Chapter 15

fifteen

. . .

River

This motherfucker lether cover his rent, while the other asshole let her pay off his gambling debts, and he thought he could come in here and talk to her like that?

Not on my fucking watch.

Ruby’s voice broke through my anger. “Let him go, River.”

I glared at him for a few more seconds before letting the fabric of his shirt slip through my fingers, and he ran his hands along his chest as if he were trying to iron out the wrinkles on his shirt.

I sat back down, and he did the same.

“Are you going to let him treat me like that?” His voice was so whiny, I wanted to slap him just to knock some fucking sense into him.

“I am. My only complaint is that I didn’t get to do it first.” Ruby rested her elbows on the bar, looking from me to him. “I’m not hiring you because you aren’t reliable, and I’m trying to run a business. This is my father’s livelihood, and you claim to care about Lionel, yet I haven’t seen you stop by to see him once since he’s been in the hospital. He’s been really decent to you, Rico.”

“Panda’s been sick, and I’ve had so much going on with Mom and Jimbo, I just haven’t had a chance to get there. So that’s why you won’t hire me?”

“Come on, Rico. You don’t get to just drink for free and ask for a job because I’m your sister. You need to grow the hell up. You got fired from the Daily Market because you didn’t go to work. Why would I hire you?” she asked.

I had to give it to the guy… he made no attempt to hide how puzzled he was. He scratched his head and looked at her like he genuinely couldn’t figure out for the life of him why she wouldn’t want to hire him.

“Because I’m your brother.”

“Yeah, you are. And I’m your sister. So I could make an argument that it’s not my job to keep saving you. How about you help me out for once and save yourself?”

“And how do I do that when I have no job?”

Jesus. Grow the fuck up, man.

I had to look away because this dude was pathetic. I couldn’t watch it without stepping in, which I knew wouldn’t go over well. So, I let Ruby do her thing and put him in his place.

“You find one. You beg for it, and you show up and prove that you’re worth keeping around.”

“But if I can’t get you to hire me, why would anyone else hire me?”

“For fuck’s sake,” I groaned, because I couldn’t take it any longer. “Stop whining. Everyone works. Everyone has to pay their bills. You aren’t the only one. Your sister works her ass off, and she’s here helping her father because she’s a good fucking person. And you’re taking advantage of her. You need to figure your shit out.”

His eyes widened, and he nodded. Damn. That was easier than I’d expected it to be.

“I don’t know where to start.”

I turned in my chair and faced him. “Start by being a fucking man. Tell your sister that you’re sorry for calling her a bitch when she’s done nothing but help you. Tell her that you’re sorry for taking her money all these years and that you’ll stop doing it. Right fucking now. Let’s see if you can do that first, and then maybe, maybe, I’ll fucking help you.”

He blinked a few times before turning to look at Ruby, who was staring at me with her mouth hanging open.

“I’m sorry, sis. I shouldn’t have called you a bitch. You know I love you, right?” he asked, and then glanced at me.

“And…” I said, rolling my eyes.

“I’m sorry for taking your money and for being a pain in the ass all the time.”

I reached for the pen sitting on the bar near Ruby, and I wrote my number on a cocktail napkin and raised an eyebrow. “Do you have five bucks on you?”

“Yeah.” He reached into his wallet and counted out five singles.

“Pay her for the beer.”

His eyes widened, but he dropped the cash onto the bar.

I handed him the napkin with my phone number. “If you call her for one more thing, and I’m talking anything—like a free beer or rent money or even to fucking complain about your bullshit—the offer is off the table. This is my number. I won’t be as nice as Oscar. You get one fucking chance with me, and I will have zero problem firing you. Call me, and we’ll figure something out.”

He glanced at his beer and then back at me. “Can I finish my drink, or…”

I shook my head with irritation because what the fuck was I even doing helping this prick out?

But I wasn’t doing it for him.

I was doing it for her.

I didn’t know why, but I knew that I wanted to help her.

“You bought it. Why do I care if you drink it?”

He nodded and slammed the rest of it down before wiping off his mouth with the back of his hand and slipping off the barstool. “Thank you. I’ll call you as soon as I get home. But I’m not a lawyer, so I’m not sure what work you’ve got for me.”

