Now, Riley wasn’t stupid. She knew a sugar coating when she heard one, but even if the tip earning was greatly exaggerated, the facts remained that she’d be earning enough in one week to pay the rent and most of the bills and all she had to do was wait tables.
“This all sounds a little too good to be true,” she admitted.
Liam smiled at her kindly. “I won’t lie to you, it won’t be all champagne and roses, but you seem like someone who picks things up quickly.”
“I am,” Riley said, struggling to keep her voice even. “I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“Fantastic,” Kyaerin said, glancing at her husband.
Liam nodded. “I have a question though.”
Riley waited.
“How old are you?”
It took a great deal of effort not to grimace. This was the part that scared a lot of potential employers away.
“I turned nineteen last week,” she confessed after a split second hesitation. “But I don’t drink or smoke and I don’t party.”
Liam chuckled. “Well, then maybe you can teach our sons a thing or two. Lord knows they do enough of all that. Regulus, is eighteen. We usually keep him in the kitchen to help Gorje during rushes and serve drinks during the evenings, but he isn’t permitted to mix or pour the drinks himself. Octavian or Gideon do most of the bartending.” Liam squinted at Riley. “So I’m guessing you’re looking for part-time employment, am I correct?”
Riley shook her head. “Full-time, if possible.”
Liam’s eyebrow rose questioningly. “No school for you?”
It took a bit more effort not to let it show how much the question bothered her. “I’m taking some time off from college.”
Liam nodded like it made sense, but made no comment. His gaze shifted over to his wife, who had remained mute throughout most of the transaction. They said nothing for several minutes as they did that weird eye communication thing only couples could pull off.
At long last, he trained his attention back to Riley, and smiled. “When can you start?”
Bottling back the bubbling squeal building up inside her, Riley opened her mouth to respond when the front door opened and three boys scuffled in, carting a dead body between them.
Chapter 2
The corpse was filthy like it had been unearthed freshly from the grave. Its clothes were tattered and stained with clumps of dirt that kept flaking off with every violent jostle. The skin was gray with deep gashes peeling away from the scalp, revealing bits of raw bone. Its eyes were open, milky and rolled up as though praying to the heavens. Its jaw sat unhinged, crocked and gaping in a silent scream. Riley had to cover her own mouth to keep from gagging.
“Boys?” Kyaerin was on her feet, her face a mask of horror as the corpse’s head lolled grotesquely from side to side under the awkward dance through the doors.
“Hi, Mom,” one of the boys said, grunting and adjusting the weight of the legs. “We’ll clean up the mess.”
“What… where…?” Kyaerin sputtered.
“Oh deep breath, Mom,” the one holding the hips muttered. “It’s not real.” To prove it, he jiggled the thing, making its entire body wiggle like a worm. “It’s rubber. We found it at this joke shop downtown. We applied the dirt,” he added with a proud smirk.
Having got over her shock, Kyaerin bristled. “What in the world are you doing with that disgusting thing?”
“We’re going to put it in Octavian’s bed and record his reaction,” the youngest of the three, the one holding the shoulders said, grinning.
“Then post it on YouTube,” the one holding the legs added.
Hand flattened to her chest, Kyaerin sighed. She raised her free hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. “What am I going to do with you boys?”
“There, there, darling. They’re just having a bit of fun. Why don’t you go grab that contract from my office and we can get Riley all settled in.” Liam soothed, patting his wife’s arm.
Kyaerin took a deep breath and left the room without another word.
Liam turned to his sons. “Come along, boys. I want you to meet the newest addition to our little diner.”
Riley winced as the corpse was dropped unceremoniously to the ground and stepped on as the boys moved to stand behind their father. She got to her feet as they were introduced.
They were all ridiculously handsome, like a family of models. It was clear that they’d inherited all the really great parts from each of their parents, although none of them looked alike.
Gideon had mussed blond hair and dominating gray eyes. His face was angular with high cheekbones and a sharp chin. His complexion was made even paler due to the endless miles of black he wore. Everything from his scuffed boots, fitted jeans, t-shirt beneath a battered leather jacket and fingerless gloves were black. He looked more like he should have been on the back of a motorcycle, not tramping around a diner.
Magnus had wavy brown hair, a square face and wore as much black as his brother, except his t-shirt had a green shield on the front. His brown eyes shone with contemplation as he took Riley in. There were no other differences between the two. They both had large builds and impressive heights brushing above six feet, and looked capable of many mischievous things. Which was why when she turned her attention to Regulus, the youngest of the group, she was surprised to find just how far he’d fallen from his family’s norm.
