Chapter 30
THIRTY
amadeo
Nantes is walking around the office, glancing at papers and folders, while I watch him and Balt tries to act normal at the computer.
“It looks good in here,” Nantes says. “Organized.”
“It took a while. Dad and Zio did everything on paper.”
Nantes chuckles. “That doesn’t surprise me.” He leans against the desk, crossing his arms across his chest. “How does it look? Is it salvageable?”
“It is. We’re in the red and have been for several quarters, but we’re gonna launch the rebrand and get a campaign going on social media. Brogan’s been researching what other companies are doing and we’re gonna sit down and create something just for us.”
Nantes nod, still glancing around. “What about infrastructure? I know Dad had to let a lot of staff go over the years.”
“Still figuring out what we need, but for now we’re gonna grow slowly.”
“Just the three of you until Balt leaves?”
“I’m not leaving,” Balt says. “I’m here for the long term.”
Nantes looks surprised, but he smiles. “That’s great.”
“Did you have something specific you wanted to see or talk about?”
“Uh…” Nantes chuckles. “No. I had a really stressful day yesterday and I think I wanted to ground myself a little.”
“What happened?” Balt asks.
“I lost a patient.” His expression falls as he rubs his forehead.
I rub his arm. “How?”
“Infection. We were treating him and gave him signs to look for to make sure it wasn’t getting worse, but the infection spread without obvious signs.
His wife noticed he had a fever and forced him to come to the ER, but it was too far gone.
” Nantes exhales slowly. “It shouldn’t have gone like that.
He was a healthy man with a deep cut on his abdomen.
Anyway, we’ll see if the autopsy turns up anything else.
” He lifts his head, forcing a smile to his lips. “Sorry to be grim.”
“It’s okay, Nantes. You can always talk to family. You know that, right?”
He half shrugs. “Dad isn’t very talkative, and Mom…
She’s too sensitive. Besides…” He trails off as he gazes into the distance.
“You might not know this, but Dad was pissed when I chose medical school over the family business. He wouldn’t pay a dime to help me, and every time I bring something up, he seems disinterested. ”
“I didn’t know but I’m not surprised. He was mad at me too, and I’m sure Guil has gone through it too.”
“He has. Normally, parents are proud to have a doctor and a lawyer in the family, but not our dad. At least you came back. He must be stoked.”
“I wouldn’t know. He’s been pretty hands off, and he seems more relieved than happy. I think it was wearing on him.”
“Oh, it was. Never heard that from him, but Mom would tell us during the annual guilt trip.”
“I got it too. Every time I called.”
He nods. “Are you happy you came back or does it feel like… I don’t know, like captivity?”
“I’m happy I came back, Nan. I’ve been disconnected from the things that matter for a long time.
I did what I set out to do in the big city and was left empty and unfulfilled.
At least this is tangible, and it feels important.
Sure, it might just be wine to most people, but it’s a legacy to our family. That’s worth fighting for.”
His expression softens. “I’m glad to hear it. I have to admit, we were all worried you would see what it would take to save this place and bail. No one would’ve blamed you.”
“Dad would have.”
He chuckles. “Probably true.” He pats my shoulder. “It’s good you’re back. We should hang out, get to know each other more.”
“I’d like that.”
After Nantes leaves, I walk over to Balt and crawl onto his lap. “That was interesting. I think that might be the longest conversation we’ve had in years.”
“It seemed like he needed to connect.”
“I agree. It must be stressful, and I can’t imagine what it feels like to have a patient pass. Gotta be devastating.”
“I would think so.” He rubs a circle on my chest with his palm. “Seeing you with your brother warms my heart. I’m hoping after all of this passes, I can have a better relationship with Lorelei.”
“I hope that too, but if not, you have my family.”
“It means a lot to me. I don’t take it for granted.”
“I know you don’t.” I grind into him slightly, waggling my eyebrows. “But feel free to show me your appreciation.”
“You’re horny right now?”
