Page 4 of Lenkov

He nods his head.

“After you apologize to your waitress.” I release him, allowing him to slide down the wall as he slumps into a pitiful heap.

Rolling onto his side, he retches, and I scoff.

I click my tongue. “Now.” I nudge his side with my foot. “You’re going to have to clean up before you leave.” I turn to face the cook I rarely see until the wee hours when I come in for coffee and the best French toast in the city.

“Charlie, we’ll need a mop and a bucket, please,” I say cheerfully.

Charlie takes a step and hesitates, looking from the man to the woman–Rylee. I’m no longer a twenty-one-year-old partying and screwing my way through college girls. Maybe it’s time to let it go.

“I’ve got them covered,” I assure him.

“Appreciate it, Orlov.” Charlie nods his head and walks past us to the back.

“Orlov?” Rylee whispers.

I turn to face her. “You didn’t know?” I ask suspiciously.

“How could I?” Rylee glances around nervously.

“Your shift is over for the night, Rylee,” Charlie’s voice floats up from the kitchen.

“What? No. I need the money,” Rylee says desperately.

“The Diner is going to have to be closed and professionally cleaned. I’ll see to it myself you get paid for the rest of the shift. This wasn’t on you,” Charlie assures her.

I return my attention to the spineless assholes needing a wake-up call. They screwed with the wrong waitress.

Shoving away the things I couldn’t control, I focus on an outlet for my anger, taking the mop bucket and other cleaning supplies when Charles returns, “Clean up time. On your feet.” I toss the towels at them.

“What are we supposed to do with this?” The ring leader whines.

“Something you’ve probably never done a day in your life. Clean. You should hurry. You’re on a time limit.”

“What?” His blue eyes bulge.

“If this isn’t spic in a span in fifteen minutes. I’m going to step in.”

The man grabs one towel, dunks it into the clean water, and heads for the table, ordering his sheep to join in. I’m like Mickey Mouse in Fantasia as I watch the men fumble through cleaning. Amused, I watch over them as I soak up information about the woman whispering to her boss.

“There’s no bus running right now, and I can’t afford the cab, Charlie.” Rylee whispers.

“Don’t worry. I’ll give you a ride home,” Charlie offers.

She looks up to meet my gaze and quickly averts her eyes. I hum at the fear I thought I saw. Ms. Rylee in Riverside is hiding something.

“You got a thing for the waitress?” Leonid asks.

I swear mentally. I don’t want him to pick up on my interest in the woman. Secrets are dangerous things among business associates.

“Nah, just judging the situation. I think they’ve got things under control. Once I make sure these buffoons leave, we’ll relocate.”

“I understand. A decent man takes care of the businesses in his territory.” Let him think that’s why I’m so invested in The Diner.

“Charlie, gas prices are astronomical, and I’m all the way on the other side of town in the Riverside complex.”

“Don’t argue, because it will not change my mind.” Charlie shakes his head as I make a mental note of her complex.

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