Stanton Bliss(35)

“Yep, pretty much.”

“Don’t leave your wallets laying around, this is going to end f*cking badly. You will come in one morning and your whole office will be cleaned out.” He smirks, clearly amused.

I sit back in my chair. “It could.”

“Why did you want me here? I don’t want to meet him.”

“Because I want you to help me with him.”

“The f*ck I am.” He groans. “I want nothing to do with f*cking criminals.”

I frown and inhale in frustration. “I think he’s a good kid, he just hasn’t had any opportunities.”

“What happened to you in prison? What are we, a f*cking charity now?”

“No. Look, if he does one thing wrong, he goes back in. I paid his bail, I’m giving him a chance and if he f*cks it up, I won’t make excuses for him.”

Adrian and Cameron look at each other, concerned. “He’s going to have to work hard. This isn’t a free ride.”

“What’s his name?” Adrian sighs.

I pick up the release papers on my desk and flick through them. “Jarvis.”

Adrian pouts. “Cool name.” He raises his eyebrows as if surprised.

I smirk.

Adrian narrows his eyes. “What is that look for?”

I shrug. “You two make out you are so gangster, but when it comes down to it, you’re both as soft as shit.”

“Fuck off,” Cameron mutters as he goes back to his phone. “I’m the king of gangster.”

“You still good for tonight?” I ask Cameron.

“Yes.” He sighs, annoyed.

Adrian and I smile at each other.

“And you will have to be there early to let them in.”

“I f*cking know. Jesus Christ, you owe me some shit.”

I smile. “Thank you.”

A knock rings against the door. “Come in,” I yell.

Ben appears first, the small boy behind him looks petrified.

I smile and hold my hand out to shake his. “Jarvis, we meet again.”

He smiles. “Hey, f*ck off.”

“Watch it.” Ben growls.

I smile at the private joke we have before my attention turns to Ben. “It’s ok, that’s what he calls me.”

Adrian’s face drops in horror. “Why would you call him that?”

The kid shrugs “Because those were the only two words he ever said in prison.”

The boys’ eyes all meet and they shake their heads and smile. “My apologies for not picking you up myself but I didn’t want to go back to that place. This is Cameron, my brother, and Adrian is the manager here.” He shakes their hands and tries to smile. He’s as nervous as hell. Poor kid. “And you know Ben, the head of my security.”

He turns to Ben and nods.

“Take a seat.” I gesture to the chair.

He falls into it, completely nervous. He’s wearing old clothes and appears un-kept. My eyes sweep over him. “Take a seat, Ben.”

Ben sits down next to Jarvis.

“I want to know why you went to prison.” I already know this but I want him to tell me.

He drops his head. “Stealing cars.”

I nod. “Why did you steal cars?”

He swallows nervously. “I had my reasons.”

My eyes hold his. “So, you used to steal cars, but in prison you gave up a million dollars to get me heroine when I asked you for it?”

He doesn’t answer me.

“Jarvis, I knew you could get it, so why didn’t you?”

He shrugs and looks to the floor.

I see Cameron and Adrian make eye contact with each other as they have light bulb moment as to why I want to help him.

“You even went so far as to tell the warden I wanted to kill myself and got me moved to protective custody. Why?”

He doesn’t answer.

“If you were so hard up for money, why did you do that?” I ask. “I really do want to know.”

“I knew you would regret it.”

My eyes hold his, but he looks away.

I swivel in my chair. “I have a business proposition for you.”

“I’m good. Thanks anyways.” He starts to stand.

“Sit down,” Ben orders. He falls nervously back into his chair.

“Let me rephrase that. You were going to be in prison for another two years, but now that I have paid your bail, you will do whatever I ask of you for two years.”

He looks at me, stone faced.

“You will work here at the office for me as a trainee. Nothing too hard at first, and we will help you with everything. I have rented you an apartment and we’ll go and get you a car tomorrow.”

He frowns.

My eyes drift to Adrian and then down at his clothing. “Adrian will go with you shopping this afternoon and buy you a new wardrobe.”

“This isn’t necessary.”

“Yes, it is.” I reply.

“You looked after me and now I am going to look after you, whether you like it or not.”

“I don’t fit in here.”

“I don’t care. You will in time. You are to leave that old life and those old friends behind you, or I will take you back to prison myself and you will have everything taken from you.”