Page 22 of Pain
"And if I didn't?"
Xander glanced over at him. "You waiting for me to say I'd show up at your house and cut off your balls? Not going to happen. We'd just have to relocate. The teams had to do it in the past, but that was long before I joined them. If you leave, you are free to go on living your life. If you feel the sudden urge to try and take the team down, you will become an enemy, but we aren't the type of people to come after you."
Matt wasn't sure he believed that, but it didn't matter. As long as the team was honestly saving children, he would never do anything to hurt them. "I support what you guys do completely. I'd never tell a soul about it."
"Somehow Bryon and Carter knew that, or you wouldn't have been invited in." Xander pulled into the parking lot of a Mexican food place. "Hope you like Mexican. I have orders to get us all dinner and bring it back to the house. Bryon's paying, so get what you want." Xander grabbed a piece of paper from between the seats. "It's like a fucking grocery list of take-out." He stepped out of the car.
Matt followed, surprised by the sudden detour. He wasn't very hungry, but that wasn't uncommon. He hardly ate anymore.
"I swear Becca could have stopped here after she got off work. It's only five minutes from the courthouse." Xander held the door open for Matt.
He stepped inside, looking around the small restaurant. "Who is Becca?"
"You'll meet her tonight. She works at the courthouse, keeps us up to date on cases and makes sure we are aware of things going on there." Xander spoke in a softer voice than usual. "She's the only female on the team."
"Is there a reason there aren't more women?"
"Not really. It just turned out that way. Her father used to work with Bryon. I'm not sure what brought her to work with us, but she's a great resource. I'll explain everything to you when we get there." Xander glanced around them as they waited for the cashier to finish with a customer. "What are you going to eat?"
Matt shook his head. "I'm good."
Xander raised a brow. "First rule of working with us is don't lie, and don't put yourself or your health in danger. What have you eaten today?"
Matt thought back, realizing he hadn't had anything but coffee. He shrugged. "I haven't been hungry."
"Grab a couple tacos or enchiladas or something."
Even though it was said as a suggestion, Matt took it as a command. He didn't want to argue with Xander. Something told him he wouldn't win if he tried. He'd order something light and pick at it, but doubted his stomach could handle much. "I'll get a couple beef tacos."
Xander reached for a pen on the counter and added them to the list he had before smiling at the young girl who worked there. "I have a to-go order." He pushed the sheet of paper at her.
She glanced at it. "It will be about twenty minutes."
"Perfect." Xander started to turn away.
"Can I get a name?" she called to him.
"Want my number too?" Xander winked at her, making her blush. "Name's Xan. We'll be back in twenty."
Matt shook his head, casting an apologetic look at the young girl who was watching Xander with wide-eyed interest. He quickly followed Xander back outside, wondering why he was so amused by Xander's attitude.
Xander unlocked the car, but glanced back at Matt. "I'm just grabbing my smokes. We can wait over there in the shade." He pointed to a couple of picnic tables to the side of the building.
Matt didn't wait. He headed over, taking a seat at the first table he came to. He watched as Xander made his way toward him. If he didn't already know the guy, he would probably find him intimidating. Dark ink covered his arms, and with the thick beard, and steel-like eyes, he would make even the most confident person hesitate.
He liked Xander even though he hardly knew him. He was just straightforward and that was refreshing. "Are you ever serious?" Matt asked as Xander sat down across from him.
"All the time, but I find if I don't laugh at life a little, the darkness we see every day can eat at us. I have to stop taking parts of my life so seriously because other parts are so serious, if that makes any sense. I can't get caught up in the darkness. Everyone on the team has to find an outlet."
"And joking is yours?"
"One of them. Honestly, I just don't see a reason not to joke and have fun, but at the same time, I won't sugar coat things either."
"I liked that about you," Matt told him. "When you and Carter came by, Carter was trying to sell the group to me, but I didn't want a sales pitch, I wanted to know the truth. Know what you guys were offering and what I'd be getting into if I joined you. I wanted honest facts, not some guy impressed with my computer skills."
"Hmm, maybe Bryon knows what he's doing after all. I couldn't figure out why he sent me with Carter. I'm not the pretty face that most would want to see on their doorstep." Xander gripped the base of his beard and held it in his fist for a minute. "But I can see how Carter's professionalism might be a turn-off. Sometimes people just need to hear the truth, no matter how gory it might be."
"Yeah, I wasn't ready to hear some of that." Matt was embarrassed he'd gotten sick in front of them.
