Free Laying a Foundation: Bonus volume: Includes series prequel, The Groundbreaking (The Love Under Construction Series) by Deanndra Hall

to class.
    As soon as he walked in the door, Professor Augustino stopped him. “Peyton, see me after class, please.” Oh, god, wonder what I’ve done wrong , Peyton thought. It was too close to graduation to screw anything up.
    After class, he hung back. When the room was empty, Professor Augustino motioned for Peyton to follow him to his office. Once inside, he closed the door and pointed at a chair for Peyton.
    “Gotten any positives?” the professor asked him.
    “Not a single one – another rejection this morning.”
    “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I got a call from a guy here in Louisville, an attorney, who’s looking to put together a security team to hire out to his clients who need shadowing, protection, whatever. I know it’s not what you had in mind, but it’s a job, and it would give you experience until you can, well, you know.” Professor Augustino smiled at him and tried to look hopeful.
    “I’m not kidding myself anymore.” A gloomy look passed over Peyton’s face. “No police department is going to hire me. And I’m still having trouble with my prosthetic. I don’t know what to do at this point.”
    “So do you think you might be interested in working with this guy? If you are, I’ll give you his contact information.”
    “Yeah, sure, why not? I don’t have any other prospects. Might as well.” Oh, great – a life of following cheating housewives around . He took the contact information and put it in his binder.

    “Have a seat, Mr. Stokes. Mind if I call you Peyton?” The tall, blond, muscular attorney pointed to the sofa in his office, and Peyton had a seat.
    “No sir, feel free.” Pretty nice digs , he thought. Steve McCoy’s office was big and very tastefully decorated, with what looked like extremely expensive art scattered about here and there. “So, I understand you’re just trying to get this off the ground?”
    “Yeah. I have clients who are wealthy and they need protection sometimes; not all of my clients, but a few. They sometimes have, how can I say this delicately, questionable business practices, and they make enemies. That’s where we come in.”
    Spectacular – career criminals and mafia moguls. No wonder he has a nice-looking office , Peyton thought. And it wasn’t just the office; it was obvious to Peyton that McCoy knew he was a good-looking man and felt he was somewhat superior to most of the people around him. This was an interesting-looking situation, and Peyton decided maybe this would be a good place to get his feet wet; well, foot wet.
    “So, I hear you have a slight difficulty.” McCoy looked at Peyton with a steady eye.
    “I have a below-the-knee prosthetic, left leg.” Peyton walked to the side of McCoy’s desk to show him. “I’m having a little trouble with it, but it’ll get worked out, I’m sure. I’ve just got to work with my physical therapist and the orthotist, and it’ll be fine.”
    “Well, frankly, I hope so, because I think you’d be great in the field. Until you can get that ironed out, I’ll put you in the office, helping me get everything up and running. There’s a future here for you, if you want it, maybe as a supervisor for the other mercenaries!” McCoy laughed.
    “I’d be interested in helping out, especially with startup. I’d really like to help hire the other workers, you know, interviewing and things like that.”
    “Good! You know, I like you, Stokes. You seem like an honest guy, and I need that with some of the people I deal with. Plus you were career military and you’re not a kid.” McCoy extended his hand. Peyton took it and shook it firmly. “So, when can you start?”

JOSÉ
    February 2010
    “T he crowd’s getting rowdy, my man. Time to get out there and do your thing.” Jorge slapped José on the shoulder as the younger man rose. José could hear the crowd, stomping their feet and screaming. He’d both looked forward to and dreaded this night, and it was finally