“Sure. It’s just my phones. One my dad knows about, and the other he doesn’t. I hope. And no, I haven’t turned on either of them since I left. I have a new burner, and I dumped my old burner when I got that, but there’s no way he could’ve tracked either of those. Paid cash. Why does Jax want it?”
“He wants to see if they’re still tracking you. We’ll need the phone lock codes, too.”
“Sure. I’ll grab them.”
I retrieve them for Todd and write down all the information for him. After we finish breakfast and I help clean up the kitchen, I ride out to the main barn with him on the ATV. Today, I know some of the routine already, so I can get started immediately without needing detailed instructions. By lunch, I’m famished, and all the men I’ve worked with have been friendly and encouraging, making a point of telling me I’m doing a good job, and tolerating my questions about the job and the pack. Terry, the barn manager, especially so.
Honestly? I’d be happy doing this for the foreseeable future. Maybe I shouldn’t let my guard down yet but it’s hard not to relax when I feel safe.
And feeling safe’s a luxury I can’t ever remember feeling.
Would I love to be rich? Sure, but even more importantly I want to be safe and happy. Money cannot buy peace of mind, no matter what some people claim.
I’m fully aware I need to get my shit together. Maybe this is exactly what I need right now.
Todd brings us lunch again, and I learn this isn’t special treatment; he does this every day. All the guys seem to like him both as a person and as a boss. Any grumbles I hear aren’t to do with their employment, although I’ve already heard more cow shit jokes in the past two days than I have in my entire life.
“Boss,” Terry says, “I think you need to figure a way to keep this guy around for the long haul.”
Todd looks at me. “Yeah?”
I feel my face heat at the praise and take another bite of my sandwich.
“Yeah. Good worker. Smart guy, and I don’t have to ride his ass to keep him moving. Fits in well around here.”
I glance up and when my gaze catches Todd’s I feel heat roil deep inside me, like he’s reaching inside my soul with his.
Shoving another bite of sandwich into my pie hole saves me from inserting my foot into it.
“We’ll see what Jax says,” Todd says as he watches me. “He gets the final word, after all.”
I think if my father ruins this opportunity for me I’ll be tempted to kill him myself. Even if I can’t take him out, it’d be worth being put out of my misery.
Because there’s no way in hell I’m going back.
Ever.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jax
Uncommon Allies
Waking up the next morning in bed with Shawn curled around me fills me with relief and peace, and hope.
I didn’t fuck us up.
I’m a lucky damned man and don’t think I take that for granted, either.
Shawn rolls toward me. “Good morning.”
I look into his face for a long moment before kissing him. “You are the best thing in my life. The most important thing. I need you to know that.”
He smiles, and it’s that beautiful, handsome smile that twists my heart around his every damned time. “I do. Love you, too. Even when you’re an asshole.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “But I’m your asshole.”
A sleepy smile. “Yeah, I know.” He sits up, stretching. “Do you want me to stop by Todd’s and grab the pup’s phone while I’m out running errands?”
