Page 61 of Loyalties & Longings

“I’m going to head home. I’ve got a few things to do early tomorrow.” Dad leans in to kiss my cheek before saying, “You did good tonight,amore.”

Does he mean the opening or what just transpired? Maybe he means both.

I think he’s just now seeing I’m not the fragile girl he has always thought me to be.

***

The last of the guests, the band, and the other bar staff filter out at around midnight, leaving only Blaze, Beatrix, the two security guards, and me to finish cleaning up. The good thing about having such a small guest list is that it keeps the place from getting too overcrowded and filthy. So long as the patrons aren’t disgusting slobs, of course.

A phone rings through the silence, and Blaze pulls out his cell, frowning down at it in confusion.

“Boss,” he answers. My head snaps up. Dad should be asleep or at least unwinding. I listen to the one-sided conversation. “Yeah, I can head down there once I’ve dropped Lake back home.” There’s a pause while he listens, rubbing a hand over his eyebrow. “I’d rather know she got home safely.”

I move over to him and place my hand on his arm. He looks at me, and I give him a questioning look.

“Give me a second,” he says to Dad through the receiver, then tilts it away from his mouth. “Enzo needs me to check on the docks quickly. One of the shipping containers might not be locked, he doesn’t know which one, though. Should only take half an hour, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone.”

“If it’ll only take half an hour, then go. I’ll be here for at least that long cleaning up. Besides, the security guards are still on the clock for another twenty minutes,” I reassure him with a smile. I can see that Blaze doesn’t like the idea, but it is what it is.

“Remember, you’re second-in-charge now, so you’re expected to do everything my father can’t.”

He concedes.

“All right, Enzo, I’m leaving now.” Hanging up, he reaches for the keys in his pocket. Coming closer, he kisses my forehead and says low enough for only me to hear.

“There’s a gun in the small safe in your office if you need it.”

“I’ll be fine.Youstay safe,” I say.

He squeezes me in a hug before rushing out the door.

“He’s got it bad for you, that one.” I spin to see Beatrix smiling while wiping down the bartop.

“Mm-hmm,” I concede with a smile, pushing in chairs.

We work quickly, and the security guards have only been gone for ten minutes when Beatrix and I finish up. She gathers her things to leave.

“Do you want a ride home, honey?”

“No, that’s okay. Thank you, though. I’ll just text Blaze now. He shouldn’t be too much longer.”

“So long as you’re sure. I can wait with you?” she offers, but she looks exhausted.

“You go home and get some rest.” I give her a quick smile.

“See you Wednesday,” she calls out before exiting out theback door, which thankfully locks automatically when closed.

My body relaxes the second I hear it click behind her.

I don’t receive a call or text back from Blaze, which seems weird. He normally replies within two minutes, max. I decide to call him instead, and it goes straight to voicemail.

Trying not to think the worst, I head out the back to the office, busying myself.

While counting out the night’s earnings, my mind keeps hazing over. I can’t keep a clear head. I’ve tried counting the money five times, and I continue to lose count. Frustrated that I still haven’t heard from Blaze, I shove the money into the safe, where my hand stops, hovering over the gun.

My mind is at war with itself. Should I take the gun or leave it? I leave it and settle on calling Dad. Again, my call goes straight to voicemail.

What the actual fuck?

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