“Oh, for fudge’s sake,” Dante growls, dropping his fork down onto his plate and scrubbing his hand down his face.
Did he just say fudge instead of fuck?
I hear Dominic snicker beside me.
“Nobody is opening anything, and Emily is not quitting La Riviera,” he grumbles.
“You should so quit, Em,” Lucia encourages, and I get the feeling she likes to push her brother-in-law’s buttons. “Dom’s looking for a babysitter to watch Peach while he’s working. You should consider taking that job. You don’t have far to travel, and you can work in your pyjamas if you want. Sounds like a win-win to me.”
My eyes move to Dominic. “You’re looking for someone to watch Peach?”
When Dominic’s jaw ticks but doesn’t answer, Lucia does it for him.
“He has been for a while, but he’s yet to find anyone who lives up to his standards. The pay is good, he just has trust issues.”
I roll my lips to hide my smile. I swear, Lucia doesn’t possess a filter, but I love her for that.
“I’ll gladly watch her for free,” I tell him. “I adore that little girl, and you’ve done so much for me; it’s the least I can do.”
“Let me get this straight,” Dante says. “You won’t take money for work you haven’t done, but you’ll do a paying job for free?”
I squirm a little in my seat, but force my eyes back to lock on Dante. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
He blinks once, then shakes his head as he lets out a low chuckle. “You’re stubborn, just like the other women at this table. I guess I can respect that, even if it’s infuriating.” His attention shifts to Dominic before he flicks his chin towards me and adds, “Good luck with that one, you’re going to need it.”
Dominic swallows a laugh as his fingers briefly wrap around my knee, giving it a slight squeeze. “I can handle it.”
And just like that, the tension around the table melts away. Everyone returns to eating their dinner, as if nothing happened.
Meanwhile, I’m left wondering if I still have a job at the restaurant or if I somehow just agreed to start working for Dominic instead.
I open my bedroom door, peek into the hallway, step out, and quietly ease the door shut behind me. I’m still getting used to living here. I’m not uncomfortable; it just feels strange.
It was late when we got back from Lucia and Romeo’s place last night, so while Dominic got Lil’ Peach bathed and ready for bed, I slipped into my room and didn’t come back out.
A coward’s move, maybe, but I needed space. Some time to think and process.
I’m still shaken over Mick’s bikie mates showing up at work and threatening me. I hate that my personal life has spilled into my job.
I keep wondering where he is. If he’s fled or missing, no wonder he hasn’t been blowing up my phone. I was sure that once he discovered me gone, he’d lose his shit.
So where is he?
Is he missing?
Did he run?
Has something worse happened?
And what did Razor mean when he said Mick had something of theirs and they wanted it back?
What could he possibly have that he’d keep from them?
Did he steal from them too?
Did that skank Amber climb onto the back of his bike so they could ride off into the sunset together?
Good luck to her if she did. She can have him.