He was shorter by a head with unruly brown hair and gleaming brown eyes. He was slender like a swimmer and carried very little muscle beneath his bright red t-shirt and acid washed jeans. He wore trainers on his feet and sport bands on his wrists. It was such a contrast to his brothers that she couldn’t help stare.
“Boys, this is Riley Masters,” Liam finished.
Riley quickly caught herself and forced a smile. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“Miss. Riley Masters,” Gideon mused slowly with a hint of an accent that was greatly exaggerated. He glanced curiously at his brothers. “I’m not seeing things, am I? There really is a human sitting in the diner, right?”
“No, there really is a human in the diner,” Magnus said with just a touch of disbelief that mirrored the expressions on both his brothers’ faces.
Gideon stared at Riley, making her fidget under the scrutiny. “When’s the last time that happened?”
“That kid, Jimmy or Johnny…” Reggie snapped his fingers, trying to conjure up the name. “He stumbled in through the forest. Hiking or something.”
“Larry!” Gideon remembered with a punch to his brother’s shoulder.
Reggie smacked the table. “That’s it! Weird little fellow that one.”
“Shitty luck about what happened to him,” Gideon said, shaking his head. “No one deserves to die like that.”
“The guy brought it on himself,” Magnus muttered in a gruff, almost smoker’s voice. “He had a big mouth.”
“And he was nosy,” Reggie chimed in. “Always asking questions and sticking his snout where it didn’t belong. He worked here for… what? Eight months before the Guardians cleansed him?”
The other two made remorseful noises.
“Tanta stultitia mortalium est - such is the foolishness of mortals,” Gideon said somberly with a shake of his head. “Their bloody curiosity. They always have to have answers.”
“Boys!” Liam interjected sharply, having noticed the look of horror on Riley’s face. “Can you not scare Riley away before she’s even started? She doesn’t know you’re joking.”
“Joking?” Gideon blinked innocently at his brothers. “Do you believe this hogwash?”
“I do believe he’s trying to keep us from scaring off another victim,” Magnus decided.
Gideon hooked an arm around Magnus’ shoulders and leaned into him. “Ahh, the truth, scaring off potential employees since…” He peered around Magnus at Reggie. “What year were you born, Reggie?”
“About the same time you got your sense of humor,” Reggie replied tartly.
&nbs
p; “Oh don’t fuss, little brother. Your face will be things of poetry and sonnets. Just you wait.”
“The boy with the Demon face,” Magnus chimed, smirking darkly.
Gideon threw his head back and howled with laughter as Reggie reached around him and punched Magnus in the arm.
“Boys,” Liam said with a burdened sigh. “Focus.”
The trio sobered, turning their attention back to Riley.
“Ms. Masters,” Magnus said with a polite inclination of his head.
“Lady Masters,” Gideon said with a dramatic bow and wink. “A pleasure.”
With a flourish, he spun on his heels and stalked back to the rubber corpse. Magnus followed. Reggie offered her an uncertain grin before ambling after them. Between them, they hoisted up the body and shuffled their way through the kitchen doors and out of sight.
Riley sat slowly, not really sure what just happened.
“Please don’t take them too seriously,” Liam said with a slight grin. “They mean well.”
Riley offered him an uncertain smile. “It’s all right.”
“Do you have siblings?”
She shook her head. “It’s just me and my dad.”
Liam opened his mouth to comment when the kitchen door opened and Kyaerin hurried out, a stack of papers in hand. She set them on the desk along with a pen and regained her seat next to her husband. Liam looked as relieved as Riley felt as the topic turned back to the business at hand.
“This is a straightforward contract. You will strive to be on time and presentable during work hours. You are on temporary probation for the next three months. After three months, you’ll get a raise in salary as well as benefits and…”
Riley tuned out as she flipped through the stapled pages, skimming through each row. She’d never had to sign a contract for a job before, but then her first real job had been a newspaper route, then a dog walking stint that lasted a week. Everything stated really did seem straightforward and easy to comply with.
“Do you have any questions?” Liam asked, pulling her attention back to the present.
Riley shook her head. “No, this all seems fine.”
Liam smiled. “Contrary to what our sons may tell you, we aren’t really slave drivers.”
Riley chuckled.
“Why don’t you go ahead and sign and tell us when you can start,” Kyaerin suggested, holding out the pen for her.
Riley took it. “I can start whenever you need me to.”
“Excellent!” Liam chimed, clapping his hands. “How about tonight? I think Octavian and…” He glanced at his wife. “Gideon?”
“Reggie,” she corrected.
Liam nodded. “Right. Octavian and Reggie are working and can show you the ropes.”
Riley hadn’t expected to start so quickly, but she agreed, scribbling her name across the line.
