by Livia Grant
Fuck. I forgot today’s the day the new guy starts. Derek better appreciate me hiring his baby brother. I don’t have time for babysitting.
Three men had resumed talking at the same time while Derek took a step back to separate himself from the three stooges bickering in front of Lukus’s desk. The knowing smirk on his face revealed that he knew full well how Lukus dealt with shit like this.
“Enough! I wasn’t aware I’d employed a bunch of fucking teenage girls, because that’s exactly what you’re all sounding like. Johnson. Talk. Now.”
A look of vindication passed across Colton Johnson’s face. “Turner needs to shut up and get going. He and Sean are supposed to be out at the new security system install job in Naperville in like ten minutes. They’re gonna be late.”
It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out Turner and Sean Ryan were not happy with their assignment. Lukus turned his attention to Logan Turner, lifting an eyebrow as if to say, “what the fuck, man?” Logan didn’t miss his cue. “Naperville is CJ’s job. He did the quote and knows the layout of the house. It makes no sense for me to go on this one without him.”
Lukus knew something was fishy. Logan usually liked to go out on technology install jobs, preferring them to personal bodyguard or location security detail assignments. Turning back to CJ, Lukus pressed for answers. “So, what’s the other job you’re trying to steal from these guys?”
“Damn, boss. How the hell do you do that?” CJ looked amazed.
“I’ve worked with you yahoos for too long. We don’t have time for this bullshit. Spill.”
“It’s nothing. I just need to finish up some loose ends up at the Deerfield job today. There’s not enough there for all of us. I’ll head up there and wrap up the job we started last week. Sean and Logan can do the job in Naperville.”
“This is such bullshit. He’s just trying to get into the pants of the chick who lives there. Her husband was home last week, but he’ll be at work today,” Logan said.
Lukus chuckled. “I see. So, you thought you should go and try to get into her pants instead?”
At least Logan had the decency to look sheepish. Lukus knew how to solve this problem. “Sean, you head up to Deerfield and finish the job there. And keep the hell away from the lady’s pants. Then head out to Naperville to catch up with these two. CJ and Logan, hit the road, and be sure to give the client a call to let them know you’re running late.”
Two of the three left grumbling, while the red-headed Sean walked out with a shit-eating grin on his face. Lukus could finally take a deep breath when they closed the door behind them, leaving the three remaining men in the room in silence. Only now did Lukus get a good look at his newest employee. So far, he was not impressed.
What the fuck is his name again? I know Derek told me.
Finally giving up on coming up with a first name, he improvised. “So, you’re Parker.”
“Wow. You’re smart. How’d you figure it out?”
Lukus was amused at the guy’s obvious I couldn’t give a shit attitude. Derek not so much. “I’m gonna knock your head off your shoulders if you don’t straighten up,” he said. “Lukus is doing you a favor. Don’t you forget it.”
Turning his bored eyes from Lukus to his brother, the scruffy man sprawled out on his couch as if he were about to take a nap retorted, “I never asked for any favors. In fact, I think this whole plan is bullshit.”
Lukus could see Derek’s neck turning red as it always did when he started to lose his cool. “Listen you little twerp. You’ve been sitting your ass on Mom and Dad’s couch watching TV and playing video games long enough. It’s time for you to actually get off your ass and do something of value again. Maybe make a few bucks to contribute for the food you’ve been shoveling in your face. Or, here’s an idea—you could use it to pay for a membership at a gym so you can stop gaining five pounds a week from sitting on your lazy ass.”
“All right you two,” Lukus said. “As touching as this family reunion seems, I’d like to at least try to get some work done today. Derek, did you have a training plan in mind for junior here?”
“Dylan.” When Lukus glanced his way, the new guy confirmed. “My name is Dylan. Not Junior.”
“Fine. Welcome to the team… Dylan.”
Derek snorted. “You’d better straighten up, or your time on the team will be short.”
“Fine by me.”
