He finally meets my eyes guiltily. “I have to take my little sister to school every day, and I couldn’t afford the uniform. I planned to buy it with my first paycheque.”
My brows furrow. “Why are you taking your sister to school?”
He kicks a stone with the tip of his sneaker as he looks around, clearly debating how honest he should be here. “My mom…” Jaxon clears his throat. “She’s either too wasted to drive or sleeping off the night before.”
Well, fuck.
Now I feel like an asshole.
Especially because his upbringing doesn’t sound all too different to my own. If anyone knows what it is to have an absent mother, it’s me.
I take in the teenage boy with new eyes.
His jeans are too big and frayed along the bottom from dragging on the ground. His t-shirt is also probably two sizes too big and swallows his small frame. And he looks downright malnourished.
Jesus fucking Christ.
I place a hand on his shoulder. “Listen, kid. I hired you because I saw potential in you. You had balls coming to me in the street and asking for a job. I don’t expect you to be fast or even strong. I just want you to show effort. Strength can be built. Butyouhave towantto be here. Do you want to be here, Jaxon?”
His green eyes meet mine with a new determination. “Yes.”
“Good.” I pat him on the back. “From now on you start at eight. That gives you an hour to get your sister to schoolso I expect you to be on time. If you need something, you ask. If, for some reason, you can’t be here at eight, you call. Understood?”
He dips his head in agreement; his expression laced with emotions that no kid his age should ever have to experience. “Understood. Thank you, Killian.”
“Go on and get yourself home. I’ll finish up here.” He thanks me one more time before taking off.
I spend another ten minutes cleaning up before loading the tools into the back of my truck.
Callen climbs in next to me and wipes the sweat from his forehead with a huff. “That kid is useless, boss.”
I turn my head to glare at him. “I decide who is useless around here. You’ve been at this a lot longer than he has and like you said, he’s akid.Cut him some slack and stop giving him shit.”
Jace, my longest, most qualified employee, climbs in next and I flick my gaze to him. “Same goes for you, J. I don’t wanna hear either of you giving that kid any more trouble. Got it?”
Jace nods once. “Got it.”
“Good.” I put the truck in drive and pull out of the driveway, ready for this day to be over.
***
“Hey,” a familiar voice calls from behind me and I pause my task to steal a glance over my shoulder. My sister stands in the doorway of my workshop; her hands tucked into the pockets of her jean shorts as she rocks back on her heels.
I place the saw sharpener down on my work bench and turn to give her my full attention. “Hey.”
“Whatchu doin’?” she asks, and her question, coupled with her tone of voice, immediately sparks suspicion.
“Getting the tools ready for tomorrow. What’re you doing?” I fold my arms across my chest and lean back against the bench, raising a brow at her.
She shrugs and steps inside, her eyes roaming across the tools and equipment surrounding her. She tries to hold back a grimace as she keeps her arms down by her side, careful not to touch anything. “Thought I’d come pay my big brother a visit.”
I snort at her lie. “And the real reason?”
Bella huffs in feigned annoyance. “Can’t a girl want to spend some quality time with her brother?”
“Sure. But you normally wouldn’t be caught dead in a room full of chainsaws, dirt and sawdust, so how ‘bout you tell me why you’re really here, Bells.”
Her shoulders fall in defeat. “Ugh, fine. I came to tell you that Daisy’s back.”
