Chapter 21
Alexsey
“Would you stop worrying, for God’s sake!
” Sasha growled. “We can afford a price increase and I don’t need to reflect it on any of the menus.
Let’s face it. You managed to find even better quality and my two chefs will be happy.
Go bug someone else. You’re driving me crazy and I need to head over to Revelation for yet another meeting with Lainey Rose’s attorney.
Damn red tape. Plus, you always do this when you’re unhappy about something and don’t try and tell me otherwise.
I grew up with your sorry ass. Remember? ”
Still grumbling, he jerked up from his chair, immediately grabbing his suit jacket.
I chuckled and closed my laptop lid. Sasha never had enjoyed me going over the financials in intricate detail. He was a hands-on kind of man. Leaning back in the chair, I knew he was right. I was absorbed on fixing something since I couldn’t fix all the problems in my world.
“And go buy a fucking house. Maybe that will make you happy. Screw the insurance company.”
He was on a roll.
“Maybe I’ll do just that. One with a front porch with real grass and a huge fenced-in back yard where a kid and dog could play.”
He stopped adjusting his cuffs long enough to glance in my direction, lifting an eyebrow. “You’re one hardheaded man. But why the hell not? Maybe that will change your personality for the better.”
I took one of the many balled-up pieces of paper meant for the trash, tossing it at him. He playfully ducked as his phone chirped. As he headed for the door, he yanked it from his pocket. Then he stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the screen as if whatever news he was seeing was horrible.
“Do you get local news bulletins?” he asked, slowly tilting his head toward me.
“I’m bothered enough by emails and texts from family members insisting they know how to run my life better than I do. Hell, no. Why?”
He half laughed and headed toward me. “Maybe you should. Wow. A low blow with the pictures. Who the hell managed to photograph the two of you? I will say this. Your girl has a mean right hook.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I was instantly on edge.
When he handed me his phone, it took me a few seconds and replaying the video to realize what he was alluding to.
Halle had been confronted at her firehouse.
Even worse, the bastard reporter had accosted her with some very lewd pictures taken inside the goddamn restaurant.
Fury tore through me like never before. I jerked up, almost breaking his phone given my rage. “I’m going to kill the son of a bitch owner.”
“Hold on now. Don’t do anything rash,” Sasha cautioned.
“Rash? You have no idea. Stay tuned for more local news updates on your phone because I’m going to bust some heads wide open.”
It took me no time to head to View of the World. Even though the girl at the front tried to keep me from going further inside the restaurant, I pushed my way through.
“Sir. Sir! We’re not open yet!” she called.
“You are for me.” I’d made a phone call to ensure Kirk Youngkin was in his office. He was.
With the doors opening for early dinner reservations a little over an hour away, the kitchen staff was already hard at work, several other employees setting up the dining room. They all eyed me suspiciously, likely given my face had been all over the news the last few days.
My footsteps were heavy, the booming an effect of not only my anger but also my six-foot, four-inch, two-hundred-and-twenty-pound frame.
When I reached his door, I didn’t bother knocking, throwing it open and storming inside.
He immediately rose to his feet, a look of horror on his face. I’d never seen a man look so utterly nervous in my entire life.
If I wasn’t mistaken, he was even already sweating. Well, he should be.
“Mr. Dmitriyev. What a pleasant surprise.”
I didn’t bother offering a response other than snapping my hand around his neck, lifting the scrawny man off his feet and tossing him against the wall. He was lucky I didn’t smash and break the glass window, dangling him a half mile above the city for sheer spite.
His eyes almost immediately bulged and he clawed at my arm. As if he had a chance of escaping.
I used some control in my hold to ensure I didn’t crush his windpipe. At least right away. After taking a deep breath, I lowered my head. “Now, I’m only going to ask you once. Who the fuck hired you to take pictures?”
He wasn’t a stupid man. He’d either seen or been told about the photographs that had surfaced two days ago.
“I don’t… know what… you’re talking… about.” While he managed to choke out the words, I wasn’t going to allow him the chance to breathe normally until he gave me the truth.
“Not good enough. You’re not an idiot, Kirk, so don’t try and take me for one. Talk or this will be your last day on earth.” I squeezed my strong fingers. Now he started flailing. At least he knew I was dead serious. I’d snap his neck in a heartbeat if I didn’t get what I wanted.