Lukus decided to help his friend. “I’m sensing you don’t want to be here, junior. You never told me you had a lazy ass brother, Derek.”
Lukus caught a flash of anger in Derek’s eyes at his comment. He’d thought he was helping his friend kick some sense into his no-good brother. Seeing his friend’s reaction had Lukus suspecting there was a bit more to the story of Dylan Parker. Getting his anger under control, Derek looked at his brother. “Yeah, well he hasn’t always been lazy. That’s just a new development the last few months.”
Lukus watched the dynamics between the brothers shifting. Ironically, as Derek softened, Dylan seemed agitated. Shifting to sitting upright, the long-haired mini-Derek bristled. “Listen. I don’t need your damn charity, Derek. Just tell me what the hell you need me to do so I can get out of this office.”
As the brothers engaged in a stare off, Lukus injected. “Have you filled out the employment paperwork yet?”
“Yeah.”
“Fine. Why don’t you run out and catch up with Sean. That’s the redhead. Go with him on his jobs today. Watch and learn, and we’ll catch up with you when you get back to the office.”
“Fine.”
Lukus watched as Dylan pushed off the couch with some difficulty and headed out to follow Sean, slamming the door to the office shut a tad too hard.
Derek stared at the closed door before turning to talk to his friend and boss. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Mom’s right. He isn’t ready yet.”
“Ready for what? What’s his story?” Lukus asked.
“I’m not sure how much he’d want me to tell you, but you have a right to know. He’s been home from Afghanistan for about four months. Honorable discharge. He never really talks about what happened, so I don’t know all of the details either. I just know he was in the Marines for seven years. He won’t confirm it, but I think he was mostly in black ops kinda work. I know this: he’s a hell of a long-range shot. Anyway, he came home after the jeep he and his best friend were riding in was blown up by an IED. His best friend didn’t make it. Dylan’s not taking it well.”
“Well, shit. That sucks.”
“Yeah, it does. But sitting on his ass at home, eating doughnuts and feeling sorry for himself, isn’t gonna bring Kenny back either. Dylan still has some physical therapy sessions, but for the most part he’s physically healthy enough. Mom’s been babying him too much; now Dad’s getting pissed at both of them. I thought maybe if I got him working it might get him out of his funk. I’m sorry, man. I didn’t think this through. You shouldn’t get saddled with a mess like this.”
Lukus would have loved to agree, but that niggling part in the back of his brain knew he wasn’t that big of an asshole. “Don’t sweat it. The rest of my life is crazy as hell right now. Why not add a new employee who has no desire to work to the mix? How do you want me to play it? Be the hard-ass boss who pushes him, or should I ease him into the fold gently?”
Derek grinned. “No offense, but I’m not sure you’re capable of easing gently. Let’s go with being the hard-ass boss who pushes him.”
“That’s a relief. I’m already having to soften up for Tiffany. I don’t think I have much more soft in me.”
Derek looked worried. “I know you need to go slow for her, but I’m getting concerned you aren’t showing her the real you. How’s she gonna take it when the Master’s Master shows up?”
“Aren’t you talking out of both sides of your mouth? I thought you were the one who lectured me less than a week ago about taking it slow and being careful not to lose my shit,” Lukus said.
“I just don’t want you to repress the real you so long that you end up resenting her.”
“Don’t worry about me. I have a plan. Things are progressing right on schedule. Did I tell you Markus and I are gonna bring the girls to the collaring on Friday night?”
“Oh, shit. You sure that’s a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? It’ll give us plenty to talk about.” Lukus grinned.
“I’ll say. Have you seen the plan yet?”
“Not really. I assume it’ll be a standard ceremony.”
Derek shook his head. “Hardly. He’s going hardcore.”
“As in?”
“Sub prep party. Public consummation. Nipple ringing and chastity piercings. Branding.”
“Branding?” Lukus was amazed. “We haven’t had a branding since—”
“Since Michael’s first collar ceremony. How he found not one, but two women to go through with it, I’ll never know. I’d never put Rachel through that.”
