Page 85 of Filthy and the Beast

“Sorry. I’ve got to go,” I mumble into the phone. I give Ares a quick nod. “Um. Thank you, Mama. And thanks for answering.”

“Call me tomorrow,” she says, worry in her voice. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

Ares walks over, a towel thrown over his shoulders and sweat dotting his temples from all the hard work. “How’s your hand?”

Standing, I show it to him. “Fine. I can get back to work.” My stomach twists with dread.

Ares studies my palm. “You really hate it here, don’t you?”

I blink. I haven’t said that to him. After considering a denial, I cave. “Is it that obvious?”

“Pretty much.” He chuckles. “You can usually tell when the new bartenders do.”

I wince. “Sorry. It’s not the club or you or the customers or anything.”

“I know.” He nods. “The job isn’t for everyone. It isn’t for most people. No shame in that.”

“Right.” I gesture toward the front. “We should get back to work, right?” The staff must be getting slammed with us both back here.

“Clarice came in. She got her schedule confused. I told her you cut your hand, and she said she won’t mind staying if you want some relief.”

“Seriously?” I’m so grateful I throw my arms around him and pull him into an embrace. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Laughing, Ares slaps my back. “Damn. Youreallyhate this job.”

I offer a lopsided smile as I step back. “Sorry,” I say again.

He shakes his head. “Don’t be. We’ll talk after the weekend. In the meanwhile, get some rest, will you?”

Five minutes later, I’m in a Lyft headed back home.

* * *

ENZO

I’ve got the timing worked out so Damian doesn’t know I’m staying awake to make sure he gets to the house safely. That first night, he caught me snoozing on the couch, but since then, I’ve set an alarm and moved back into my quarters by the time he pulls up.

Tonight, though, I have no trouble staying awake. I’m so damn mad after the meeting with Buck and so distraught over my future prospects I don’t know what to do. I pace the house, old boxing matches on the TV and the girls following at my feet.

Don’t know what I was thinking. I wanted to believe something different was possible, but it’s not, and now I’m cornered. I’ve made all these promises to Damian, talked big and worked hard like I still have a career. Instead, I’m going to have to tell him I’m washed up, broke, falling apart same as the old house.

Not good enough for a young guy like him, all future and hope.

Doctor claims there’s nothing wrong with my heart, so Nat might be right.

I can’t lose Damian. I won’t be able to handle it.

My thoughts spiral, desperation wrenching through me.

Hearing the door, I sit up straight. It’s barely past midnight, too early for him. Concerned, I creep toward the front of the house. A moment later, Damian rounds the corner and screams.

“Oh my god!”

“Fuck!” I roar back.

We stare at each other, stunned, until Damian breaks and laughs. “Shit. You almost scared me to death.” He’s in a pink dress shirt, a gold necklace with a green gem hanging over his chest, and his puffy pink winter jacket is unzipped and hanging loosely open. “Why are you up so late?”

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