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Lowering my chin to my chest, I swallow hard. “What if bringing Haven into the club puts a target on her back like it did with Poppy?”
Swift grips my shoulder supportively, making me look up at him. “No matter what,anyonewho is a member of this club automatically has a price on their head. That’snevergoing to change, Alpha. We have to manage the best way we can. You gotta live. You gotta celebrate the wins. Because when the losses come, sometimes you don’t have time to prepare for them. You have to enjoy every single day you have with the people you care about. Treasure them, fuck, love them if you can. Because if the day comes when they’re gone, at least you know you gave it your all when they were here. That’s all you can hope for when you’re a part of Defiance.”
The fact I have lost so many people in my life is what keeps me guarded. My men at the embassy. Poppy. Livvy. Even my CO, Oscar Gates, who is the only other man to come back from thatshit show, abandoned me after I was dishonorably discharged.
I keep people at a distance so I don’t have to risk losing them.
But maybe that’s half my problem.
Maybe that’s why I am the way I am—a shell of a man.
Glancing at the surveillance camera, I spot Haven eating pancakes, and a slow smile crosses my face. I don’t know what it is about Haven, but maybe she’s finally the one person I can let past my highly-built fortress.
Iwantto let her in.
Iwantto trust her.
Idon’t wantto hold her at a distance.
Iwanther close to me.
Dammit!Idon’t wanther to go.
Standing from the desk, I dip my head. “I’ll ask Haven if she wants to stay on as a farmhand. We’re gonna pay her a salary, and she can stay in the loft. We in agreement?”
Swift and Loki try to hide their smirks, but both nod. “Shall I draw up an employment contract and an NDA?”
I tap the desk twice and turn for the door. “Get one ready. I don’t know if she’s gonna say yes. Knowing Haven, she will probably tell me to fuck off.”
I head for the door, pull it open, and make my way over to Haven. I’m unsure why I didn’t think about her staying on and helping as a farmhand. She has the qualifications. It makes perfect sense. It’s hard to picture her in the pigsty mucking up the pen. But there’s a lot about Haven that surprises me. This will be just another to add to the list.
I take a seat next to her, seeing my breakfast already laid out on the table beside her.
Haven glances up at me, stuffing her face full of pancakes. “Did you fall down the toilet or something?” she asks, little bits of pancake falling out of her mouth as she talks.
“Or something.” I smirk, pick up a slice of bacon, and tilt myhead. “I have a proposition for you.”
She side-eyes me. “No, I willnotbe your sex slave. I know I am fucking amazing at what I do, but Ihaveto draw the line somewhere.” Her lips turn up with a grin before she picks up a piece of bacon, taking a bite.
“While that isextreeemelytempting, and I kinda wish I had thought of it, it’s not what I’m offering.”
She hums but continues chewing, and when she’s good and ready, she answers with, “Well then, out with it.”
“I don’t know if you noticed, but we have a loft above the pigsty. It’s well ventilated so the smells of the animals don’t penetrate the facilities, but it has a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small living area.”
She narrows her eyes on me like she’s confused. “Okay? What does this have to do with me?”
“We need someone to help with the animals. To care for them, which will ease the pressure on Rip. It’s a paid position, and they get to live in the loft, rent provided, and have meals in the clubhouse with the rest of us.” Her eyes widen, she sits taller, and her breathing stops as she stares at me. “The job is yours if you want it.”
I see her eyes glisten again, and this time, she turns away from me so I can’t see her as she breathes in deeply. “Shit, Alpha,” she mumbles.
I reach out, placing my hand on her shoulder. She softens at my touch, and I turn her. “Talk to me.”
Her still glistening eyes meet mine. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“I’m notthatnice. I did run a background check on you to make sure you weren’t some damn weirdo.”
She lets out a small laugh, rubbing at her brow like she’s relieved. “And did you find anything interesting?”