“Damn. That’ll freak out Tiff.”
“Well, it’s the final test, so maybe you could leave early,” Derek suggested.
“I’ll think about it. I have something more important to talk about first. What do you have going this week?”
“I’m heading out to the airport in a few minutes. I drew protection duty for that bigwig from Europe this week, remember? Luckily CJ, has agreed to take the nights so I can be off for the club and Rachel at night. We’re splitting the gig.”
“Shit. What’s Z up to? I really need his unique talents,” Lukus asked.
“He’s down in Florida, digging up dirt on that banker dude who’s hiding assets from his wife. I talked to him this morning. I don’t think he’ll be back for a few days. What do you need?”
“Markus and I want to start digging into the background of Jake Davenport. I want to go deep. I want to shred this guy. I need to know where I can hurt him the most. I guess I’ll work it solo for now.”
“Let me call in Cameron. That kid may be the biggest techie nerd in the city, but he digs up shit no one else can find. Just don’t ask him how he does it. I’m not sure we want to know.”
“Good advice. We need to get him on the payroll.”
Derek rolled his eyes. “I’ve tried. He says he prefers to work freelance. Something about not feeling guilty when he wants to stay home and play computer games all day.”
“Hey, maybe you should hook him up with your brother. Sounds like they might have some things in common.”
“Don’t compare Dylan to Cameron. Dylan is a hard-ass warrior, down on his luck. He could eat wimpy Cameron for lunch.”
“Well, see that he doesn’t. We need the little guy.”
Tiffany
Tiffany pulled into the parking lot at The Beauty Box, threw the car into park, and grabbed her bag. She should have been here thirty minutes ago, but she just couldn’t get out of bed this morning. It was bad enough trying to pry herself out of Lukus’s bed any other day, but knowing she wasn’t going to see him tonight made it worse. They’d only spent a handful of nights apart since meeting, and she wasn’t looking forward to a night alone.
Not only do I get no sex, but I’m gonna have to tackle my laundry. I’m running out of everything.
She knew she was late when she saw Brianna’s SUV in the lot. Tiff always beat Brianna into the salon on Tuesdays. She picked up her pace.
There were already customers sitting in chairs, hair wet, stylists in action. Tiff headed to the office at the back of the shop to drop off her purse. She had left early on Saturday and wasn’t even sure if she had any appointments booked for today, which was unlike her.
Tiff split her responsibilities at the salon between being the chief, well only, accountant, and part-time masseuse, wax removal, and mani/pedis when needed. As a business major in college, she couldn’t say working in a small salon was on her list of dream jobs. Regardless, she loved working with her best friend every day, and she enjoyed helping grow the salon from its tiny beginnings to one of the most popular independent salons in the western suburbs.
Brianna was on the phone when Tiff swung into the office. It sounded like she was taking a block of appointments.
Shit. I forgot. It’s still prom season. It’s gonna be a zoo around here the next few weekends.
Bri covered the phone, a sly smile on her face. “Glad you could make it. I was getting worried. I’m the one who’s usually late.”
“Yeah, well. Lots of things are changing since I met Lukus. Add lack of time management to the list.”
Brianna returned her attention to the phone. “Sure thing. I’ve got you down for a two-hour block for your daughter and her best friends on Friday. We’ll take good care of them, Linda. Thanks.” Hanging up, Bri filled in her friend. “That was the second call already this morning for a prom appointment. I’m gonna call all of our part-timers and see how many extra hours I can get from everyone in the coming weeks.”
“Good idea. We were short last year. I need to go check the book. I don’t even know if I have any appointments this morning,” Tiff admitted.
“I checked. You’re free until two.”
“Oh, thank goodness.”
“Lucky you. I’m booked with wax appointments all morning. I hate when Sydney is off. I’m dreading having her out on her honeymoon for two weeks. Did Lukus try to hold you hostage this morning and make you late?” Bri winked.
