Page 20 of Sanctuary

She nods. “I’ve actually got something. Was gonna give it to the hot Brit but no reason you shouldn’t get a shot at it too since you’re here.”

I freeze at her mention of the hot Brit. There’s only one person in this part of the world she could be referring to. “I didn’t realize you worked with Aidan.”

“We never have. But he stopped by yesterday asking about jobs. Seems competent. And he’s got arms that are a damn gift from God.”

“His arms are fine, and he is competent. But he’s also arrogant. He’ll charge you more because of it.”

“Yeah. I clocked his ego.”

“You’ll get a better deal on work with me.”

“He said he’d give us a discount if we used him exclusively.”

I tighten my lips.

Agatha’s sharp eyes miss nothing. “He out to get you?”

“He’s out to put me out of business, but he’s not going to succeed at that.”

“Men will always have an advantage. We might hate it, but it’s never going to change. But I don’t believe in accepting less just to give another woman a leg up.”

I stiffen. “You would not be getting less with me. He’s physically stronger, but making runs and deliveries is only occasionally about physical strength. I’m smarter, and I know all the shortcuts. I can get your jobs done just as fast as he can. Maybe faster. And I won’t up my rates after we’ve established a partnership the way he will.”

Her mouth softens just slightly, like she might be amused. “He’s really up your craw, isn’t he?”

“He’s not my favorite person in the world.”

“You didn’t let him fuck you, did you?”

“No. I definitely did not. And I’m also not going to let him fuck me over.”

“Smart girl. Okay. Here’s what I’ll do. I’ve got a job. At this time of year, it’s risky, and I don’t want to gamble on any of my own people to get it done. But since you and him both want a shot, we can make a deal. I’ll give you both the job, and whichever of you gets back with the loot first gets paid.”

“You want to make it a competition?”

“Living in this world is always a competition. Only the strong survive it, and the strongest come out on top. If we’re gonna work with outsiders, then it’s gonna be the best.”

I take a quick breath. I hate the idea of this—hate it—but it also gives me a real chance to make a lucrative connection that Aidan won’t have.

If I was telling her the truth, then I’m just as good at making runs as Aidan is. He has some advantages, but I have different ones. There’s no reason why I can’t win this competition.

“Okay,” I tell her. “I’m game if he is too.”

Aidan is supposed to stop back by the ranch tomorrow, so Agatha tells me to spend the night. When he arrives, she’ll tell both of us what the job is. We’ll have the afternoon to prepare and make a plan, and then we can start at dawn the following day.

She seems to be enjoying the set-up and thriving on the building tension. Why shouldn’t she? This is fairly low stakes for her. Basically a game.

It’s everything for me.

I make good use of my extra day. I wander around the entire compound, chatting with everyone willing to speak to me. I don’t actively flirt with any of the men because I don’t want anyone pissed if I don’t follow through or anyone annoyed I’m trying to take men away from them. But I’m friendly and smiling, and overall I think I make a pretty good impression on the people here.

The next day, Aidan shows up shortly after noon.

He’s clearly surprised when he’s summoned into Agatha’s office and I’m already there waiting for him.

He doesn’t say anything to me. Just eyes me warily. He’s no more enthused by the competition than I am, but he immediately agrees to it.

The smug asshole probably assumes I don’t have a chance of beating him.

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