19. Making Things Right
making things right
. . .
Davian
I waited until I was outside Sadie’s building before calling Vince. “She lives in a dump. You up to keep watch tonight?”
There was a loaded pause before he answered. “You’re talking about the deranged woman who held you up earlier today and ran from me, right?”
“She’s not deranged. And we’ll have a chat about her giving you the slip, by the way.”
“You can blame that one on Hollis. He wasn’t told not to let her out the gate,” he said.
“She shouldn’t have even made it to the gate.”
“I’m not a babysitter,” he grumbled. “Just have her come here if there’s a problem with her place.”
That’s what I’d wanted to do, but… “She’s not ready for that.”
He scoffed. “Not ready ? What the hell kind of game are you playing, Davian?”
“No games.” I didn’t know where this thing with Sadie would go, but it wasn’t a game.
“She’s not cut out for this shit. Forget about her before you?—”
“I didn’t call you for dating advice, Vince. I’ll text her address to you. Get your ass over here.”
He huffed. “This is a mistake.”
“If I didn’t have a meeting, I’d do it myself. This is important to me.”
Another pause before Vince groaned. “You owe me, man.”
“I always pay my debts,” I said before hanging up and calling a much less fun number.
“Reed,” my pop answered after the first ring.
“You want to tell me why you hiked the rent on the blocks near Acresfield Park?”
“Davian, my boy.” His tone warmed to one of a proud father. “What’s this about rent?”
“There’s a dog shelter that can’t afford to buy fucking kibble because their rent was doubled.”
He chuckled. “Good. Maybe once they close up shop, we can put a laundromat in there.”
A couple walked past me on the sidewalk, and I gritted my teeth until they were out of hearing range. “Pop, I need you to put the shelter’s rent back to what it was.”
“Do you?” He hummed softly. “Where’s this coming from? Since when do you give two shits about my properties?”
My patience evaporated. “Just fix their rent.”
He barked a laugh. “All right, all right. What’s an old man to do but indulge his son? Give me the name of the place.”
I answered through a clenched jaw. “Happy Tails Haven.”
How embarrassing .
His laughter dissolved into chuckles. “Happy Tails Haven,” he muttered in disbelief. “Okay. Consider it done.”
And now I owed him. This had better be worth it.
“Thanks,” I forced out.
But my father never let things go that easily. “You really don’t want to tell me what caused the sudden bleeding heart?”
“It’s just business.”
“…Business with a place called Happy Tails Haven?”
“I saw a new opportunity.” It wasn’t a lie. Sadie practically screamed opportunity. “Speaking of, do you have any buyers for the empty space next to Bruno’s?”
“No bites yet.”
“Good. He wants to expand, but I told him we’d think about it. He’s asking to tear down the wall.”
My father hummed again. “He’s been good to us, but I don’t see how it’d be a profitable return. We can discuss it when I stop by the compound tomorrow.”
Sebastian Reed would do whatever would make him the most money. He always had. It never mattered how long someone had been loyal.
I hadn’t expected anything less. “See you then.”
“Not so fast, son.” His tone turned glacial. “I’m not known for my indulgence, so think twice before giving me an order again.”
My shoulders stiffened. He wasn’t joking. He’d do his best to make me regret this.
“See you tomorrow,” was all I said before hanging up.
Jaw still clenched, I sent a text ordering my finance guy to make an anonymous donation to Sadie’s shelter. It’d cover the overcharged rent and then some.
Out in the fresh air, I crossed the street to the idling SUV without looking back. If I saw that shithole again, I’d end up staying, but I had business to take care of tonight.
Sadie had my number if she needed me.