Page 26 of Property of Mongrel

As I walk out to head to my office, I hear her calling her strawberry supplier and grin.

“How’s it going, brother?” Rio asks as he pops his head in my office door.

“Well, all the paperwork is caught up, and I just printed out the reports for you,” I reply. “I know you usually have the treasurer go over the financials during church, but Nerd told me he always gives you a copy ahead of time in case there are any surprises.”

“Rumor has it that you’re going to help Gretchen get her stuff sorted for next weekend,” he says.

“Rumor is correct and just saying, the brothers are a bunch of gossips.”

He chuckles then asks, “Do you think Jonah would like to come work for the ranch? He can still do his other work, but I got the impression from some of the things he said that he can work anywhere as long as he’s got a WiFi connection. Because he’s cut from the same cloth as you and would make a great addition to the Kings. Plus, he’s got a background that Nerd is drooling over, and it never hurts to have someone with the knowledge and experience who could give him a hand if needed.”

“You asking if I think he’d like to become a brother?” I press. “Other than the fact he rides a crotch rocket, which I will be rectifying, I think he’d like that. Uncle Leroy is looking for a salon to work at once they finish moving here. Apparently, he’s in hot demand for extensions or some shit. He’s also a master at color. Not that it would necessarily benefit the club per se, but it would be awesome to have them so close.”

“Issy mentioned that the salon owner in town is looking to sell her business. Think he’d be okay with the Kings being a silent partner? We’d discuss in church what percentage of profits he’d pay into our general pot, but the rest would be his for supplies and all that bullshit,” Rio states.

“Only one way to find out is to ask him,” I reply. “I can call him and feel him out then let you know. He’s already got a loyal clientele since a lot of them will drive for hours for their appointment.”

“Well… I’m sure Jonah could get his marketing and shit set up for him. Go ahead and call him and let me know what he says during church,” he says.

“I can do that.”

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

Addy

“You literally only saw him for two or so hours a week. Get a grip, Addy,” I grumble as I leave for the day.

I truly didn’t realize how much I enjoyed it when Mongrel came in for his appointments. It wasn’t as if we had a ton of conversations, more like I loved how he interacted with JB, and how he looked at me. While I was being honest with him about dating him right now, I really wish it was possible. Instead, I’ll patiently wait. Or impatiently, as the case may be.

I run through a drive-thru to grab some dinner, since I plan to do some cleaning. I know Betty would have a field day, especially since I was up with the chickens to get my Saturday chores done, but honestly, she doesn’t give me too much shit at the end of the day. I need to get a grip on it, though, because I’m an adult now and will never live like that again.

“You didn’t have a choice, Addy,” I say out loud as I wait for my order to be brought out to me. Fast food isn’t always all that fast these days, but this place has wonderful salads, and they allow you to add extra protein to your order.

As I drive, memories flash through my mind and once again, I’m that little girl, Smelly Belly.

“Smelly Belly, why don’t you take a bath and actually use soap?” one of my classmates taunted.

I tried not to show her that what she was saying hurt me, but it did. Even as young as six, I was having to take care of myself since my mother was extremely neglectful. But I guess I thought that hot water would do the job.

“Smelly Belly, Smelly Belly,” several of her friends chanted. “Look at what she’s wearing!”

I glanced down and saw that one of my favorite T-shirts had a small hole near the hem, then there was a stain on one of my shoulders. Plus, even I could smell that it needed to be washed. But I wasn’t tall enough to reach the washing machine and the one time I asked my mom, she screamed and yelled at me before she passed out. So, I would fill up the tub and dunk my clothes in the hot water, then hang them up to dry.

“She’s got dirt under her nails and her hair is greasy,” Micah Jones stated. “That’s just gross, Smelly Belly, didn’t anyone ever teach you how to bathe?”

Actually, no, they didn’t, and I didn’t have anyone I could ask. I wished my Aunt Betty wasn’t away at school because I knew she’d help me. Sighing, I packed up what was left of the crackers I had for lunch, then left the table. I was actually eligible for free lunches, but my mother wouldn’t fill out the forms. She said it was just another way that the government was trying to control the little man. I didn’t understand because we were both girls.

I got up and threw away my trash and when I returned, I saw my teacher, Mrs. Castle, at my table. She was chastising the three girls who were my worst tormentors and I overheard her say that she was reporting them for bullying me. I held no hope whatsoever that it would change anything. It never did.

I’m still deep in thought as I pull into my parking spot, gather my stuff and head inside. I guess this is gonna be one of those nights. Once I’m inside and have locked my door, I head to my room to shower before I change into lounging clothes.

“Yep, you’re fucked in the head. If Mongrel ever finds out, he won’t want you. You don’t work outside, dumbass, so your morning shower is sufficient since the clinic is temperature controlled.”

Still, old habits die hard and while the hot water sluices over my body, my thoughts flash forward to when Betty dropped by one day. What she saw was the impetus for her to push to get custody of me.

I heard the knock on the door, but I knew my mother was waiting for ‘her man’ to show up, so I sat at the tiny kitchen table and worked on my homework. I was still being bullied on a daily basis and was at the point that unless a teacher talked to me directly, I didn’t speak while I was at school.