Sleeping With the Enemy

Chapter Four

"Let's not get into it tonight. I want to have a good time."

"That bad, huh?" He chuckles. "Say no more. Operation blackout is in full swing."

"Ugh, God no." Visions of my last hangover flash through my mind, and the thought alone is enough to make me puke. I need enough to numb my mind, but not so much that I feel it tomorrow—a very delicate balance.

"How's it going, Cass?" Jav pivots, greeting Cass as she joins us, draping her arm over my shoulder.

"Hi Javier." She turns to me. "Babe, can you get me some champagne?"

She whines, flopping herself down on the couch and smirking up at me. She knows I hate it when she calls me that.

"Didn't you get some over there?" I ask.

"They don't have the good stuff. Doesn't Alex have some Veuve somewhere?"

"Sure. I'll be right back." I duck out of the area to find her a drink, hoping to run into Alex anyway.

He's behind the bar with Rolo, and all the color washes from his face when he sees me.

"Brandon. Hey. What are you doing here tonight? I thought you'd be working."

"Herrera shut the factory down for a health code violation. I needed an outlet." I grumble, sliding onto the bar stool. "We're up in the back with Jav and the guys."

"We?" He raises an eyebrow at me, still anxious.

"Cass."

"You've got Cass here tonight?" His eyes widen.

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

"No, not at all," he says quickly. "I just thought you were done with her."

"Yeah, well, we've all got needs." I chuckle. "What the fuck are you doing back here? Haven't you hired a bartender yet?"

Alex let out a sharp laugh. "Funny you should ask... Hey, I've got a little surprise for you upstairs."

"I hate surprises."

"You're gonna love this one. Trust me." I can immediately tell he's hiding something from me, but I don't have the strength or patience to figure out why he's acting so strange.

"You better not be fucking with me. I'm not in the mood for it tonight."

"Just get your ass upstairs. Come find me after." He grins, hurrying away and getting back to work. Yeah, he's definitely up to something

I have half a mind to just go back to Cass and not worry about his shit, but curiosity gets the best of me. As I get to the top of the stairs, I hear a woman scream, and immediately my steps quicken.

I throw the door open to see Dante on the floor, hands between his legs, and writhing in pain as some poor girl cowers against the wall, hovering over some poor girl. "What the hell is going on in here?"

Dante glances up, and the woman turns to me. When I catch a glimpse of her face, all the air whooshes from my lungs. No. It can't be. It can't be her. She's long gone. I haven't heard from her in years. There's no way it's Sadie.

There's no denying it when my eyes lock with hers–those sexy dark brown eyes that once held every single one of my dreams. They're red and a tear catches at the corner of one. She's terrified of Dante and whatever was going on between the two of them wasn't good.

Her lip quivers, and I fight every natural urge in my body not to run to her and scoop her into my arms. To tell her that she doesn't need to be scared. That I'm here now and she doesn't have to be worried. That I'd protect her.

"Boss. This is Alex's new bartender. I was just checking for a wire." Dante defends.

Sadie glares at him but keeps her mouth shut, not saying a word. She doesn't have to, though. The only thing I'm sure of right now is that Dante was taking advantage of her. And regardless of circumstances, that's one thing I won't fucking stand for. Any man that works for me will treat women with respect, whether that's Sadie or someone else entirely.

"That's how you check for a wire? Assaulting her in my office?" The door rattles on its hinges as I slam it. There are a million emotions running through my body right now, but anger and rage win out.

"What else am I supposed to do?"

I let out a sharp laugh. "Maybe start with asking?"

Dante drops his eyes, moving out of my way as I approach Sadie. My eyes land on hers, searching for answers.

What the hell is she doing here? Why does Dante think she's Alex's new bartender? Is this the surprise he was talking about? Gently, I put my finger to her chin, forcing her to look up at me. I know she wants to pull away from my touch, but Sadie is as stubborn as ever and digs her heels in. She blinks, setting her jaw tightly as she almost dares me to get closer to her. "Ms. Sorento, are you wearing a wire?"

"No." Her lips part, her voice so quiet she's practically whispering.

I shrug, breaking contact and backing away before I take it any further, like my body wants me to. "Good enough for me."

"How do we know she's not lying?" Dante asks through clenched teeth.

I grin, eyeing her carefully. "Because Sadie knows what happens to people who cross the Avenetti family, isn't that right, Princess?"