A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(16)

He gave me a nod, sighing. “You ever actually consider not going into the family business? We both have cousins who aren’t involved. We could have that, you know. If we wanted it.”

Jesus. If that wasn’t the million-dollar question for both of us.

Stephano’s only remaining son had turned his back to the family business, and my uncle leaned toward the male-oriented way of thinking. My sister didn’t count and wasn’t considered to step in and take over. It was me and me alone to keep everything going.

Way I viewed things was to not view things. That gave me ideas and options, and Stephano was my father in so many ways.

I couldn’t have those ideas or options.

I just shook my head. “We’ll cross that bridge when it comes, if it comes.”

He glanced my way, studied me. “And if it comes sooner than you think?”

I just held his gaze. “Then we decide then.”

He nodded. Like I knew he would.

That’s how we were.





CHAPTER TWELVE


JESS


I liked to think that I hadn’t thought about him, but that wasn’t true. I had, and I was still trying to suppress it, but he was always there. Always in the background. I felt like the idea of him was haunting me. I felt him touching me again at random times on Monday. Tuesday. By Wednesday it wasn’t going away.

If anything, it was worse.

I was heading to meet Kelly for lunch when I looked over.

A black SUV was there, parked on the side of the street, and I paused before opening the café’s door.

The SUV’s door opened.

I sucked in a breath of air because I was not expecting it, but he was there. And he was looking right at me.

Was he there for me?

But then a guy hurried around me and went right to the SUV. He hopped into the back seat. The door closed, and the SUV took off.

And me, I was left perplexed because what were the odds?

I headed inside, going to give my order at the counter, but I couldn’t shake the look he’d given me.

Was his PI still following me?

That made me heated.

But how he looked at me, knowing I was there. There’d been no surprise, no look of recognition, and there would’ve been if he hadn’t been expecting to see me.

He looked shut down. Angry.

There’d been a way his jaw had been locked in place. He had not been wanting to do whatever he was doing, or had done, or was going to do.

God.

I needed to forget this guy.

I didn’t even know his name.

I needed a life. That’s what I needed.

A life.

Or sex.

I’d forget him then.



“I was fired.”

I almost choked on my coffee at Kelly’s announcement. She said it as she slumped into the chair across from me. The café was bustling around us, but she had her food in hand, so she must’ve stopped at the counter before making her way to my table.

“Today?” I picked up my coffee. I had also grabbed my food first.

Kelly didn’t answer right away, her petite shoulders rigid before she slumped down and began to unwrap her sandwich. “I was fired two weeks ago.”

I almost dropped my cup before gaping at her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Kelly was a fill-in at an agency. She got sent to places if they needed an assistant, so she never had steady paychecks. She always got by, but Kelly didn’t have a big nest egg saved up.

“What can I do?”

She’d been chewing on her bottom lip, then let it pop out at my question. “Can you ask Anthony at Katya for a job?”

Katya was my second job, the one I needed to help pay extra bills.

I said, “They only have shot girls on the weekend opening.”

“It’s something. Tips are good there.”

“You sure?”

She went back to chewing her bottom lip. Kelly would be out and about with the customers, on the floor with them. Some of the customers at Katya could get handsy. Management was supposed to take care of them, but sometimes it didn’t happen, and sometimes the girls didn’t want to cause a fuss, so they endured. I didn’t have to deal with it because I was behind the bar. Word had gotten around what I did after I’d called in a couple of parole violators. No one messed with me, but I hated that Kelly might not get that same treatment.

I nodded, resolving to have a word with Anthony besides just seeing if he’d hire her. “I’ll text him right now.”

She sat up, her face brightening. “Really?”

“Tip money helps with rent.”

She shuddered, nodding. “You don’t have to say that again. Sorry to put you in this spot. I’m a bit desperate.”

I shook my head. “No spot that you’re putting me in. If I can help, I’m helping.” I sent off my text right after that.

Jess: You still looking for any extra girls to carry around the shot trays?

Anthony: Please tell me you know someone, and yes. Immediately. Tonight.

Jess: Pay?

Anthony: You know what they get paid. Tips are theirs, but it’s the standard rate.

Jess: She’s my roommate.

He didn’t respond.

That would complicate things.