No sooner had she set the pen and contract down and pushed them towards Liam when the door opened and a set of scuffed army boots stomped into sight, followed by long, limber legs encased in black jeans. Riley hadn’t seen his face the first time they’d crossed paths, but she recognized that build anywhere.
The universe either really loved her or really hated her. It was yet to be determined.
“Octavian!” Liam motioned him over. “There’s a young lady here to see you.”
Hair the rich shade of pure ebony glistened with streaks of electric blue as the man turned at the sound of his father’s voice. Eyes the pale shade of ice jumped over his parents before fixating on Riley. They widened with recognition even as she wondered if he remembered she’d been behind him in line. His head tipped an inch to the side as he drew her in from head to toe as though memorizing every inch of her. The steady scrutiny sent an odd ripple of warmth spreading through her, which curled her toes and made something unfamiliar flutter in the pit of her stomach. There was such intensity in his gray eyes, a sort of concentration that made her giddy and nervous. Confusion propelled his brows together as though something about her wasn’t fitting right with the picture he’d drawn and no matter how he tried, that single piece was ruining the picture.
“Yes?” he said finally, with an edge of caution.
Riley swallowed hard as she rose out of her chair, pushing a tendril of hair off her face. “Hello.” She forced a smile. “You don’t know me, but we were in line together at the post office.” She scrambled for her purse and pulled out his wallet. “You dropped this on your way out.”
Disbelief shot over his face even as his hands went to his pockets. His gaze shot up, eyes narrowing into thin slits of aggravation. “What the hell are you doing with that?” His boots thumped against the hardwood as he crossed over to snatch it from her.
Stunned by his rudeness, Riley frowned. “I’m bringing it back.”
He stuffed it hastily into his back pocket. “You shouldn’t be here,” he growled, fury coloring his face. “You have no idea what you’ve done!”
“What—”
“That’s enough, Octavian.” Liam rose to his feet gracefully. “Riley has done a kind thing for us. You ought to be grateful.”
“More like ruined everything.”
“Excuse me?”
“Octavian, enough.” Kyaerin shot her son a warning glower. “You’re being rude.”
“Forgive my son, Riley.” Liam smiled. “He’s not fond of strangers.”
Blood boiling beneath the skin of her cheeks, Riley forced herself to nod. “I understand.” She didn’t, but she wasn’t about to lose her temper in front of the only people willing to give her a job when she needed it. “Thank you again for your time. I’ll see you tonight—”
“Why?” Octavian’s eyes shot to his parents. “What’s tonight?”
Bewildered by the sharpness of his tone, Riley wasn’t quick enough to respond.
“Riley accepted the waitressing position,” Liam answered for her. “She will be—”
“No! Absolutely not.”
“Octavian!” Kyaerin gasped. “What has gotten into you?”
“Can I talk with you… in private?” Octavian interjected with a sharp undertone that broached no room for argument.
Liam and Kyaerin exchanged glances, the surprise on their faces assuring her that this was not a normal occurrence. Clearly they were as dumbfounded by the anger in their son’s expression as she was. But they rose out of their chairs, murmured an apology to Riley and followed Octavian into the kitchen.
“Not her.” Octavian’s voice carried through as clear as a bell through the takeout window. “I don’t want it to be her.”
“Octavian!” Kyaerin scolded.
“She found her way here,” Liam said, calmly, but with an edge of warning. “There was nothing we could do. We have no choice. She’s hired.”
“Unhire her and send her back. They don’t ever have to know if you don’t report it.”
“Octavian, you know we can’t.” Kyaerin sounded outraged. “This isn’t something we can ignore.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but whatever it is, you need to work it out,” Liam said patiently. “We can’t let her—”
“They can’t know about her,” Octavian interrupted. “I can’t…”
“Well, I’m sorry, but you know the rules. She’s signed and we have an obligation to uphold.”
“Then I’ll make her quit.”
There was the thunder of feet and then the kitchen door flew open and Octavian stormed out. He marched through the diner without looking at Riley and disappeared out the front door. A moment later, Kyaerin and Liam slipped out of the kitchen, both looking grim.
“We are so sorry you had to witness that,” Kyaerin murmured.
“Octavian is a strong believer in keeping the business within the family,” Liam explained with a sad smile. “Which normally I would agree with, but a new face helps once in a while.”
Riley could only smile uncertainly. “If you need time to think about—”
“No!” Kyaerin all bu
t shouted, making Riley jump.
Liam touched his wife’s arm lightly. “What Kyaerin means is that there is nothing to think about. We would like you to be here at seven until closing, which will be about one-ish. Is that all right with you?”
Unsure, but unwilling to let this opportunity pass her by, Riley nodded. “That sounds perfect. Thank you.”
Octavian's Undoing (Sons of Judgment) Page 3