Page 18 of Minding the Minotaur

“That’s not how it happened.”

“You hate DeVines, right?”

“Yes but…”

“And you left.”

“Because I got sacked.”

“The truth is always relative, Blondie.”

I pause, trying to take all this in. “What about me being female?”

Jax looks perplexed. “What about it?”

“I mean… Doesn’t that put me at a disadvantage? Aren’t a lot of the, um, species quitebig?”

“Sure, but on level one the monsters tend to be pretty docile. I wouldn’t put you forward for anything on the lower levels, no way. Not unless you want to get your bones crunched.” He says it so matter-of-factly I have no idea if he’s joking or not. Then he grins. “Okay. Leave it with me, I’ll see what I can do.”

Clem throws her arms around his neck and hugs him, and he rolls his eyes at me over her shoulder as he returns the hug. I glance down at the arm he’s hugging her with. There’s a ring of flames tattooed on his bicep, and I realize with a jolt that it’s covering up a huge welt of scars.

Are these from the accident that nearly killed him?

Clem’s words bring me back. “He’s not so bad, my bro,right?” she says, and despite her bright smile I see the look of worry in her eyes. His smoking habit, his scars, that haunted look he has about him, all disguised behind an air of indifference. I realize how much of a worry he must be for her, living and working out here.

Not one of us, but not one of them either.

Just like I might be very soon.

Maybe I’m getting in over my head, but even so, it’s not fear that surges through my veins.

It’s excitement.

“I’ll be in touch tomorrow,” Jax says. “Got a telephone where you are?”

“Sure.” I recite my number, and he scribbles it on a cigarette paper with the stub of a pencil.

“Nothing shonky, right?” Clem squints at him. “Sammy’s had enough of being used up.”

“Yeah, no worries.”

She hugs him again, and he sees us to the door. He doesn’t try to hug me, which I’m grateful for, too many guys see my tits and get all creepy. But not Jax.

“Okay, you can piss off now, both of you. I need a fag,” he says, waving a dismissive hand.

Clem flips her brother the bird as he closes the door in our faces.

CHAPTER 6

ARLO

“You’re staying here until I find you a minder,” Otis growls, throwing his sheriff’s hat on the chair in the hallway as he strides past.

I follow him. It’s a long time since I’ve been inside the sheriff’s house. I used to come here as a kid when Otis’ dad, Sheriff Bradley Cane, would throw big parties and invite all the neighbors. Ah, those were the golden days. Bradley was a gregarious orc, burly and big-hearted, with a loud laugh and a friendly slap on the back for everyone he met. We felt safe around him, as though nothing could harm us.

Trouble was, while he was liked by most monsters, there were a few that didn’t care for Bradley Cane. Mostly on the lower levels, where lawlessness is a way of life.

It only takes one false move, and it’s over in a second.