His eyes drop again.
“And second,” I add, tightening my grip on his hand, “working as a janitor at a sex club is not shameful. Not even a little.”
I cup his jaw, lifting his face so hehasto look at me. “There is nothing shameful about surviving. Nothing shameful about doing what you have to do to keep a roof over your head. Shame doesn’t belong to the person trying to make it through the week. It belongs to the people who left you with no other choice.”
His eyes fill, just a little, and he tries to look away, but I don’t let him.
“You hear me?” I whisper. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You just did what you could with the hand you were given. And that… baby, that’s nothing but strength.”
“I can’t quit,” he whispers. “I have to make that extra money each month, or I’ll lose my apartment.”
“Don’t worry about that, son,” Spike says from behind me. “We’ll pay you plenty to cover your bills, food, and whatever else you need. And you’re a Shadow now, Eli. Housing comes with the territory.”
“Housing?” he asks, blinking up at Spike, and I can’t help but smirk.
Thathousingis only for club officers and their families.
“We’ve got several empty homes inside the compound,” I tell him. “Fully furnished. All appliances included in the monthly rent.”
“How much is it?” Eli asks, already looking defeated.
“We don’t actually charge rent,” Spike says. “Officers earn their houses by doing their jobs.”
“But I’m not an officer,” he says. “I don’t… I don’t have a way to earn my keep if I take one of your homes.”
“How about you let us worry about that?” Spike replies, stepping up to Eli’s bedside and patting his shoulder before pulling out his phone. “I need to get in touch with the officer in charge of all this and make sure it’s even feasible before I give you a final answer.”
“Okay,” Eli nods. “I’ve been thinking about moving. I just… can’t afford anything better.”
“Let me see what I can do,” Spike says, lifting his phone to his ear.
Seconds later,myphone rings.
It takes everything in me not to grin like an idiot.
I like this game.
Who knew Spike could be so fun?
“Hey, Prez,” I answer, keeping my face straight even though Eli’s eyes go as wide as dinner plates.
“Skip, I have a man here looking to rent one of the club’s houses,” Spike says, suddenly all business. Not a hint of humor.
“Is he an officer?” I ask, not taking my eyes off Eli.
“No.”
“Is he a patched member?” I press.
“Nope.”
“Well,” I sigh, “not sure I can allow that. Ultimately, it’s your call since you’re the Prez, but I can’t sit back and let an unpatched, unclaimed man have that kind of access to our family.”
Spike doesn’t even blink.
“Hmm,” he says. “No, you’re right. Probably not the smartest idea.” He pauses, then adds, “I guess I’ve only got one more question.”
He looks at me. I look back.
