“I—”
“If you know what’s good for you, you won’t finish that thought. Do you think I’m stupid? I know you’re pissed off that I’ve made you come back, but it’s time you paidback for everything I’ve done for you.”
“What have you done for me, Rocky? ’Cause I’m having trouble remembering.”
“Don’t be a smart-arse, boy. Who do you think paid for your education? All those fucking years at uni.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “It was Carl who supported me when I wanted to study. You didn’t want me to go. It was Carl who encouraged me and told you to back off.”
“And Carl isn’there anymore, is he?” The cold in Rocky’s voice sent a shiver through Finn. “You’re just lucky I let you stay in Melbourne. I could have easily made you come home.”
“The only reason you allowed me to finish my degree was so you could get your pound of flesh.”
“Now that’s the smart boy I know. I let you get that stupid piece of paper so you could start paying back. We’ve had this little chatbefore, and I’m not going to keep rehashing the same shit. You’ll work here for as long as I tell you. You’ll do the accounts and oversee the pub finances untilIsay I don’t want you around anymore.” Rocky rested his hands on the desk and leaned across toward Finn, hatred flaring in his eyes. “And when I don’t want you around anymore, you will definitely know about it.”
Finn swallowed hard.“I—”
“Good. I’m glad we’ve got that clear. I need you to hit the ground running and clean up Stan’s mess. Forty fucking years and we’re left in the lurch.”
“The man had a heart attack, for God’s sake. I don’t think he actually planned to leave things hanging.”
“Whatever.” Rocky straightened and walked around the desk. “We’ve wasted enough time. Now come out the back and I’ll show you around,introduce you to everyone.”
Show no fear. Don’t be pushed around.Finn straightened his shoulders and followed Rocky out of the office. He shot daggers at Rocky’s back, but it was fulfilling.Arsehole!How dare he lord it over Finn and try to rule his life? Finn snorted. Who was he kidding? Rockydidrule his life. He had Finn’s head in a noose, and that rope was getting tighter and tighter everyday until Finn thought it would be only a matter of time until all the life was squeezed right out of him.
The door closed with a bang, the heat immediately hitting Finn as he walked across the concrete parking area toward the large machine shop. Huge roller doors were open, exposing the inner workshop, where mechanics worked on a range of bikes. The sun bounced off the ground, and Finn wishedhe were wearing shorts, not the heavy jeans that encased his legs. It was a relief to step into the shade of the building, although the temperature in the workshop wasn’t that much lower than outside.
Rocky stopped at an office with a large glass window that overlooked operations. Finn assumed it was the manager’s office. He’d never spent any time out there, mechanics not being something he wasremotely keen on, and while he was growing up, he had done everything he could to avoid hanging out anywhere near Rocky. Rocky was a mechanic by trade, so this area was his domain. The closest Finn had got to the business was spending time with Carl after their father’s death. Carl had taken him under his wing and given Finn an overview of the operation, all their time spent safely in the mainbuilding and well out of Rocky’s way.
They waited outside the door, but it was only a moment or two before the occupants came out.
Finn’s heart nearly stopped beating when he saw it was the guy he’d run into earlier. Their gazes locked, and a strange electricity surged through him. The guy was gorgeous. He must have had at least four inches on Finn, forcing Finn to look up due to their closeproximity. His brown eyes stared for a moment before he blinked.
“Sorry. Excuse me,” he murmured as he slid past. Finn watched his retreating back before Rocky’s voice snapped him back to the present.
“Another satisfied customer?” Rocky asked.
“Not yet. He’s booked his bike in for a service, though, so you never know.”
Rocky nodded. “Frank, this is Finn. I’m not sure if you remember him. Finn,this is Frank. He looks after the workshop now that I don’t have time to do it.”
Frank extended a hand, and Finn returned the handshake, glad when he could release the grease-stained fingers.
“G’day. Most people call me Blue. Nice to have Rocky’s little brother on board. You must be relieved to have finished school, and we’re bloody lucky to have you join us, what with what happened to Stanand all.”
Finn glanced at Rocky. “Sure,” he said reluctantly. “I’m really looking forward to putting everything I’ve learned into practice.”
“Good. Good.”
Rocky grasped Finn on the back of his neck as he addressed Blue. “I want the two of you to spend some time together once Finn gets a handle on what needs to be done. I trust you’ll work well together.” He squeezed his hand around Finn’s nape.
Frank nodded but didn’t look overly thrilled to know he’d have Finn looking over his shoulder. “I’ll be ready whenever you are.”
There was no point putting it off. Finn knew he had to face the inevitable, and there were reasons for getting to know the ins and outs of the operation.
He forced a smile onto his face. “Great. How about we start Monday? That’ll give me the weekend to get my stuffsorted, and then I’m all yours.”
Finn knew it was the right thing to say when Rocky beamed at him.
