Page 19 of Bear

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jupiter

Istare up at Ruin’shouse. I can’t believe I’m about to do this, but I really don’t have another choice. My daddy’s garage is sinking, and I can’t let everything we’ve all worked so hard to build go under because Bobby Ray ran us into the ground. I have no other choice. I just hope to God my brothers don’t ever see this.

I lift my hand to knock, but Ruin pulls back the door and sweeps me into a huge hug. “Jupiter! Girl, what are you doin’ here?”

“Hi. I hope it’s okay for me to drop by?”

“Of course. You know you’re welcome anytime.” Ruin ushers me inside and my gaze darts around the newly remodeled home. He glances back at me as he heads into an oversized living room. “Tyra’s at the mall with Leah, but you’re welcome to wait.”

“Um, actually ... I was wondering if I could talk to you?”

“Yeah, of course. What’s up, darlin’? You in some kind of trouble?”

“Well, not me specifically, but the garage might be.”

“Come on into my office.”

I almost laugh at that, because what kind of person in his line of business conducts work in an office? But Ruin leads the way through the expanse of the house, and I follow. It’s a little left of field as far as workspaces go—just a desk with a laptop on it, a standard office chair, and a whole heap of extra lighting equipment.

He grabs a box light diffuser and tosses it on the ground, brushing off the chair in the corner and setting it in front of his. “You want something to drink?”

“Whiskey, if you have it?”

“You do know who you’re talkin’ to, right?”

“Right.” I give him a tight smile as he pours us both a finger from the drink cart against the wall.

“So, what can I do for you?”

He hands me a glass and I down the amber liquid in one go, wincing as it burns the entire way down.

“Jesus, darlin’. Where’s the fuckin’ fire?”

“I need you to put me in one of your films,” I blurt.

Ruin’s brows shoot into his hairline. “What?”

“I mean, I could always do my own video, I guess, but you guys already have the setup and the subscribers. I figured this was the fastest way to get the money.”

Ruin narrows his eyes. “What kind of trouble you in?”

“I ... it’s not me. It’s Bobby Ray.” I’m not stupid enough to give Ruin all the details. Chaos would kill him for running drugs through Kings territory, especially when he found out that a rival motorcycle club is involved, not to mention this organization in Atlanta. “He took some money from the garage’s account and invested in something that didn’t pay off.”

Ruin screws up his face. “So, let me get this straight. He fucks up and you have to pay for his mistakes?”

I shrug. “It’s my garage. I’m the only one responsible if it goes under.”

“Darlin’, you don’t have to do this. Not that we wouldn’t be happy to have you. Fuck, pretty, edgy little thing like you will make us all a million bucks, but you shouldn’t be the one to have to bail his stupid ass out.”

“He’s my brother.”

“Fucking family, right? Can’t live with them, can’t live without ’em.” He pours us both another drink and takes a sip from his glass. “Alright. Crow’s been asking for a shoot, so this could work.”

“Crow?”

“Yeah. Look, you don’t have to be partnered; you could do something solo.”

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