Page 46 of Pink

It couldn’t hurt Andino’s business. That was the main rule to keep in mind on the daily grind as he worked alongside men who had been doing this very thing for years while he’d only agreed to step into it a couple of short weeks ago.

Lev still wouldn’t take anybody’s shit. He couldn’t afford to, but especially not with guys like Petey. They wouldn’t let him forget it if he did. Simple as that.

“What the fuck is up with that?” Petey asked when Lev passed him by in the doorway.

“What?”

“Your shirt, man. It’s … pink.”

Goddammit.

He should have known better than to think no one would mention his bright pink button-down under the black blazer that was his new standard. Most of the guys preferred white or black dress shirts, including Andino although he rarely wore anything but silk. That Lev seriously doubted the man ever had to wash because he had been sent on a dry cleaner’s trip twice since he started working for the Capo.

“Shut up. Don’t say a word.” When Petey opened his mouth, Lev pointed a single finger in the man’s face as one more warning when he said, “Not a single fucking one.”

“But—”

“Fuck off, Petey, or you’ll eat my fucking fist after we’re done here.”

That shut the guy up.

Thankfully.

Lev liked to follow through on his threats, after all. He found that was the best motivator to ensure everybody knew where he stood when he made the next one.

Not surprisingly, Petey didn’t follow Lev into the private dining section of the restaurant where Andino liked to hold his business meetings. Not that Lev knew what was happening—or if it was a business meeting today—because he’d simply been told to show up, and Andino rarely offered any information about his dealings. All that information, Lev learned by keeping silent and listening while he worked.

Nonetheless, Petey headed for the front of the business where he would likely wait for … whatever. Or whoever. It’s what Andino liked for him to do.

Lev, on the other hand, went into where his boss waited. Andino didn’t even bother to glance up at his arrival, more interested in the cute brunette currently pouring what looked to be whiskey into a lowball glass.

“Less ice next time,” Andino told the girl.

“Sure,” she replied with a smile.

She headed out of the section and gave Lev a nod on her way by that he returned in kind. While some of the people he had to work with being a man of Andino’s constantly got on his nerves, the more normal ones weren’t so bad.

“New girl?” he asked Andino when the chick was gone.

“Moved her over from another restaurant—people liked her there, and she didn’t shy away from my attitude. All good things, yeah? She was wasting her time over there when she can make far more in this place, and it’s a better fit. Studying … something. Anyway, she needs the money. I figured what did it hurt?”

Huh.

As much as Andino seemed like an asshole to most—and he was, let’s be real—there was also a side of the man that … was considerate of those around him. He didn’t show it in truly obvious ways, but when someone paid attention to what was beyond the cold, gruff exterior, they could find the softer soul of a man who did have a heart that cared.

Sometimes.

“Is the vehicle I provided for you to use to travel not suitable, or …?” Andino peered up from the open folder on the table to meet Lev’s gaze, unbothered and chilled. “Because you’re very close to being late today and that would have promised you didn’t get another call to work, Lev.”

“The Jeep works just fine. Thank you, again.”

Really.

It was another investment, as Andino called it. The Jeep Wrangler had to set the guy back several tens of thousands of dollars, all of which Lev was expected to repay at some unknown time, and he hadn’t known what to say when the keys were handed over. Andino quickly fixed that by telling him to say thank you and nothing fucking more. Especially not no.

So, he didn’t.

Andino smirked and gave a little shake of his head. “See, you think you’re being smart by avoiding my unspoken question, but I’m not stupid, am I?”