“That’s discrimination.Ageism.”
For shit’s sake.See, this is exactly why I’ve stepped back from these staffing decisions.All these ‘isms’ and ‘ists.’I don’t give a shit.I do what I want, and anyone who doesn’t like it can walk.But Lorenzo’s taken up with Gio’s bullshit “empathetic” approach lately, listening to these people’s whining and bitching, catering to their “feelings” and worrying about morale.
Like what the fuck do they think this place is?
Not me.Never me.And I give it another month before Lorenzo burns out on it, too.His patience is much thinner than mine, his fuse way shorter.I’ll have my psycho twin back soon enough.
I steer the golf cart onto the straightaway leading to Brioso Hubb.Finally.The real reason I dragged his ass out here today.
A strange, unwelcome heat spreads through my chest when I spot her.Raya.In the middle of a group of men playing pool out on the deck, laughing and having fun.My collar suddenly feels too damn tight.I tug at it.
I hate it.All of it.I want her smiles to belong only to me.Her eyes only onme.Why does she evoke this possessive madness in me?
Lorenzo slows.“Wait, is that Raya?”
“Looks like it.”
“What the fuck’s she doing in there?And what’s with the getup?”
“That’s where she spends most of her free time.She’s tight with the Uppers.”I slide him a glance.“You didn’t know?”
Second seed planted…
He presses the pedal and the cart jerks forward.
I sit up straighter.The more worked up he gets over her being in there, the more excited I become.
Plan’s working like a charm.
Lorenzo brakes hard outside Brioso Hubb, hops out, and stomps up the paved steps.
All but grinning now, I take my time stepping out of the cart and trail him inside.
Activity slows the moment we walk in.Nods and chin jerks tossed our way.Nervous looks and worried glances exchanged.
All the wary eyes are trained onme, of course.Bracing for a storm.Expectingmeto barge in and be the monster.
I slip my hands into my pockets and maintain a neutral stance, to showI’mnot here to wreck the mood.Not today.
Lorenzo, on the other hand…
As he heads straight out to the deck where Raya’s in the midst of Uppers, I hang back and lean against the doorframe.
“What’s up, boss?”one Upper asks, glancing between us.“Something wrong?”
Raya’s actively ignoring us.Her small frame drowning in fabric like a goddamn vagabond.Oversized shirt, baggy pants and boots.Her usual getup for Brioso Hubb.All of it working overtime to downplay the heat she carries.
Doesn’t work.All that material swallowing her does nothing to quell the unrelenting heat flaming in my chest.Justseeingher sets me on fire.
Who the fuck is she and what the fuck is she doing to me?
“Just patrolling,” Lorenzo says steadily, eyes locked on Raya.“Last I checked, women weren’t exactly welcome in here.”
Go on, brother.Ream them out for harboring her here.Kick her out.Ban that little snake from hanging around them.
“What do you me—oh, you mean RayRay?”the Upper asks, then laughs.“Nah, RayRay’s different.We like having her around.She’s a beast at pool, and she brings good vibes, you know?”
“Hmm.”Lorenzo rubs his jaw.“That’s all there is to it?”
