“Alright, and why aren’t you opening the shop?”
“Don’t need to, most of the deliveries I'm needed for are in the afternoon. Doesn’t take the boss to count some tires or check the machines off. The office girls count their own drawers, and I count them back in.” Jessie didn’t want to feel proud just yet. His father was a bit of an obsessive, control freak when it came to the business. He never hired any managers, outside of Jessie and Rex, because he couldn’t trust anyone. Hard to be the man in charge of multiple businesses when half of them can’t be on paper. Titan Bonesaw didn’t build an empire for that long without the new Lord Commander in office, without being good at keeping it all together.
But Jessie had improved on the empire. He’d changed up inventories and labels for stock so he could receive all shipments on paper and sell them all above board. Sure, the swords for the Devil in the woods weren’t called ‘blood encrusted, hexed blade from the badlands’ but something like ‘BESx- v12’, which when asked was just another specialty part used on a vintage vehicle. That way he could be paid and pay out people from a completely council-approved bank account. He’d fully transformed the old business into the new century.
Some things still need to be done the old way, like smuggling people in and out of the city...But Jessie was proud. Very proud of what he’d accomplished in the short span of a year at the ship’s helm.
“Where’s Rex?” Titan looked around inquisitively.
“Bet he’s in the office. I had some shipments yesterday that still needed filing.” Jessie shrugged before he turned to his fatherhead on. “Pops, you didn’t teach me everything you know for me to be a dumbass. I know what I’m doing.”
“I know, but...” Titan pivoted to him, patting Jessie’ on the shoulder. “I’m your old man, you know, I’m still allowed to worry over ya. You know, until I stop breathing, you’re still my calf.”
“Ew, yuck,” Jessie gagged.
“Say that to your mother,” Titan sneered.
“No thanks, I choose living.” Jessie slapped his father’s bicep, hoping he might leave. As much as he liked the praise and love...it felt like his father might ask something less easy to explain. Jessie could explain his business choices all day long. But he caught his father’s curious glance and knew for a fact he was about to ask the complicated question.
Titan didn’t even hesitate. “So, whose kid was that? You or Nik’s?”
Jessie threw his hands in the air, exasperated but not surprised. He stomped down the asphalt, his father following quickly after him. “No one’s—”
“Your mother’s gonna kill ya if she finds out—”
“Pops! Bella’s not my kid!’ Jessie roared, walking backward through the empty Bay 4. He narrowly avoided stacks of tires, but his father didn’t let up. In fact, he charged through the bay, offering half-assed waves to the techs who called out his name.
“Oh, it’s Bella, is it?”
“Katarina needed a place to stay. Nik and I said she could crash on the couch. She’s got a kiddo, that kiddo’s name is Bella.” Jessie went straight for the back fence, focusing on unlocking it to keep him from sputtering under his father’s bulldozing.
If Ma thinks I’ve had a kid without her knowing about them? She’ll wring my neck.All his mother ever wanted was a big family. She had three boys. And ever since Elliot got his royal head out of his ass, the family was back to having weekly dinner nights at the house. Rex even moved back home for the time being while he figured out if he was going to college or if he was doing morework like Jessie.Good thing, cause Rex needs stability.Jessie tried to see what everyone needed and be that thing.
Elliot needed his goofy little brother to remind him that being some big bad captain (now coach) wasn’t all he was.
Pops needed an heir, someone smart and quick to learn.
Ma needed her baby boy to dote on and let her shine his horns cause Rex was too wiggly and Elliot was too embarrassed.
Rex? His baby brother needed a steady rock. So, Jessie scheduled him to open, gave him a list of things to look over every day, and told Rex he depended on him. Rex showed up every day because he felt obligated...and that kept the little rascal from going off the rails.
“And so she’s Niks?” Titan poked his way into the graveyard with Jessie.
“No! And even if she was, it wouldn’t be none of your business!” Jessie started to pull out all the tables and pieces they needed for stripping parts. Since they had a few busted cars dropped off yesterday, they were going to be busy until dinner.
“Why are you so defensive?” Titan huffed, only to stop and sniff hard. Jessie froze, hunched over a table, plugging in the lights, to look over his shoulder. His father sniffed in his direction and Jessie jerked backwards.
“Pops, what the fuck?”
“That’s why,” Titan hummed with disdain.
“What are you talking about? Did Ma pop you with her steel toed slipper by accident this morning?” Jessie eyed his father up and down before lifting his arm. He sniffed at his armpits to check and found he still smelled freshly washed and of deodorant. When he looked back at his father, Titan shook his head.
“Invite the poor girl to dinner tonight, I’m telling your mother.”
“Telling Ma what?” Jessie yelled after his father. He lurched forward, stopping on his right hoof as his father charged, unphased, toward the back door that spat out near the familyhouse. Titan waved a dismissive hand back at his son but didn’t even turn to look at him when he yelled.
“We’re making pasta! Bring flowers for ya mother!”
