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I suck in a breath. It’s now or never. “Looks like you are a hundred dollars richer.” I smirk, but in reality, I also don’t want Shelby to win the bet.
It’s strange to see someone else bartending. I walk by them, hoping not to be noticed, and knock on Dante’s door.
“It’s open.”
I hesitantly push the door open with one finger until I’m standing in the small open space between the door and the frame.
Dante sits there, his face like stone, looking angry, yet void of emotion, as he says, “I thought we were adults and promised each other we couldn’t go crying, broody, or fire each other?” I study him for a beat, it’s impossible to get a read on what’s going through his head right now.
“In my defense, I didn’t promise I wouldn’t steal from you.” Might as well talk about this.
He levels me with a look. “I knew the night you started it.”
I flinch, my eyes growing wide. “Why didn’t you say anything? The guilt was killing me.”
“I didn’t care. I could have transferred the money back to myself at any time. And I thought it was funny that Max thought he was the big man trying to solve a case. I know everything about my club and he thought I had no idea. So, I just let Max do his thing. What I didn’t expect was you two being a thing. Max, really?”
“Not anymore. We’re done.”
Dante doesn’t look convinced. “Does he know that?”
“Trust me, he’ll get the hint soon enough.”
“Fuck, I missed that attitude of yours.” He stands and walks over, giving me a hug. I’m taken off guard and speechless. Dante has never hugged me, not of his own accord. I know he’s only tolerated me touching him before. This is a big deal. My eyes blur with happy tears that I have my friend back. I squeeze him harder, and that’s Dante’s breaking point. He immediately lets go of me and steps back.
“Friends?” I ask.
“No.” He shakes his head. My heart drops, along with my smile. “We’re family.” My shoulders relax instantly. “Cause I could have used my best friend when I found out I had a daughter.”
I give him a shy smile. I can’t help the guilt that twists my heart to hear he needed me and I wasn’t around. “I’m sorry, Dante.”
“Stop being a girl, we’re good. I’m over it now that you’re back. When can you start again?”
“Bartending and bookkeeping?” I ask, excitement building in my limbs at the idea of getting my old job back.
He laughs. “Bartending. No bookkeeping. No offense.”
I can’t fault him for that. “I hear ya.”
I open my mouth to say sorry again, but he puts up his hand. “Don’t you dare say sorry again, or I’ll retract the job offer.”
“Thank you.”
He goes to sit back down. “Now go. I have work to do.”
I appreciate how Dante didn’t make this weird, and I’m beyond grateful for his forgiveness. I walk out of the strip club and spot Max in the corner. He sometimes hides from me, other times he stays in clear view like he wants to remind me he’s still there watching, but my skin refuses to let me forget him.
My skin warms and my heart tugs like it does every time I sense he’s around, and it’sallthe time.
It’s impossible to forget him or push him out of my mind with the constant reminders. He refuses to get that he stomped on my heart and tore it to shreds when he was willing to let me take the fall for him. I could have ratted him out, I had so many opportunities, but I didn’t. The thought never occurred to me when it should have.
I held his future in my palm and I chose to ruin my life by staying quiet. I can’t chance being hurt like that again.
Chapter 35: Max
Idon’tgoanywhereunless Sienna is in my view, whether it’s on my cameras or I’m watching from afar. She consumes me more than ever.
“I need you to go out of town.” Romeo interrupts my viewing and places his hand over my screen as I actively try to ignore him.
