She ain't gonna like it

Chance and Koty just stood and stared at each other for a few minutes until Chance couldn't keep his silence anymore.

"Alright Dakota, did you know it would be me when you applied for this job?" He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"Not at first. I figured it out on the way over here this morning." Koty was completely unaffected by Chance's attitude.

Chance walked over to kitchen and grabbed a couple bottles of water. He tossed one to Koty and then sat on a stool at the counter. Koty didn't even look at the bottle. He caught it effortlessly and then leaned on the counter with his back to Chance.

"I can't believe they actually went and found me a babysitter." Chance ran his fingers through his hair. "I really can't believe that they just found you by accident either."

"Well, they did... boss." Koty's flat expression shifted into a smirk.

Hearing Koty address him as boss gave him goosebumps.

"No. Nope. No way. This is not going to work at all. They can find someone else."

"Oh, come on boss, it won't be that bad. Plus, I need this job."

"Stop that, you brat. I'll find you another one. I'm a big shot now, can't you tell?."

Koty turned around to face Chance and leaned forward. "We are only a decade apart and I'm a full grown adult, is it really fair to call me a brat?"

Chance sighed and drank some of his water. "Does Nev know?"

"Not yet. Also, could you avoid calling my kid sister out in the middle of the night? This city isn't getting any safer."

"Does she normally stay in?"

"Nope."

"Then what's the difference?"

"She's not usually meeting up with guys that have a bounty posted across their forehead."

"Since when? How many times did we have to go bail her out in the past few years?"

"Dude, your bounty is up to seven and a half million. Half of the underground is after you. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted." Chance shot Koty a death glare to which Koty rolled his eyes.

"What? I said tempted. I'd never actually act on it or anything."

Even though Koty was rough around the edges, he really had a good heart and a strong sense of justice. Given all Chance had done for him and his sister, there was no way he'd do anything to harm him.

"And Nevada?" He asked about her again as she hadn't offered much information the other night.

"She's been taking it easy since she started school this year. She's been taking it seriously too. I was surprised when she went out so late for the bike loan until I found out it was you."

"I offered to help her out with the school fees and she turned me down again." There wasn't much he could do. Nevada and Dakota were both proud people that wanted to do what ever they could by themselves.

"Sounds like Nev. The kid won't take help from nobody. But she'll nickel and dime you to death."

"You still fighting?" The last time Chance had seen Koty, he'd been climbing the ranks in the underground mixed martial arts circuit. Not really legal per say but certainly lucrative.

"Not so much anymore. I train the local kids when I can but I need a job that pays steady. Also Nev was starting to worry about me too much. Apparently me getting knocked around made her nervous."

"And how will this make her any less nervous?"

"She thinks I applied for an office job."

"What kind of office around here would hire a kid who didn't finish high school?"

"Yours."

"No, I can't put you and Nev in danger."

"Who are you talking to? We already live day to day in danger."

"How did they find you anyway?"

"I applied, duh."

"I mean, what was the selection process?"

"Standard physical, drug test, written exam, interview, and skills showcase."

"You passed a drug test and written exam?" Chance was half joking and half serious.

"I've been clean and sober since Nev turned thirteen."

"Wow. That's what? Five years, congrats."

"Yeah, whatever."

"No, seriously. I mean it. Nev wasn't the only one worried about you."

"Thanks Mom." Though he acted annoyed, he knew Chance really meant what he said. "So can I keep my job or not?"

"I guess you can stay."

"Cool."

"But I've got some conditions."

"Let me guess, I can't tell Nev? I can't sacrifice myself? If things get too bad, I have to ditch you?"

"I was just going to say don't call me boss but those sound pretty good too." He thought for a second before adding, "You should probably tell Nev the truth though."

"I'd rather not."

"If she finds out in her own, it'll be much worse."

"Who says she'll find out?"

"I said if. And I don't want to get caught up in the cross-fire if it happens." Chance's voice was pleading. He didn't want to cause any trouble between the siblings.

Koty relented and agreed. "Fine. But I can tell you now, she ain't gonna like it."