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"I need Miller there"

"Until when?"

"Until I say so"

"And then what?" Rust keeps tellingfar"parts, and being called "Nurse Boone" by a bunch of greasy arage isn’t bankrolling Rust’s high-end lifestyle; that much I know Neither does RTM International, the online vehicles sales coh that colobal businessood idea where histomore than an errand boy He can be such a secretive son of a bitch, even when it coue, but the da plan in front of et a sour s like a pissy brat and spend all this energy establishing yourself as a leader Run the garage as well as Miller does Better than Miller Learn how to deal with people You’ll ot to be personable and keep them all happy, kid I didn’t build up that place so you can drive it into the ground with your smart mouth"

Same old spiel "It’s hard to believe that’s really so i with the custoht now" Rust knows he doesn’t have to worry about , for fuck’s sake Just, maybe not after this much vodka

"The custouys’ respect"

"That’s not respect That’s working for a paycheck under constant threat The dickhead toldlate Toshop," Rust throws back, his tone warning

I holdrealI’ve taken good care of you" His old Rolex--a hand-raded last year It’s part of the long list of gifts and cash that he’s easily doled out and I’ve gratefully accepted, just as easily as a son would accept so from his father Because that’s the role Rust has played since I was six years old, ever since my dad skipped out on ainst ument is worth it I know I can’t win Rust’s an unmovable bastard when he wants to be "I’m just tired of Miller’s crap," is all I say I’ Saturdays It’s a sucker’s life and it’s not one I have any interest in living It’s the one Rust promised me I wouldn’t have to live

A harsh chuckle escapes Rust "You’re only twenty-four years old You’ve got too o to be tired of people’s crap already Go on" He waves a lazy hand back toward the co in the VIP section, as usual It’s packed with bodies and thruht here Why don’t you cheer yourself up with a bliad"

I roll et laid Classic Rust advice when he’s trying to blow me off Sometimes I listen It’s never hard to find one Not in this place, not looking the way I do Like irls like And I’ve never ht ends with one of them naked and on her back in front of lass across the table "I’ht Doubt you’d impress anyone in your state"

I have no interest in iht Not even Priscilla--a bartender and a sure thing, if she hasn’t already dug her claws into a true high roller for the night "When you hear that I’ve beaten Miller to death with that fucking stapler of his, don’t say I didn’t warn you" I slide out of our booth to the sound of Rust’s booh the crowd, I keep my head down to avoid all conversation

A sudden splash of cold liquid hits e

Chapter 2

CLARA

"I’ to take in his face It’s angular and masculine He’s far prettier than the pictures do justice And, by the deep furrow and the clenched teeth, he’s also oh so pissed

He’s too busy glaring at the tumbler’s worth of Coke that I just dulance up at et that dry cleaned for you Please," I offer,the vien the front of this slutty overpriced dress will finally grab his attention I place ainst his stomach as I step into his personal space Physical contact usually works

Instead, he shoulders past h the crowded bar and toward the exit

Shit I didn’t nurse a drink on this bar stool for the past two hours with the better part of nore me