other ways but…”
“Jedrek off on a mission, huh?”
“Yeah. Sigil went off this morning. Shitty day for it. Couldn’t the Goddess have called someone else from the hellhound pack?”
“If they were right for the job, she would have.”
Nick growled, but it really didn’t have any heat behind it. “You’re right. I just… I gotta put more space between ’em next time. Carson and Joy just left, and I need more time to deal with it, you know? I’ll let Vic…” Nick sighed. “Fuck.”
“We’ve gotta get used to him not being here.”
“He took care of shit for me. I didn’t have to worry about all these fucking details with him around. I’ve got forty kids to think about. I can’t keep all this other shit straight in my head. They’re the priority. Fucking hell. I oughta fly out to that island and drag his ass back here.”
Riggs wanted to let him. Hell, he wanted to do the same thing. “He’ll figure something out. He knows you. He knows us. What we need.”
Before Nick could reply, they heard the thump of running footsteps headed their way. Nick frowned toward the door when it burst open and Ollie Jerrick skidded into the room.
“Whoops! Ha! Go Speed Racer.” He blushed and cleared his throat nervously. “Um. Hi.”
“Ollie? Something chasing you?”
“Um, no. I just… Nothing. Anyway. Hi. So, I need to remind you that you have—” Ollie paused and opened up a suspiciously familiar tablet. He pushed a few buttons before smiling at them both. He cleared his throat once more. “You have an appointment with Alpha Glatston in one hour.”
Nick frowned. “I know.”
“And you’re supposed to make sure that he’s on the guest list for security because you’re the only person they’ll take the list from.”
Nick scowled. “Shit. Forgot that.”
He pulled his phone out and began pecking out a text.
“And, um. Hi. Mr. Riggs. Sir.”
“Just call me Riggs. Everybody does.”
“Right. Riggs. Um, I’m supposed to tell you that the subcontractor invoices have been paid, except for the plumbers because there were some unusual charges we need you to review and approve. Um. Oh, right. I printed the invoice they sent so you could look at it and let me know what to do.”
Nick finished sending his text as Ollie retrieved the slightly crumpled paper from the messenger bag slung around his chest.
Riggs scanned the invoice quickly, realizing the plumbing company hadn’t billed them correctly for the overtime they’d needed to get the cottages completed earlier than scheduled. “I’ll have to call them,” Riggs said. “Invoice is wrong.”
“We figured as much.”
“Who’s we?” Nick scowled.
“Oh! Right. Um, did you read your email today by chance? Because Mr. Eastaughffe hired me as his assistant?”
“Dammit.” Nick pulled out his phone again.
Riggs ran his hand over his head, ignoring the newest stab of pain in his chest. Victor really wasn’t coming back.
It was a smart move, though, bringing in Ollie as his assistant. The kid was adorable, could think fast, and knew his way around a pack. Nick wouldn’t get mad at him, not like he would some stranger. He considered the Jerricks family, and since Ollie’s older brother was one of Nick’s brother’s mates… Hell, the family connections around this place were enough to make Riggs’s head hurt.
Nick turned off his phone and glanced at Riggs. “He’s gonna be working with Victor.”
“Right.”
Nick closed his eyes for a moment, pulling in a deep breath.
“Um. Is this not okay? I thought it sounded like a great opportunity but—”
“It’s great, Ollie,” Riggs said. “It’s just been a rough week, you know?”
“Yeah. Victor. Um, I mean Mr. Eastaughffe said that you guys needed an extra set of hands and that he was looking for someone with enough energy to keep up with the place, and he thought of me, so… but I get it. If you don’t think—”
“You’re going to fit right in, Ollie,” Nick said. “What else have you got for me? ’Cause I know Victor’s list is probably epic. His lists always are.”
“Well, only if you’re up for it. I’m… hmm… probably shouldn’t say it, but we know this is a sensitive time, so I’m supposed to make sure you’re in a decent mood before asking you for stuff because you have priorities.”
Nick laughed and glanced at Riggs. They both heard the echo of Victor’s voice in Ollie’s parroted words. “Yeah. I do. Walk back to the house with me. I need to get ready for Alpha Glatston to arrive, and you can keep me occupied until he gets here.”
“Oh, sure!