“Pu-lease. I don’t…” His face was beet red.
Too bad for him.
Yet if I continued, I wouldn’t get any answers. I finally dropped him, releasing my hold and taking a step away. As soon as I did, I unbuttoned my jacket, allowing him to see the weapon in my shoulder holster. I’d started carrying again anywhere I went. It was a smart thing to do.
The sight of it added the emphasis that he needed.
He took a few seconds rubbing his neck and coughing, even stumbling around the room as if I’d almost taken the last of his air supply. Bullshit. I could make him suffer for hours if I wanted.
Moving toward his desk, I sat down on the edge, controlling my anger to give him a full minute to collect himself.
“Now. Let’s begin again. You’ve seen the pictures taken inside your restaurant on the night I paid a hell of a lot of money for the private services.
Enough money you could retire a wealthy man, yet you allowed someone into your restaurant with bad intent.
I need to know who that was. If you provide me with that information without me needing to ask you again, then I might go easy on you.
But if you do require me to repeat myself, I assure you that you won’t like how I do it. ”
I allowed that to sink in for a few seconds. While I didn’t have any intention of killing him, he didn’t know that. He’d also heard about the shooting at the Papadakis warehouse given the restaurant had used them as one of their food distributors for years.
Maybe a coincidence. Maybe not.
It didn’t matter. The identity of the photographer was the only thing that did.
So for a few seconds, I just sat and waited to see what he’d do. Would he be a smart guy or would I need to at least leave him with a lasting memory of me? Time would tell and at least for today, I was a patient man.
And why?
Because no one else was allowed to fuck with Halle.
Nope.
She was mine.
Halle
“Are you okay?” Mark asked as he stuck his head into my tiny little office.
Sighing, I lifted my head from the mound of paperwork I should have tackled days ago.
I sat back, drumming my pen on the desk.
“I’m okay.” The truth was that I was anything but okay.
In fact, I was numb. After seeing the humiliating pictures, I had no idea how I was going to show my face inside my local grocery store or Emily’s kindergarten.
And the bar? I might as well quit before the shift tonight.
I’d ignored my phone just in case the godawful story had been on the news already and I knew it would be. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. You look worn out. You need to take some time off.”
“Are you suggesting I can’t do my job, Mark?” Yes, I was bristling.
He slid further into the room, barely able to stand given the size. “Don’t do that. I know we’ve been shitheads to you and we’re sorry for that.”
“Yeah, you were. I never wanted any of this and it’s just getting worse. I don’t mean to take it out on you or the guys.”
“You’re just a worried mama. I get it. How’s Emily?”
Smiling from just hearing her name, I allowed my eyes to drift to the only picture I had in my little office. “She’s doing just fine. A little trooper. She had the hospital staff eating out of her hands.”
“She’s like her mother.” He grinned.
“Ha. Nice try and no, you can’t have next weekend off.”
He snapped his fingers in an exaggerated manner.
“Well, shoot. So you know, I’m sorry about everything, but stay strong.
You deserve to live your life and all of us meant what we said, Captain.
You’re a wonderful role model. And a great mother.
For the record, Sean would want you to be happy. You and Emily.”
“Oh, shit. Maybe I’m not such a good mother,” I said, jerking up from the chair.
“I’m picking up Emily from school today.
Her first day! Ugh.” After what had occurred, I was terrified she’d be accosted by the same horrible man.
Especially since I’d broken his nose. And I wasn’t sorry about it in the least.
I turned off my computer and stood, rushing toward him.
“For the record,” he said as he moved into the corridor. “You have a damn good punching arm.”
“Very funny.”
“Who’s joking?”
I flew toward my locker, grabbing my phone and purse, rushing from the firehouse.
I’d already decided I was going to treat my baby girl with a little stop at her favorite ice cream store.
That’s what my mother used to do on the first day back to school.
She deserved it after everything she’d been through.
Jogging to the car, I grabbed my keys although I scanned the parking lot, fearful the asshole would return with a bigger film crew. Why was I such news? Why would anyone care so much about who I dated? After jumping in the car, I pulled out my phone.
Evidently, the news broadcast hadn’t aired yet. Maybe that would buy me a few hours. There were still a few texts and emails, but I’d deal with those later.