“Not really. I did leave later than I should have, but I had to run past my house to change. I just didn’t save enough time. The morning rush hour traffic is ridiculous.”
“Just wait until you head back into the city tonight. Or is Lukus driving out to you this time?”
Tiffany hated that she had a physical pressure in her chest at Bri’s simple question. It was not the question, but the answer she hated. “Actually, we aren’t gonna see each other tonight. Tuesday night is his normal poker night. The club is closed, as well. He missed last week, so I told him he should go tonight. It’s supposed to be at his place anyway this week, so I felt bad making him miss again.”
“You’re a better person than me. I’m so glad Markus has never gotten into that whole boys night stuff.”
Tiff looked away from her best friend, unsure if she should repeat the last conversation she had with Lukus before leaving this morning. “Well, I’m not sure how much longer you’re gonna feel that way,” she hedged. Looking up at Bri, she decided to spill the beans. “Actually, Lukus is gonna call Markus and invite him. I guess Markus always used to come to poker night until the guys had their falling out. Now that they’re closer again, Lukus said it’s time Markus rejoined the group.”
“Well, shit. I have all of the ingredients to make a romantic dinner tonight. This puts a damper on that plan.”
“Maybe Markus will turn him down. I just know Lukus is inviting him.”
Brianna looked lost in thought for a moment as Tiffany booted up her computer. “You know, I think it’s great. I can tell Markus is really happy they’ve grown closer again. He says he thinks of Lukus like a brother.”
As if it was scheduled, Brianna’s cell phone was ringing with her husband’s distinctive ring. She put him on speakerphone. “Hello honey. I bet I can guess why you’re calling me.”
“Feeling clairvoyant today, are we?” Markus asked.
“Yep. It’s our newest service here at the salon. A cut, style, and fortune telling.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. Why did I call you?”
“To tell me you’re gonna play poker tonight at Lukus’s loft.”
Markus was chuckling. “Hello, Tiffany.”
“Hi, Markus.”
“You okay if I say yes? I’d probably just head over there after work, rather than drive all the way home and then back into the city.”
“Sure. I think it’s great. Just don’t drink and drive. Call me if you need me to come get you, okay?” Bri told him.
“I will. So that was only half the reason I called. What�
�s the other half?”
Bri chuckled. “Damn. My crystal ball must be on the fritz. I only saw one topic coming.”
“Save Friday night. I just made plans for us,” Markus said.
Tiffany jumped in excitedly. “Oh, wow. Are you guys doing something with Lukus and me? He told me to save Friday night, too, but he won’t tell me what, or where we’re going.”
Markus was hedging. “Maybe. It’s a surprise.”
Brianna jumped out of her chair, she was so excited. “Oh, come on. You need to give us a hint. How will we know what to wear?”
“Never you mind about that. You’ll get information as you need it.”
“Well, okay, it will work this weekend, but don’t forget the following Friday night is Sydney’s bachelorette party. You told me it was okay to go, remember?”
“Yes, dear. I remember, and yes, it’s still okay. Tiff, have you told Lukus about that yet?”
“Crap. No. I’ll tell him later when I talk to him. He’s not going to have a problem with it, is he?”
“I doubt it. I’ll talk to him. We’ll get you a driver for the night so we won’t need to worry about you ladies drinking and driving,” Markus said firmly.
Tiff was relieved. “That sounds great. Thanks so much.”
Bri was less relieved. “Don’t be too excited, Tiff. That also means we’ll have a babysitter all night.”
“And just what do you plan on doing that might get you in trouble, young lady?” Markus asked.
“Oh, nothing.” The girls erupted into nervous laughter.
“Okay, where is the party?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ve heard a rumor there may be male strippers. Kennedy is planning the whole thing, so God only knows what she’s gonna cook up.”
“Well, I’ll talk to Lukus, but on the surface it sounds like a great idea to me. You can go and watch all you want, and then come home horny to your men. We’ll be more than happy to scratch the itch for our tipsy women. I gotta run. Love you.”