No shit, Sherlock.

“Don’t worry about it. If you’re willing to work, I’ll help you out. But I told you before, you get one chance with me.”

“All right. Bye, Rubes.” He held up his hand, and she had a forced smile on her face when she said goodbye as he walked out the door.

When I turned my attention back to her, she had her arms folded over her chest, watching me. “What was that for?”

“That was for you, Queenie.” I wiped off my hands and set my napkin on my plate before dropping a twenty-dollar bill on the bar and pushing to my feet.

“What are you going to have him do?” she asked, anger radiating from her hot little body.

“I don’t know yet. Let’s see if he even calls first. If he’s willing to work, I’ll find him something. It’s up to him.”

“I don’t need you to give him a handout. I’ve got it covered.”

“Yeah, you’ve got everyone covered, don’t you?” I asked as I stood there, staring at her. I couldn’t get this fucking woman out of my mind. Out of my thoughts.

I was horny as hell, and I didn’t want anyone else.

This had never happened to me before, and I didn’t know how the fuck to handle it.

I’d tried avoiding her for a few days, but that hadn’t eased my discomfort at all.

So here I was, helping out her misfit fucking brother.

Because I just wanted to be around her. Be within a few feet of her. Hear her voice. Watch her work.

I just wanted to be in Ruby fucking Rose’s orbit.

It calmed me in the strangest way. Even if she was pissed or irritated, I liked it.

“I do. And we’re all fine.”

“Let me get this straight. Your asshole brother calls you a bitch and begs for a job, and you turn him down. I tell him to apologize to you, and I offer to help him out, and you’re pissed at me?”

“Correct. What even is this? You saw me break down in an elevator one time, and you think I need saving now? I’m not some damsel in distress, River. I don’t need your help.”

“You are one fucking stubborn woman, aren’t you?”

“You don’t know anything about me.” She raised a brow.

“I know more than you think I do. But one thing is for certain: You sure do get pissed off at the wrong fucking people. I’m not the bad guy here.”

She glared at me. “Who do you think you are? Some sort of expert on my life? Please. And who is it that you think I should be pissed off at?”

“How about the people who treat you like shit? Your mother. Your brothers. The people who use you and just keep coming back for more. But by all means, get pissed off at the dude who tried to help you. That makes a fuck ton of sense.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about!” she shouted. “I don’t need your help. I don’t need anything from you.”

Her reaction was completely irrational, and I expected nothing less.

The woman didn’t know how to let anyone in.

And I understood it because I didn’t trust most people either.

But I trusted some.

My boys. My grandmother.

Everyone needed someone.

And Lionel couldn’t be that person for her right now, and we both knew it.

So, I did what I do best—I acted like I didn’t give a shit.

“Yeah. Just sixty seconds with me on my knees, right, Queenie?”

She moved so fast that I barely reacted in time, as she chucked the bar towel at me. “Fuck you, River.”

“I think you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Maybe that’s why you’re so pissed off all the time. You’ve never been fucked properly. That has to be pretty frustrating for you.”

“You’re an asshole.” She flipped me the bird. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.”

I couldn’t help but smile because I liked seeing her all pissed off and worked up. She was sexy as hell and full of fire, and I’d never wanted to slam someone against a wall and cover their mouth with mine just to shut them up as much as I did her.

Just to taste her.

To hear those little moans that she makes when she’s about to come undone.

Hell, maybe I was the one who was frustrated.

This woman was so far under my skin I couldn’t think straight.

I held up my hand and walked out the door.

When I got back to the office, Cassie and her cousin were busy chatting about their plans to go to the lake later, and I told her not to interrupt me until my next client arrived in thirty minutes.

My phone rang, and it was from an unknown number.

“This is River,” I grumped.

“Hey, dude. It’s Rico. Are you still willing to help me out?”

“I wasn’t kidding about the one shot. You flake, and you’re gone.”

“I got it.”

“Be at my office tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. sharp. Don’t make me regret this,” I hissed.

“I won’t,” he said, and I ended the call.

I dropped to sit behind my desk and saw that the RoD group chat was going off, so I took a minute to catch up.

Kingston

Just left the Daily Market, and Oscar’s dog, Boone, had been returned to his yard.

