Page 27 of Minding the Minotaur
There’s an awkward moment of silence before Otis says, “I’m going to show Samantha around, give her a debrief.”
I nod, stepping forward eagerly, ready to follow them out, but Otis shoots out a palm. “Not you. You stay here.”
His big fist shoves me back into the room.
I watch helplessly as they leave, my eyes magnetized to Samantha’s perfect ass.
Then Otis slams the door, and I hear the key grind in the lock.
CHAPTER 9
SAMMY
I trot along beside Otis, trying to appear calm and professional as he shows me around. It’s a really nice place, with a great vibe considering it’s been built into a rock wall. The ceilings are curved, but high enough to make it feel spacious, and the sconces that line the walls shine brightly. There’s even a spa and gym room, and a snug with a TV of all things, and a big soft sofa and two easy chairs. It’s all remarkably plush for a cave dwelling. Arlo must have some coin to afford all this.
I smile and make suitable comments. Internally though, I’m a mess. When he’d briefed me earlier why hadn’t Otis told me that the monster I was guarding was a minotaur?
My meeting an hour ago with Sheriff Otis Cane, as he gruffly introduced himself, took place in a small room off to the side of the portal entrance, with a chair and a table and a tiny window too high to show me even a glimpse of the Labyrinth.
He didn’t ask me any questions, said he had all the information he needed from Jax.
What he told me about the job was pretty scant, too.
I’d be guarding a monster, a larrikin who’d been causing a few problems and had been put under house arrest to calm him down for a few weeks. Absolutely fine to be around humans. And females. Apparently.
I sat there, nodding mutely, while also trying to look suitably tough. Truth be told, I was totally intimidated by the massive green monster with red eyes sitting across the desk from me. I noticed he had tusks, neatly positioned at either side of his mouth, and very pointy. Not the kind of guy you’d want to get on the wrong side of.
The sheriff went on to explain that there would be a surveillance system to watch the monster’s movements. And I’d have a zapper—whatever a zapper is—in case he got too close. “He won’t trample you on purpose,” Otis explained, “but he is large and, erm—clumsy, so you may want to keep your distance.”
Great.
Next, he explained how much I’d be paid, which seemed generous, even though I didn’t fully understand the conversions into Sparkle money. Jax said he’d organize the transfers.
Finally, Otis leaned back in his chair, steepled his big green fingers and said, “You’ll do.” He nodded to Jax, who nodded back. These guys clearly knew each other well. Through Jax working here, I guess.
When Jax took his leave, Otis escorted me from the building to a black jeep outside and motioned for me to sit in the back. The car’s windows were blacked out, which meant I got only the merest glimpse of my surroundings as I was hustled into the back seat. What I did see surprised me. It wasn’t so very dark down here. There were tunnels spreading out into the distance, and I saw movements in the light cast by dozens of sconces on the walls.
Monsters moving around in their world, I supposed with a little shiver of anticipation as the jeep sped away. I couldn’t help wondering if one of them was the minotaur I was so desperate to meet again…
And meet again we certainly did—much sooner than I’d expected. Though it was hardly the romantic reunion I’d imagined, seeing Arlo standing in front of me, all hard muscle and gleaming horns, still managed to make my heart and pussy thrum in unison.
Otis stops abruptly now, and I almost barrel into him. He throws open a door. “This is your quarters.”
He strides inside and I follow him, my eyes scanning the small room. There are screens lined up on the wall. CCTV, by the looks of it.
“You’ll keep tabs on him from here when you’re not with him. This is your room, too. There’s a bed and a bathroom opposite.”
I glance around the little room, then stare back at the impressive wall of screens. It reminds me of the DeVines store security system. I hadn’t expected anything this sophisticated.
“Is this necessary?” I say, without thinking.
“Entirely necessary.” Otis flicks screens between different rooms and I blink as I see all the rooms I’ve just been shown. Finally, he flicks to the screen showing Arlo’s bedroom. My heart tightens as I see him sitting dejectedly on the huge bed, his big hands clasped in his lap, horns down.
“He looks so sad,” I whisper hoarsely.
Otis visibly stiffens. “Incarceration is not pleasant for monsters,” he says tersely, and I sense he doesn’t like doing this one bit.
“Is he a friend of yours?”
