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Harold stepped back, so I got out of the truck. The door squeaked when I closed it. Harold led me into the trailer he used for his shop, and there was a large storage building to the left of it, where I assumed the equipment went.
“Thank you for giving me a chance. I really appreciate it,” I said when we stepped inside. I didn’t figure a lot of people were willing to work with ex-cons.
“People deserve a second chance. Just don’t let me down.”
His way of thinking was so foreign to me—giving people chances—but then around here, if employers didn’t hire people who’d been in trouble, who’d had to blow into a breathalyzer to start their car, or who’d never gotten into a drunken fight at the Homestead, there wouldn’t be a whole lot of people left to hire. “I won’t. You can count on me.”
He sat me down at a computer and had me fill out the paperwork. I looked up when the door opened, and my blood ran cold. Parrish Hunt was standing there in a pair of faded jeans, work boots, and a T-shirt. His blond hair was a little shaggy and messier than it used to be. He had scruff along his jaw, and though he’d been twenty-three the last time I saw him, he hadn’t had it yet.
He didn’t see me right away, heading straight for the boss. “Morning,” he told Harold, his voice rough and raspy, making me wonder if he still smoked.
“Hey, Parrish. Just the man I wanted to see. I have someone new for your crew today.” He pointed to me, Parrish’s pupils blowing wide the second his gaze landed on me. His jaw tensed, and even from a distance, I could see the pulse there. What the fuck he had to be pissed about was beyond me. I’d spent years in prison for his brother. I figured Frank and Rex had let the youngest Hunt in on the truth. “Parrish, this is Riven. Riven, this is Parrish. He’s the best guy I have out there and runs one of the two crews. You’ll fit well with him.”
The fuck I would. My feet itched to run for the door, to tell him there was no way in hell I could work with Parrish Hunt, but I needed this damn job. It was a good chance, and I’d make decent money for around here.
Parrish looked at me as if he’d rather be anywhere else too, but he recovered first. “Hey, Riven. Been a long time.” He walked over and held his hand out for me.
My legs didn’t want to do as I told them, but eventually I was able to make myself stand and force my hand out to shake his. “Parrish.”
“Oh, I forgot you fellas are both from Clayton, so you likely know each other.”
“Acquaintances,” I said.
“Great. I’m gonna head out. I have an estimate to take care of. Parrish can help you with anything you need, and when the other guys get here, you can be on your way. Let me know if you need anything.” Harold gave us a wave, the bell on the door dinging when he walked out.
“I heard you were back.” Parrish took a few steps back and crossed his arms.
“Yep,” was all I said because I worried if I let myself say too much, I was going to ruin this job before I got the chance to work my first day.
“Don’t fuck off on this job.”
“Kiss my ass, Parrish.” Jesus, what was his problem? But then, the Hunts had never needed much reason to hate anyone. Despite what I’d done, I was likely on their shit list now because they didn’t like anyone who had something that could be held over their heads.
“I’m serious. Harold is good people. I know you, Riven. You’re just like my brother. You have no loyalty to anyone, and if you screw him over, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” I asked, my throat tight. This was the last thing I needed. No way would this work. I should cut my losses and walk out now, but damn it, I wanted this job. Wanted to work with my hands. Why did the Hunts get to take this away from me too?
“Just don’t. And stay away from Rex and Becca. All they need is you bringing more drama into their lives. Rex finds enough trouble without you getting him into more. They’ve got two little girls. They can’t afford for you to take them down with the same old shit.”
Parrish had more fire to him than he used to. I remembered him hanging on to everything we did and said, trying to be like us. Looked like he’d found his footing on his own.
I rubbed a hand over my face, fingers pressing into my eyes. This was a mess. Could I do this? Could I work with Parrish? I never expected I’d see a Hunt here. I sure as shit would have never thought a legit employer would call a Hunt the best man they had. Before I’d gone inside, none of them had been able to hold down a job any better than me. “I just want to work, collect my paycheck, and find a way to get the hell out of this town.”
