Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 73311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
My head dropped and I contemplated my feet.
Would it be okay to leave before I’d even gotten started? Would Big Papa hold it against me? And if he did, could I leave?
The answer to my question was no, I couldn’t leave. Not the city and not the job.
I knew I could get my position back with the fire department.
Lucky for me I was still working there, though only in an as needed capacity.
Unfortunately, hearing that I wouldn’t be returning for a couple of months, they’d filled the position that I’d been sliding into, with assurances that when the time came that I wanted a job, I’d have one.
“Are you even listening to me?” Stephanie barked.
Yes, barked.
She was very stern and assertive. She expected to be obeyed, and I wasn’t much of an obeyer.
I was more of a doer.
“I heard you,” I confirmed. “But why can’t I go in here?”
“There’s no reason for you to go in there. You don’t have a locker in there. They’re all full. You’ll have to put your stuff somewhere else,” she snapped.
I pushed through despite her assurances that I wasn’t allowed in there, and came face to face with the largest man I’d ever seen.
“Yo!” Tough boomed. “I didn’t know you were starting today.”
I grinned at the big man and offered my hand.
“Yep,” I nodded my head. “Start in about ten minutes. Just gotta take a leak.”
Tough moved out of the way and pointed in the direction of the restroom door I could see hanging wide open through a sea of lockers.
“Right there,” he instructed.
I nodded my head and headed in the direction of the bathroom, stopping to look at a sweet AR-15 that was in an open locker.
“Nice,” I said to the man that was sitting on the bench beside the locker.
The man looked up.
He looked like a younger version of Sam Elliott with his salt and pepper hair, skinny stature, and handlebar mustache.
“New toy,” the man confirmed.
“Looks new. How’s it shoot?” I asked.
“I haven’t shot it yet. Just got it in today. Brought it to work with me so I can shoot it after I get off,” he grinned. “My Martha’s gonna have a shit fit when I’m late, but I’ve been dying to shoot it for the last week.”
I grinned.
“Take her with you.”
The man laughed.
“Yeah, right.”
My brows rose.
“Why not?” I asked, confusion spreading across my face.
“Because my Martha is delicate.” He held up his hand. “She’s about yay high with about a buck ten to her name.”
I grinned.
“Don’t underestimate her,” I told him as I offered him my hand. “My girl is about the same, but she was a Marine. Know for a fact that girl can handle a gun if she was a Marine.”
“Oorah!” The man grinned. “My name is Edwin McClain. You can call me McClain.”
“Like the Die Hard McClain?”
McClain nodded. “Only older, with more hair,” he confirmed. “Never brought down a plane with a car before, though.”
“There’s always a first for everything, McClain!” Tough called from beside us. “Hey, you better go or the ballbuster will start pissing and moaning.”
I nodded my head and started to the bathroom again.
“It was nice to meet you,” I called over my shoulder at the older cop.
The cop winked. “Let me know how your day goes with BB.”
“BB?” I asked, halting right at the bathroom door with my hand on the knob.
“BB.” Tough pointed at the still pissed off Stephanie. Then he mouthed, “Ball Buster.”
Shaking my head at him, I walked into the bathroom, unsurprised when Tank followed me right in.
That was normal for him, apparently.
I’d tried to leave him outside the door at my own bathroom at home, and in retaliation, he’d eaten one of my shoes after clawing at the door for ten minutes while I’d been in the shower.
I’d learned real fast while at Booth’s that I either took him into the bathroom with me, or he’d make it known that he was not happy.
It was odd at first, but after the past four days of dealing with his weird nature, I just shrugged it off and did what I had to do.
At least he didn’t stare at my scars like they were some alien life form.
After taking care of my business, I shrugged off my cut, then followed suit with my shirt.
The vest was bulky and tight, but it felt right.
I hadn’t had to wear one in a really long time.
The Marines didn’t feel like it’d been ten years ago, but it had. Though, putting on this vest brought back memories of a long time ago when life had been easier. More fun.
Though, now that Imogen was in my life, things were looking up.
“Are you almost done in there?” Stephanie barked from the opposite side of the door. “Other people have to use the facilities.”
I stared down at Tank as I wiped my hands clean with a paper towel.