He cuts me off. “I’m aware, which is why the job will be Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. I have a bar that I own, Bloody Rogue; I want you to start bartending for me.”
“Are you serious? I’m not old enough to drink.”
“No, but you are old enough to serve alcohol,” Dante says, and I swear I can see the smile plastered to his face.
“Why do you want me to bartend? I don’t know anything about making drinks.”
“You’ll learn.” His answer is simple and quaint, unlike Dante.
I exhale a nervous breath. “When do I start? I’ll need to make sure I have a sitter for Zeke if you want me to cover Friday evenings, especially if Luca has a game.”
“You can swing by our house before your shift on Friday. The bar isn’t far from the house, just a couple minutes’ drive. Paige or Nikki will be available to watch Zeke; I’ll make sure of it. After work, you’ll come stay the weekend with us.”
“And Luca? How is he getting there if I have to borrow his car?”
“You’ll have your own car, dear. So long as you’re working for me, we take care of our own.”
I bite down on my tongue, keeping from saying something I’ll regret later.
“Seeing as how Luca has a Saturday game this week, I’ll have Moreno swing by and pick him up after the game.”
I despise the thought of sleeping at the Riccis’ alone. Although I won’t technically be alone, I’ll have Zeke, which isn’t entirely reassuring.
He’s been sleeping in our bed every night this week. The window is fixed in his bedroom, the evidence of the break-in completely gone, but I haven’t found the strength to put him back in his bed, too afraid I’ll wake up and he’ll be gone.
Friday, when my classes are done, I pick Zeke up from daycare, and we head over to the Ricci home.
Luca is with his teammates, getting ready for practice and tomorrow’s big game. I hate not being there to see him play, to support him, but I don’t have a choice.
When his father calls and gives an order, I’ve learned that I must follow it.
I’ve seen and heard what he’s capable of, and I don’t want to get on his bad side, especially if I’m being forced to work for him.
I owe Dante.
And he’s also protecting Luca. I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t to keep Luca safe as well.
I drop off Zeke with Nikki, and Dante heads out ahead of me as I follow in Luca’s car, driving to the bar.
I’ve never been to the Bloody Rogue. I’m expecting a rickety hole-in-the-wall tavern. The place may have been that way years ago when it was open, but it’s much bigger than I anticipate.
From the outside, it looks like a massive log cabin. The wooden sign hanging by the door indicates it’s a bar, with the picture of ale and the name Bloody Rogue on the front. I follow Dante inside, and the place smells of fresh wood.
He gives me a tour, shows me to my position behind the bar, and tells me to keep the drinks coming for customers, and if I don’t know what a specific cocktail is, to ask or look it up on my phone.
That much, I can handle.
Dante grabs a seat on the stool in front of the bar. “Whiskey neat.”
Is he testing me?
“That’s no ice,” I say, making sure I get it right.
“Correct. Top shelf.” He points at the shelf. “Ladyburn.”
I don’t know a damn thing about whiskey, but I grab the bottle and notice the spelling on Ladyburn is whisky, before I begin to pour. “What’s with the forty-one on the bottle?” I ask.
“It’s a forty-one-year-old single malt Scotch whisky.”
