I watched him disappear down the stairs, the side of the door digging into my hands from where I was gripping it. I wanted to run after him, to tell him to come back. But I couldn’t give in to the ridiculous urge to not let him go.
We’d been together once. I’d never been overly attached to anyone besides my friends and family. But Liam was different in every way. He’d already made himself at home in my heart, and I had no intention of fighting it.
Pushing off the door, I closed it, going back to the kitchen for a refill. And then I had some work to do. Thoughts of Liam had to wait.
Pulling up a spreadsheet,I glanced at my phone, which was on speaker. “What did the inspector say?”
Vlad huffed, unable to contain his displeasure. “We’re meeting him at the restaurant in an hour. Everything that needed to be secured is secured. But apparently, he needs to walk us through. As if I can’t see the damage with my own eyes. Idiots.”
It was no surprise that Vlad had been driving everyone insane. He’d never been good at waiting or being idle. Last month he was sick with the flu and had to stay home for nearly a week. He found himself almost divorced. Or on the pointy end of a knife.
“That’s great news.” Especially since it meant the building was salvageable. I’d been able to stop Liam from paying for anything or from sending someone, though it took a lot of convincing on my part.
I didn’t want to be in anyone’s debt. This was my restaurant and therefore my problem. I’d figure it out.
“Great news would have been if they’d let us in the day after the fire.”
I made a note to let our staff know to meet us at the restaurant tomorrow. We’d lost a few people, but thankfully there should be enough left to help clean up. I’d put together a roster already. Instead of hiring someone else or staff going without pay, I’d asked everyone if they’d be willing to get therestaurant back up and running for the same pay they’d receive for bussing tables or waiting on customers.
Most had agreed, though others were happy to be on leave until opening. I hoped that would be in a few weeks, not months. But without seeing the restaurant and knowing the extent of the damage, it was hard to make plans.
“We’ll work with what we can, and at the moment, it’s important that we can get in. Let’s meet at the restaurant to figure out what we need to do after speaking to the inspector.”
“Fine,” Vlad conceded. “I’ll pick you up. Be there in fifteen.”
He hung up, and I rushed around the apartment, first looking for my shoes and coat, then my wallet and phone.
Walking out of the apartment, I nearly plowed into Pete, who’d been standing on the other side. “Oh, hey. Sorry, I’d forgotten you were there.”
And now I felt guilty for not inviting him inside. It was cold and boring in the hallway.
“I’m heading to the restaurant.” I resumed making my way out of the building, knowing Vlad would be waiting. Most likely double-parked, honking his horn, no matter how often I’d told him that I couldn’t hear it from my apartment. “I’m not sure how these things work. Do you follow us in a car or go with us?”
“You’ll have to go in the car with me, ma’am.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll go with my friend.”
Pete looked uncomfortable for a moment before putting his mask back in place. “I’m sorry, but I have explicit instructions.”
Of course he did. Because Liam was a control freak. Lucky for him, the warm and fuzzy feelings that overtook my common sense every time I thought of how he’d do anything to keep me safe pushed the feelings of annoyance at the disruption to my life to the back.
We made it outside, and as predicted, Vlad was double-parked, ignoring the angry shouts and honks from the disrupted traffic.
He heaved his large frame out of the car as soon as he saw me, and I braced for impact. He was bulky, and his hugs took your breath away. But they also meant he cared, so I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable.
That never came, because before Vlad could make it close, Pete tackled him to the ground, the two landing with a loud thud.
Rushing over to where they were now wrestling on the sidewalk, I cringed at the sight of Vlad’s fist hitting Pete in the side while growling at him. “What the fuck is your problem?”
Getting closer, but out of reach of their flailing arms and legs, I yelled to be heard over their grunts. “Pete, that’s my friend that I told you was picking me up.”
After looking like they might go another round, they released each other. Pete never took his eyes off Vlad, and Vlad looked ready to rip Pete’s head off.
Vlad made a big production of dusting himself off before turning his attention to me. “Fucking hell, what is going on?”
Vlad was a bloodhound when it came to secrets, so I decided I might as well tell him. “Pete is here to keep me safe.”
Vlad ground his teeth together. “You hired a bodyguard?”
