The Protector (Barrett Boys #3) - Jordan Ford Page 0,4

spot Alpha Security on my screen.

“Hey, Cyrus,” I mutter, rubbing my tired eyes, then mussing up my thick hair.

“Bro, I’m sorry, man. You got a rough deal tonight.”

“No shit.” Sitting up, I start unlacing my shoes.

“I wish I could help you, I really do. But I can’t cross Lorenzo Corstanza, you know? I could lose my whole business. The guy’s got influence.”

“But this job was perfect for me,” I complain, kicking my left shoe across the room. It smacks into the wall.

I remember joking when I got this job that I was born for the role. Grandpa would have been proud, you know? I was protecting people, just the way he thought I would.

“There are other clubs.” Cyrus is trying to make me feel better.

It’s not working.

“He told me I wouldn’t get a job at a club anywhere in town.”

“There are other security companies, though. LA is the city of the rich and famous, you know? Maybe you could become a bodyguard or something.”

I frown. “Don’t you have to be qualified for that?”

“Yeah, you need certain cards and permits, but you could train for that, right? It’d be a walk in the park for a guy like you. You find the right gig and you could be earning 60K a year.”

“Sixty thousand dollars?” My eyes bulge, my insides thrumming. That’s insane. That’s like a proper living.

“Look, I’ll write you a good reference, okay? I’m pretty sure I can get away with that. I’ll even quietly ask around, see if I can find you something else.”

“My name is mud. Corstanza’s going to make sure of that. I’m totally screwed.”

“So, get a new one.”

I go still, my big toe pausing on the back of my shoe.

What did he just say?

“Get a new what?” I try to clarify.

“A new name.”

“Huh?”

He hesitates—I can hear him sighing through the phone—and then he lets me in on a secret I never saw coming.

“Look, I don’t usually tell people this, but just between you and me, my brother-in-law does IDs.”

My eyebrows pop high. This guy owns a security company and he’s telling me how to get a fake ID?

“Like I said, I don’t normally tell people this, but I like you, and I want to help you out. What happened tonight was plain unfair, and I want to be able to give you a shot someplace else.”

The thought is kind of enticing, but… “Isn’t that illegal?”

“Only if you get caught.” He snickers. “And you won’t with these. I’m telling ya, his work is flawless. Besides, it’s not like you’re gonna use the ID to do anything bad. You just need help getting a job. It’s no biggie. Just a name change, even just your last name, and maybe tack a few years onto your life. Shit, I could even give you the permits you need.”

“Well… how much would that cost me?”

“I can probably talk him down to five hundred.”

“I don’t have five hundred bucks.”

“So, pay me back.”

My forehead wrinkles. No way can it be that easy. I push my shoe off and flick it to land next to the other one. Their shiny sheen mocks me, and I scowl at them. “Why are you doing this?”

“I don’t know. Call it a soft spot for foster kids. I know it’s hard to catch a break sometimes, and I don’t want you to end up homeless.”

I don’t know what to say to that.

It’s really nice of him. I mean, it could help a lot.

But—

“Have a think about it, then get back to me. I can probably put something together in a couple days for ya.”

“Yeah, thanks, man.” I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear.

Why are my fingers shaking?

“Don’t worry about it. Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day, you know?” He snickers. “My mom always used to say that.”

My eyebrows bunch, and he hangs up before I can respond.

Rubbing my phone over the bottom of my chin, I think about that kid trying to get into the club tonight. Part of the reason I questioned his ID was because he looked young. But not me. I’ve never looked young. I could probably pass for a guy in his early twenties.

And maybe that would help me out, open a few doors. People would be way more likely to hire me if they didn’t know I was nineteen.

The fact that it’s illegal niggles some. I lie back down, scratching my chest and wondering what to do.

Cyrus is right about me not using the fake ID for anything

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