“I’m always horny for you.” I glance over my shoulder. “Want to be a little scandalous before Brogan comes back?”
Balt grins. “But we don’t know when that will be.”
“I know. Fun, right?”
His eyes heat as his grin morphs into a sexy smile. “Everything with you is fun.” Reaching between us, he flicks open the button on my jeans. “Now that you mention it, I could use a little snack.”
Balt lifts me effortlessly, sitting me on the edge of the desk while I shove the keyboard out of the way and he tugs my jeans open. I tangle my fingers in his hair as our mouths crash together in a heated kiss. After thinking I’d lost him for good, it feels amazing to have him in my arms again.
Balt’s lips move from my mouth to my neck, and as he nuzzles my skin, he whispers, “I’m so in love with you, Deo. Crazy about you.”
My stomach flutters and my cock swells even more. “I’m in love with you too. It’s wild. I’ve never felt this strongly before. I think I would do anything for you.”
He pulls back, gripping my chin and searching my eyes. “I know I would do anything for you. Anything at all.”
“All I want is for you to stay here and keep loving me.”
“That I can do.”
Balt kisses a path down my body, pushing me gently until I’m lying flat on the desk. He tugs my jeans and briefs down and suckles the head of my cock. I moan loudly, losing myself in the heat of his mouth.
“Knock, knock, coming in!”
Brogan’s voice startles us, and I hop off the desk, quickly dragging my clothes back into place, while Balt smooths his hair down and adjusts himself.
Brogan peers inside before smiling and fully entering. “And just what were you two up to?”
“Nothing,” I say. “Looking over numbers.”
“Uh-huh. Is that why your cheeks are bright red and you have beard burn all over your face and neck?”
“Shut it, Brog.”
They cackle, setting down a dish. “Fresh coffee cake right out of the oven.”
“Yum.” I dig in, grabbing a slice and shoving it in my mouth, not even bothering with a napkin. “Nantes left,” I mumble between bites.
“No, he didn’t. He’s at the house talking to Nonna. Is he okay?”
“I think so. He had a bad day at the hospital.”
“Ah. That explains the haunted look in his eyes. He looks like he needs to touch some grass.”
Balt chuckles, grabbing a piece of coffee cake for himself. “He did look like that. Hopefully connecting with family will help.”
I nod, still chewing. “I hope so.”
“This is incredible,” Balt says, licking cinnamon off his fingers and stirring my lust once again. “Nonna can bake.”
“She sure can,” Brogan says. “Our moms aren’t so bad either.”
“No, the food has been amazing. Reminds me of my childhood.”
“Your mom was a good cook?” Brogan asks.
“Pretty good, but my dad was better. He made the best gravy.”
“Gravy?” Brogan questions. “Like for biscuits?”
I laugh softly. “East Coast thing. The sauce is gravy.”
“For spaghetti? Red sauce?”
Balt nods. “Yep. I grew up calling it gravy.”
“Well what we think of as gravy would never go on pasta.” Brogan’s face lights up. “I should make biscuits and gravy this weekend. We’ll break Balt into our Midwest ways.”
Balt chuckles happily. “I look forward to it.”
“Do you like horror movies?” Brogan asks Balt.
He shrugs. “I’m pretty open-minded. Why?”
“The newest Death by Dagger is streaming now. I was thinking we could have a movie night. You know, as a distraction. Then I’ll go and you two can fuck like rabbits.”
I cough, nearly choking on my coffee cake while Balt rubs my back.
“God, Brogan, you’re so crass.”
“You love me anyway.”
“I do.”
Balt hands me some water. “A movie night sounds good.”
“Yay.”
“We should get some work done,” I say after composing myself.
“I have some campaign ideas, and I already talked to one of my friends about designing some graphics for us. Want to go over those?”
For just a second, I take in everything that’s happened today. What a dramatic turn of events. I’m pretty sure if we can get through this, we can make it through anything, and it helps to have my family by my side.
“Yeah, let’s go over your ideas.”