Page 105 of Lorenzo & Lily

“Helping Millie.”

“Low.”

“The asshole won’t listen. I’ve tried talking to him before, since this is a regular occurrence with his waitresses. Unfortunately, he has some anti-monarchist tendencies so he doesn’t give a shit what I say.”

Hector’s eyes narrowed. “He act on those tendencies?”

Lorenzo gestured with his head towards the door, where his protection agent stood guard. “Tried once. Had my agent with me, plus I can also kick his ass. Hasn’t tried since. He knows I bring business here, so he keeps his mouth shut.”

“How can you support an asshole like that?”

Lorenzo gave him a wicked grin and leaned over the table. “I’m not,” he whispered, then leaned back. “The old owners – sweetest couple you’d ever meet – retired and sold the place. He’s who ended up buying it, though I think he must’ve laid it on pretty thick to convince them to sell it to him.”

“So, why don’t you think he’ll last?”

“I’ve kept an ear to the ground, and found out he hasn’t been up to date on all his licenses. Once his liquor license gets pulled, with the way he manages this place, he won’t be able to keep running it. He’ll likely sell.”

Hector’s eyes flicked to Amelia and watched as she dropped off a tray of empties and carried a fresh tray of drinks out. If this place shut down, she’d be out of a job. “Why are you so involved in this? You’re a prince, for God’s sake.”

“I may be a prince, but I’m not an idiot. I’m always looking for new business ventures. I’ve thought the pub would make a good purchase, and it’d make a good job placement for some of our veterans.”

“Some of the people in the MARC are alcoholics and/or drug addicts.”

“But not everyone is. You aren’t.”

Hector’s heart skipped a beat. “You want me to work here?”

Lorenzo took a sip of coffee, then sat back. “I used to, but now I’m thinking that’s not such a good idea anymore.”

His stomach lurched, as though someone had just punched it. Maybe Lorenzo didn’t think he was recovered enough to work full-time, or even part-time. “You don’t?”

“No. I think you should buy the place and run it.”

His mouth fell open. “Are you nuts?”

“Only sometimes, but not about this.”

“I can’t afford to buy this place. I can barely afford to buy this coffee. Not to mention, it’s not for sale. Not to mention, even if it was, it needs some serious upgrades.” He pointed to the well-worn booth covering behind him as an example.

“That’s why I’ll be a silent partner. I’ll invest in it, help pay for it and the upgrades, which I agree it needs. Once you turn a profit, you buy me out and then you’ll own it free and clear.”

“You’re serious.”

“You’d better fucking believe it.”

“But I can’t–”

“Shut your fucking mouth.”

“Captain.”

Lorenzo leaned forward. “No more of this ‘can’t’ bullshit. You can. You don’t want to own a pub, fine. But I know you can fucking do it.”

Hector’s heart was racing. A future. Lorenzo was handing him a future. Again.

He never thought he’d get a second chance at life. For so long, he’d wished that he’d died on the floor of that jungle – the same feelings Lorenzo had admitted he’d had as well. If Hector had died, there would have been no pain, no fake legs.

For so long, to stop feeling the pain, he’d felt nothing. It had only been recently, after he came to the MARC, that he started to breathe again, and feel again.

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