them had become like family.I felt like Delaney was my sister, and I loved her Max-clone son as if he were my nephew.
“If you want to survive in that family, you have to be okay with a lot of shit really quick.”
“Yeah, I’ve figured that out.”I checked my messages, seeing Jack had texted to let me know he would be late picking me up because he needed to help with the liquor delivery at Hannigans’ since his uncle Raider and uncle Colt had both had to go on a run down to Oakland, and Kingston was sick.It was just going to be him and his dad at the bar all night.
“How hard is it to tend bar?”I asked Samara, wondering how big of a stink Jack would make if I offered to help—or rather, just showed up and started mixing drinks.
“Dunno,” she answered with a shrug.“I’ve never done it.Jack and his uncles make it look fairly easy, though.I mean, if you can handle the craziness here at the office, it shouldn’t be an issue for you to pop the tops off a few beers and fill a few pitchers with draft.But you’d be on your feet a lot, and you seem pretty beat, considering you’ve been doing physical therapy as well as working here.Jack won’t like that, fairy.”
