Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
My eyebrows went up. “Uh. No?”
Because, no. But the way he said it, I almost questioned myself.
I sat forward. “I need a job. I’m used to this industry. You can see my work history.”
His eyes fell on my résumé, but he didn’t pick it up. “Why here?” He fixed me with intense scrutiny.
I was confused.
He leaned forward abruptly. “We looked you up. I know who you are. I have to imagine that you know who we are.”
Another flat stare.
He was talking about who I thought. “I know who owns this club.”
He leaned back in his chair, his hands pushed into the front pocket of his hoodie. “And again, we know who you are. Creighton Lane has his own establishments. Why aren’t you employed at one of them?”
I deflated. He really did know who I was. Okay then. I wasn’t going to bullshit with him. “This club is owned by Cole Mauricio. He’s from another Mafia family, and this club is considered neutral territory. I’m not one of Creighton’s soldiers, and I don’t want anything to do with the fight going on between him and the other two families in this city. I’m a college student. I want a job, and I want to make some money. That’s it.”
An unnatural stillness came over him before he shifted in his seat. “We have an understanding with the West and Walden families. They’re allowed to be in here, as long as they’re here as patrons only. No violence. They’re not allowed to operate here. This club is owned and run by Cole Mauricio. Only Cole Mauricio. Lane has not reached out for the same agreement, but I’ve got a feeling that if I hire you, he’ll be on the phone within the hour. He’s not allowed to enter until he has an agreement with my employer. I’m sure he’ll be aware of that condition. He’s a smart prick.”
My own mouth twitched.
I liked the no-nonsense attitude from this guy. I also liked that there wasn’t one iota of nervousness about Creighton. That was the best part.
He was eyeing my résumé again. Still wary. “If I hire you, there’s no fucking way I’m putting you on the floor. You’re applying to be a server or a shot girl.” His gaze lifted to me. “You’ll bartend, and you will keep your ass behind the bar, you got me?”
Was he . . .
“What are you saying?”
“Lane will not be allowed to recruit here. Patron only. Anything else, he’s out. We do not give one fuck how scary he can be.”
I frowned. “Wait. Are you saying—”
He heaved a deep breath and held out his hand. “You’re hired if you’re okay with a bartending job?”
I shot to my feet and shook his hand, trying not to pump it from how happy I was. “Yes. Yes, si—”
“God. Just Spence, please.”
“Yes, Spence. Mr. Spence—Calloway. Thank you for this.”
His face went dark. “One slipup from Lane and you’re out of here.”
My throat swelled up, and I swallowed, thickly. “Understood.”
“Then welcome to Octavia.”
Chapter Twelve
Creighton
She went to Octavia today. She got the job.
She was sleeping now, but she didn’t come to me for a job. She went to a foster center too. That was perfect for her. I didn’t know if she would love working there. She was always torn about her experience being a foster kid, but I knew Blake. Her heart wouldn’t let her not work there. The second she saw one foster kid who needed help, she wouldn’t be going anywhere else. It would be cemented for her. Whether she accepted it or not, it’s where she’s supposed to be.
She’d be running it within three to five years.
I stood over her. She rolled to her side, presenting the side of her face, her smooth skin. I couldn’t help but graze the back of my hand over her cheek.
She didn’t think I knew about her feelings for me, but of course I knew. She considered it a crush growing up. Maybe it had morphed into something deeper? Maybe it was time to give it oxygen? See if the fire built.
I knew I’d been holding mine back, and it was damn near combustible by now. I was tired of holding myself back from her. I was tired of pretending these feelings weren’t here. Yes, there was my obsession, but I wanted her.
I was tired of not having her.
Her head moved, her nose twitched. I lifted my hand away, not wanting to wake her. But I couldn’t bring myself to leave either. Why would I?
Settling down in her chair, I sat back to watch her sleep.
Tonight she slept contentedly. I wished she always slept like this, but I knew she didn’t. There was darkness lurking in the back of her mind, and sometimes it slipped out, infecting her dreams, turning them into nightmares. I’m sure some of it was because of the things I’d done in the past to protect her, but it was always to protect her.