Hayes

And I give a fuck about this because?

Nash

My thoughts exactly.

Kingston

Because Oscar was reunited with his best friend, you dickwads.

Romeo

Holy shit. Demi said that Ruby called Midge out at the diner for stealing Boone and basically told her she’d be arrested if she didn’t return him.

Kingston

Ruby is such a badass. Have you made a move yet, brother?

I told you, there’s nothing going on. But she’s convinced Midge is a dog snatcher, and clearly, she was right.

Nash

Why the fuck doesn’t Midge just go to the pound and adopt a dog like everyone else?

Kingston

The pound makes me sad. I don’t like it there.

Romeo

Why? Bad childhood dog experience? I don’t ever remember you guys having a dog.

No. We never had a dog. He’s just a sappy fucker. Remember how he cried over that Super Bowl commercial?

Hayes

How could I forget? We were at Whiskey Falls, and the bastard sobbed on my shoulder like a fucking pussy.

Kingston

Hey now! Any time you put two animals together who can’t function without one another, I’m done for.

Nash

There were two animals in that commercial? I thought it was an ad for beer?

Kingston

How did you watch that commercial and not see the horse and the dog? #adorbs

Hayes

Maybe because you were crying so loud, we were watching you instead of the TV.

If you ever say #adorbs again, I will twist your balls so hard that you’ll see double.

Kingston

My balls are like my nipples. They’re very sensitive. Even talking about you harming them makes me uncomfortable. <winky face emoji>

Do you have a mirror near you, King?

Kingston

Yes. Why? You want me to look at my handsome face to remind me how good-looking I am?

No. I want you to hold it between your legs and check and see if you still have balls there, you sappy motherfucker.

Romeo

<laughing face emoji>

Hayes

<head exploding emoji>

Nash

Too fucking good. I think he lost them a long time ago.

Kingston

I assure you… they are firmly in place, and the ladies love them. <winky face emoji>

Anyway… I need a favor. Are any of you in need of some help around the house? Yard work? Handyman type of shit?

Nash

I told you that we aren’t hiring Cassie. She’s all yours, brother.

I’m more than aware. It’s not Cassie.

Romeo

Why am I nervous? This is usually a question we’d get from King, not you. Who the hell are you helping out?

Kingston

Oh, I cannot wait to hear who it is.

It’s not a big deal. Rico Dane is looking for work. Oscar fired him.

Hayes

Rico Dane Junior? Because Rico Dane Senior was so fucking memorable?

Nash

I hate when people think they’re so important that they need a title at the end of their name. Everyone should be given their own fucking name and own it.

Romeo

Like Beefcake Heart the first?

Nash

He’s definitely the one and only dude who can rock that name.

Kingston

Hold up. Are we all missing something big here? Rico Dane Junior happens to be Ruby’s brother, correct?

Your point?

Kingston

I’m just saying, it’s weird that you’ve never helped anyone other than one of us and Cassie, and that was because her mom helped Grammie, and now you’re helping a dude you can’t stand. I wonder why? <hand tapping forehead emoji>

Nash

He does make a good point.

Hayes

Rico is a complete fuck-up. Are you asking us to help him, or are you asking us to help Ruby?

Romeo

My question exactly.

I groaned. If I said it was for Rico, they wouldn’t do it. Everyone in town knew the dude couldn’t hold down a job. No one was going to agree to help him. But I also didn’t want to get bombarded with a shit ton of questions.

Does it really matter?

Hayes

Yes.

Nash

100%.

Romeo

Absolutely.

Kingston

I just want to hear you say it so I can drop this mirror off at your house later, and you can check to see if you’ve still got your balls. <heart eyes emoji>

<middle finger emoji>

Kingston

Waiting.

It’s for Ruby.

Romeo

Done. I can find some handiwork at the gym or at the house.

Nash

I need some yard work done this weekend.

Hayes

My fence is falling apart, and it could use some paint.

Kingston

My heart is full, brother. I’ll find something for your lover’s brother to do.

Thanks.

I set my phone down and leaned back in my chair. I knew I shouldn’t be helping this asshole out.

But I knew that Ruby needed someone to step up and help her.

And for whatever reason, I wanted to be that guy.