Chapter 6: Still doubting her

BRANDON'S POV.

"Good morning!" She smiled, slightly out of breath. "You're out of chardonnay. I went down to try to find some to stock for tonight but there are only three bottles left."

"Shit." Alex ran his fingers through his hair. "I've been so busy keeping things running behind the bar that I totally forgot about ordering."

"No worries. I can run down the street and get some for tonight. We'll spin it like we're testing a new product and I bet you'll get a bunch of traffic."

Alex glared back and forth between the two of us. "That's actually a great idea. Here's my credit card. Get several cases and we'll offer it all weekend. Thanks, Sadie."

"No problem." She blushed, meeting my eyes just briefly. I had to hand it to her, she sounded like she knew what she was talking about, that was for sure.

"We're having a meeting in the back. Did you happen to see if we had any extra bottles of the Buffalo Trace Whiskey?"

"I'll take a look and bring it back if I find anything." Her smile was tight, as if she were suddenly uncomfortable under my stare.

"Thanks, Sadie." Alex shot her a grin and headed back to the meeting room, leaving the two of us alone.

Sadie turned quickly, scanning the shelves for what Alex had requested.

"How was your first night?" I stuffed my hands in my pockets, pacing towards the bar.

"Not too bad." Her back was turned to me as if she was afraid to face me. Was it possible she felt the same sexual tension between us?

"Good. Dante give you any more trouble?" I slipped behind the bar and leaned against it, keeping my eyes locked on her as she moved. She was going to have to try a hell of a lot harder to get rid of me.

"Avoided me the entire night." She said with a small laugh. "I guess I have you to thank for that."

Sadie stood on her tiptoes, trying to reach for a bottle on the top shelf. Try as she might, she was a few inches too short. Slipping behind her, I leaned up and grasped the bottle, our bodies brushing gently against each other as I did. Years of memories and feelings washed over me with that small touch, and for a brief moment, I considered what Alex had said.

"You don't have to thank me for anything." I whispered. Her body tensed beneath me.

What the fuck was I doing? I couldn't put myself in this position with her. Anything between us was worlds past. I couldn't go there. Not now anyway.

"Is this what Alex was looking for?" My voice was panicky as I backed away from her, darting my eyes to the bottle in my hand. Sadie nodded, still stunned by our connection.

"Great. I'll see you later." I turned on my heel and nearly sprinted towards the meeting room, not able to get away from her fast enough. This was a fucking disaster. Why did I lose every bit of collection and cool that I had the second she looked at me with those big doe eyes? I was a mafia leader, hardened by this life over the last several years, and yet here I was, letting Sadie manipulate me without her even trying.

I nearly slammed the door behind me when I got into the safety of the meeting room. I let out a sigh of relief, but it was only a small reprieve because the ruckus I made had drawn the attention of both Alex and my father who were already sitting at the table.

"Where's the fire?" My dad looked at me suspiciously.

"I guess you could consider old flames of fire." Alex chuckled, clearly amused with himself. Right now, wanted to strangle him just to get him to shut up.

"Old flames?" My dad arched his eyebrow.

"Oh, Alex didn't tell you?" I smirked. Two could play Alex's game. "Your son hired Sadie Sorento as his bartender."

My dad frowned, looking back-and-forth between the two of us. "One of you better start explaining."

"There is nothing to explain, Dad." Alex backtracked. "Sadie is back in town and she needed a job."

"What happened to her job in Denver?"

"Apparently, she still has it, but they need some extra money. And how did she put it... wants to earn it the honest way." I let out a sharp laugh.

My dad looked completely blindsided. "I want to come back to this discussion, but first, I need to know what's going on at the factory."

I let out a heavy sigh. "Herrera found mold or something. Some stupid shit he could use to close us down. He's trying to squeeze us so we make a mistake."

"I think it's time to get rid of him." Alex hardened, having my back.

"This isn't some oppositional gang leader we're talking about, boys. This is a federal agent. I know you want to take care of this as fast as possible, but we need to let it play out."

"How far are we going to let him interfere before we put a stop to it?" I hissed. I was hoping this would've been enough, but clearly not.

"You need to be patient, Brandon. That's the first rule of being a Don." He chastised. "Herrera is going to give you your opening, and that's when you strike. But not until then. You play by his game, you let him think he has the upper hand, and that's when we move."

"And in the meantime?"

"In the meantime, you push product just the way you have been. He's miles away from anything to do with our guns. Post the men displaced from the factory at a secondary location to draw his attention elsewhere. All I care about is keeping him away from the eastern block."

"Fine." I agreed reluctantly.

"And Alex, pick up some extra security at the club. If Herrera has people sniffing around, we better not be blindsided by it."

"Yes sir."

"I know this isn't what you want to hear, Brandon, but here's a difference between being aggressive, and impulsive."

"Got it." I said dismissively.

"Now, let's get back to Sadie. What exactly did she tell you?"

"That she and Adam are in some kind of trouble, and needed money." I said, my mood souring by the second.

"And Adam isn't with her?"

Alex shook his head. "She said he's back home in school."

"What kind of trouble?"

"I don't know." I shook my head. "But it can't be good if she felt desperate enough to come crawling back here."

"And do you believe it's about money?"

"What I believe is that she is full of shit. I just can't prove it yet." I leaned back in my chair, folding my hands behind my head.

"Interesting." My dad chewed his lip, mulling over this latest development. "Bring her by the house for dinner tomorrow. I want to feel her out myself."

That was certainly going to be easier said than done.