Page 57 of Fast and Dirty

“Listen sweetie…” she takes my phone with her back in the direction of her chair. “Around here, I’m everyone’s gramma, and my house has become a shelter for women - excuse me,andmen - who have been dicked over by stupid dipshits that sport a Y chromosome. I have a couple of tenants, but there’s still plenty of room.” She sits back and props her feet up on the Rolls bumper. I start to give her awhat the fucklook but she waves me away as she keeps talking. “It just means more eyes on the little tyke. How old is he anyway? Oooh! That’s a fun age. So sweetie, listen, you’ve got everything you need right here. So tell that boss of yours to eat a dick…” she carries on, and it seems my sister has no issue with letting her prattle on and convince her to make a major life move.

I sigh, shaking my head when I hear a set of petulant boot steps come stomping around the corner.

Ryan appears, looking just as chipper as expected. “You wanted to see me?” He grumbles, bringing his to-go coffee cup to his lips.

“Yeah, I need you to go buy a bell to put on Agnes.” I lower myself to my stool and swivel to face him. “I’ve got an opportunity for you.”

“This oughta be good.”

I can’t handle the excitement radiating off this young man.

“I have a new, self-imposed deadline for getting this thing fully restored and sold,” I say, waving a hand at the antique car just before Agnes pipes up, saying something to Mack that catches my ear.

“Why yes, he did say girlfriend earlier. Cute little thing from Chicago.”

“So what do you want from me?” Ryan asks, referring to my proposal.

“Just help me work on it,” I hold my handsout in thethat’s allgesture. “Be an extra set of hands and help shave some days off the timeline.”

He shakes his head, looking confused. “Why me, though?”

“I figure it will give you something to focus on. Plus, I’ll get the guys to lay off the hazing if you think you can get your head out of your ass. I don’t know if the automotive industry is on your vision board” - pretty sure this dude has nothing in mind where his future’s concerned - “but taking part in a project like this would be a hell of a stamp on your resume if you ever want to get serious about making a living for yourself.”

“Guess that’s not a bad thing.” He’s probably referring more to being out of the other guys' warpaths than the professional opportunity. I get the sense this kid really has no idea what he wants to do with himself yet.

“You’d have to do everything I say, and there won’t be any room for bullshit. It won’t be for the faint of heart, it will be long hours.”

“Well, I can’t say the long hours thrills me, but… the idea of keeping my head down and everyone else leaving me the fuck alone does. Plus I don’t have shit else to do,” his lips contort into a crooked frown as he lifts a shoulder.

“That’s the spirit.”

Agnes shuffles up and holds my phone out to me. “Your sister is making plans to be here in the next few weeks,” she reports as I pocket my phone. “She’ll stay at my place. I did warn her that she has to be okay with the occasional speakeasy but I’ll keep it PG - well, mostly - since she’s got the little tyke.

“Thanks Agnes,” I tell her sincerely. I really need to start working on her Jeep for free with all the good she does in this town. Of course, that means I’ll have to prepare for more shameless cat calls and ogling.

“You’re welcome.” She turns to Ryan. “And you. Shithead.” Ryan doesn’t respond except with a slow blink and a slump ofhis shoulders. “Don’t worry about what you’re going to do for a career. Just learn how to be nice to people, and that’s all you need to meet a nice gal…or guy. You never know these days.” She turns and struts herself out of the garage bay door. “Now get your cute asses to work!”

22

WEST

“Holy fuck,” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you?

Alright, you know what, grab that alternator and bring it over here. It’s ready to go in.”

Ryan trains his sight on the direction I’m pointing and strolls over to the counter where I have the car’s almost-new alternator resting on a cloth. He hefts it in his arms and curses on his way back to the car.

“Jesus Christ, I had no idea how heavy these things are. What am I supposed to do with it?”

“Just hold it and look pretty while I remove these belts and tensioner.”

He rolls his eyes as I get to work on said tasks.

“Would you calm your fucking nuts? If I knew you’d be tearing me a new one at every turn I wouldn’t have accepted this project.”

“Well the door’s right there, junior,” I point with my wrench, not even looking up.

“What the fuck is everyone’s problem anyway?” He explodes, almost dropping theheavy thing.

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