Page 49 of Corporate Bondage

Chapter Twenty-One

(Gio)

“Do you think this is a good idea?” I tugged at the top button of my shirt to loosen it from my neck. I felt extra sensitive tonight and needed a little breathing room as Gio and I entered the pub and sports bar. His father and brother were supposed to meet us here tonight, or they thought they were meeting Gio alone, but he’d asked me to be here with him. I had been reluctant. I wasn’t a fan of springing a boyfriend meeting on an unsuspecting parent, but Gio was convinced this was the only way his father would meet me.

“Honestly, no,” he answered, reaching between us to squeeze my hand before letting go. “But I don’t know what else to do.”

We located a table big enough to hold all four of us since his father and brother weren’t here yet. I sat beside Gio and nervousness was rolling off him in waves.

“Hey, why are you so worked up about this?” I asked him. “He’s either going to like me or not. I strongly suspect it will be the latter so I really have no expectations.”

“It’s not just that,” he finally admitted. “It’s also the restaurant and the reason I wanted you here. Not just to introduce you to dad but also to have your support because I think things might get a little ugly tonight.”

I frowned at him. I had sensed he was distracted of late but I hadn’t wanted to pry until he was ready to tell me. We were slowly putting one foot in front of the other in our relationship and so far so good. If we just continued on this trend we might not end up a train wreck after all.

“What about the restaurant?”

“I don’t completely own the restaurant.” He sighed heavily and leaned back in the chair, a slump to his shoulders. I stretched my arm at the back of the chair and massaged the kink out of his shoulders.

“Let me guess, your father also has shares?”

“He’s co-owner and my silent partner. Like really silent.” He moaned and closed his eyes as I continued kneading his knots. “God, that feels so good. I’m going to need to order more of that when we get home. My place or yours?”

“Yours,” I answered without missing a heartbeat. “It’s growing on me. It feels more like home than mine.”

He smiled. “I like having you over too, you lug. My fridge is already lighter thanks to you.”

I chuckled. “I blame you.” I sobered. “I think we trailed off topic. You were explaining why you’re so concerned about the restaurant.”

“Because of something my brother said. He hinted that my dad may be in some kind of trouble, and I’m afraid he may be thinking of cashing in on the restaurant. Trouble is, I won’t have the capital to buy him out if he wants the cash, and I do not want a third party co-owning the restaurant and demanding changes.”

“Hmm. I can see how that can become a problem. That restaurant is your baby.”

“Yes, it is, and I want it to remain that way.”

My hand cupping the back of his neck, I rubbed his nape with the pad of my thumb. “Maybe you’re getting carried away and it’s not even that. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

He groaned. “You don’t know my dad, Keith. Nothing is fine when he’s around.” He bit his bottom lip as though trying to decide whether he wanted to tell me something or not. His action just made me long for a bed or anywhere else that was private.

“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to.”

He shook his head. “It’s not that. I do want to tell you. My dad and I never had a close relationship. It just never worked, and he preferred my brother anyway. My mother and I are closer though we may have drifted apart over the years. That was probably my fault as I moved out here to be away from dad, and that automatically meant her as well. I moved away because I wanted nothing to do with my father’s casino business. It’s the picture of success on the surface but-but it’s also a rig. I’m pretty sure he’s doing illegal stuff through that casino as well.”

“Ah, I see.” I squeezed his shoulders and rose to my feet to get us drinks from the bar. “Whatever you decide, I’m here to support you.”

I left him smiling and looking less miserable since we walked through the doors of the pub. I approached the bar and ordered our drink. As I waited for the bartender to deliver the order I surveyed the crowd. It wasn’t a gay bar but my gaze swept over a few men who smiled flirtatiously at me. Before I had met Gio, I would have been all over one of them. I’d probably bring back the two brunettes who were sitting at a table near to me. I used to have a field day with threesomes, doubling the fun. Tonight my gaze returned to Gio who was strumming his fingers against the table.

“Here you go.”

I paid for our drinks since I didn’t intend to run up a tab tonight. I had just turned when the glass door of the pub’s entrance pushed open, and a tall man entered. I looked past him to his companion who brought up the rear. My whole body went into paralysis, the noise of the pub dimmed and all I saw was that face contorted in unwarranted malice and disgust as he tightened the belt around my neck.

My heart pumped so furiously it pained in my chest. All the flow of blood seemed to have magnified and my head felt twice its size. I’d never forget that face, not before he’d tried to kill me and certainly not the bloodied one I had left behind me when I’d escaped.

The face was scarred and older but it was the same. No, no, he could not have survived. There was no way he could have survived. I never meant to kill him, just to fend him off me and escape, but the second the knife plunged into his neck I’d lost control. For years, taking this man’s life had haunted me, and here he was walking around like he was still in control.

I had to get out of there. Drinks forgotten on the bar counter, I wound my way through tables and toward Gio.

“Keith, what’s wrong?” he asked, instantly alarmed.

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