Page 46 of Clover

“Who’s this cutie?”

“Her name is Sloan.”

“Well, isn’t she precious? Hello there Sloan. Who’s a pretty girl? Yes, you are.” We never had pets, so to see my father baby talking to the dog is, well, it’s weird and hilarious.

“So, what’s all this about Braxton getting his ass handed to him last night?” Pops gives me a knowing side-eye, but it’s accompanied by a wink that says nice job. Everyone but Griffon wanted to put Braxton in his place. I was just the first one to take action.

“Your son,” Griff starts eyeing me. He tends to refer to me as their son when he’s displeased with my behavior. “Took it upon himself to seek retribution without sanctioned approval.”

“Sanctioned approval? Are you fucking kidding me? This isn’t the army. I don’t need your permission. Corporal control freak.” I am not in the mood today to deal with his irrational need to control everything everyone does.

“Yes, you do. Technically you work for me, and you do as I say.” He must be out of his ever-loving mind if he thinks that’s gonna slide.

“Technically, I don’t give a rat's ass, andtechnicallythis had nothing to do with work.” My glare could cut diamonds, and he still sits in his big boss man chair, acting like the king of everything. Pops really shouldn’t have given him so much power in the business. It’s gone directly to his over-inflated head.

“You’ll be singing a different tune when you're assigned to low-level deliveries only.” He thinks threatening me with easy could-do-it-in-my-sleep work is going to make me any less argumentative. Little does he know if all I did was low-level shit, I would have way more time for tattooing and Clover. In my book, that’s not a bad thing.

“Go ahead. See how long that lasts before shit hits the fan. You know I get shit done right, and dealers like Robbie and Lulu don’t like to work with anyone else.” Not to toot my own horn, but I’m the fucking best at handling the problematic dealers. They like my swagger and charm. Although Lulu will be disappointed to discover I’m a taken man now. She’s been trying to get in my pants for years. Even though she has a boyfriend who could easily double as my twin, she says it’s not the same as the original. I think she got with him solely because he resembles me.

“Sorry to interrupt your little dick-measuring contest, boys, but perhaps Clover would be more comfortable waiting outside while youdiscussmatters?” My mother’s calm and cool voice silences both my brother and me. We never interrupt mom when she’s talking. Not unless we wanna pay for it later. Even as grown-ass men, we fear the wrath of mom. “Come, Clover. Let’s sit in the lobby where there’s a little less testosterone peacocking.”

Reaching for Clover's hand, my mother guides her and Sloan out of the office to wait in the lobby. As she passes, I give her a quick peck on the temple, promising to be out as soon as my brother pulls his head out of his ass. Which makes her grin. Then she exits with my mom, leaving me, Beau, Griff, Pops, and aunt Pearl to ‘discuss’the situation where Griff will yell, scold, and eventually realize there ain’t shit he can do and send me on my way with a “warning.”

Chapter 24

Clover

Delila, Nix’s mother, leads me out of Griffon’s office and a good twenty feet away in the large expansive lobby. Clean, modern furniture separates the open space into two areas around the main receptionist desk. A fuller, curvy blonde woman sits behind the desk, answering the phone and taking messages for Faust and Griffon and directing calls to other employees. She has victory rolls in her hair and bright red lipstick to match her strawberry pattern dress. If she were to stand, I bet it’s some sort of vintage fifties style dress.

I wonder how many people work in this office. How many people are needed for a private security firm? Looks to be maybe a dozen. Probably not necessary to have too many in office. The people who actually do the security don’t really need to hang around waiting to be put on assignment. I suppose they just call or e-mail them the info when they receive an assignment. So these must all be back-office people.

They say they’re‘private security,’ but I’m learning that mainly means bodyguard services. Sometimes security details for clubs and businesses but nothing like the private security cars you see patrolling malls and apartment complexes.

“Here, dear, have a seat.” Delila directs me to a pair of armchairs turned slightly to face one another in a far corner out of the way. In case clients come in. Sloan plops herself down at my feet and curls up on the floor.

“Now, this is much better.” She’s not wrong. The escalating voices and arguments in Griffon’s office were starting to give me a headache. I’ve had enough of yelling and arguing for a while. “Would you like a glass of water or something else to drink? Tea perhaps?”

“Water would be great. Maybe some for Sloan too?” Delila gestures to the woman behind the receptionist's desk, who turns her attention to her immediately. Which means she was probably watching us the whole time keeping an alert eye on her boss. “Water for Miss Clover and Sloan if you please.”

The woman nods and stands promptly to fetch the water. I was right. Her strawberry print dress pinches at the waist with a white belt and flares out to a circle skirt. Her full curves giving her a rounded-out pin-up girl look.

“So. How are you feeling, dear?” Delila looks at me with real concern but no pitty.

Thank fuck.

“I’m doing better. Getting back to normal as best I can. Having Nix, Beau, Rosie, and now Sloan is helping a lot.”

“I’m so glad my son is good to you.”

“He’s extremely good to me.” Thankfully I keep the sarcasm out of my tone, but I can’t hide the knowing smile on my lips.

“Good. He needs a good woman in his life. Been too wild for too long.” Damn, even his mom knows he was a man-whore. “But he’s a good man underneath it all. Just needed to see it for himself, I think.”

I nod because I have no idea how to respond to that. My brain is still a little frazzled from the yelling before. The fifties-style reception returns with a bottle in one hand and a large glass bowl in the other filled with water for Sloan. Handing me the bottle, then placing the bowl on the floor in front of Sloan and giving her an ear scratch before standing again.

“Will that be all, Missus. Colton?”

“Yes. Thank you, Sandra.”

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