“We got you covered, boss. We’re all good here,” he assures me. “But before you go, can you deliver these beers to table four?” he adds as he places three beers onto a tray.
“What am I? Your slave?”
The little shit winks at me then walks away to the back of the bar before I can argue. I carefully grab the tray and slowly make my way to table four.
As I approach the table, I notice a young woman with short, sandy-blonde hair laughing along with two men. When she looks up and smiles at me, I instantly recognise her from the few times she’s come here with Mila. She must be the best friend—Sofia.
Their conversation halts immediately as I set their drinks on the table. Sofia and the guy next to her smile and thank me, but when I turn to the guy across from them, my hands immediately tighten around the tray.Dean.
“Well look who it is,” he says, with a shit-eating grin as he slowly eyes me up and down. “Just the man we were talking about.”
“Oh yeah? Still going on about how I only hire young attractive women?”
“Not at all. We were just saying how Mila hardly hangs out with us on weekends anymore because she’s too busy babysittingyourkid.”
I don’t miss the snarky tone in his voice at the mention ofmykid. It only makes me want to knock his teeth out.
“Well if that’s an issue for her, she knows she can always tell me herself and I’ll be happy to give her some time off.”
“Mila doesn’t have a problem with it. She loves spending time with Jake. It’s really not a big deal?” The comment, directed at Dean, comes unexpectedly from Sofia.
“It is a big deal because she already has a lot on her plate, and this fucker”—he gestures at me with his thumb—“is overworking her like she’s his goddamn personal slave!”
I don’t know what comes over me—maybe it’s the adrenaline from seeing Mila’s bruises tonight, or maybe it’s just hearing his irritating voice, but before I can think, I drop the tray to the floor and grab Dean by the collar, yanking him up until we’re face to face.
Ignoring the commotion around us and Chris rushing over trying to pull us apart, I grip Dean’s shirt even tighter. “Listen here, you little shit! If you weren’t in my place of business right now, I’d wipe that fucking smug grin off your face with my bare hands.” I lean in closer so that only he can hear my words. “And if I ever find out that you’re responsible for those bruises on Mila’s wrists, I promise, I will fucking destroy you.”
Dean’s eyes widen, and his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows sharply. When he doesn’t say anything, I shove him back forcefully, sending him sprawling onto his arse on the ground.Sofia and the other guy rush to his side, trying to help him get back on his feet.
I shake my head in disgust, then give Dean one final, menacing look before pointing towards the door. “Now... get your filthy arse out of my restaurant.”
CHAPTER 20
Mila
When Sofia called me last night saying she had something urgent to tell me, my first thought was that she’d caught Dean cheating. I was stunned, however, when she proceeded to give me a quick rundown of the incident between him and Jason at the restaurant. I tried pressing her for more details, but she was adamant that it had to be discussed in person.
Then out of nowhere, as if sensing he was the topic of conversation, Dean messaged me, saying how deeply sorry he was for taking his anger out on me and hurting me. He kept apologising, insisting he never meant to cause me pain and hoping I could find it in me to forgive him. I didn’t know what to say, and it wasn’t the kind of conversation to have over the phone, so I told him I’d speak with him the next time I saw him.
All night I tossed and turned, unable to get a single ounce of sleep, consumed by thoughts of what might have happened at Jason’s restaurant. I thought about it so much that I felt like I was losing my mind.
When it was time to meet Sofia for breakfast, I practically rushed over to our usual café and demanded she get straight to the point. Afterall, she’d already made me wait all night.
Now, here I am, sitting across from my best friend while she recounts every detail of last night’s incident at Jason’s restaurant, my mind spinning with unanswered questions.What caused Jason to snap like that? And what did he say to Dean to make his face go pale as a ghost?The sound of Sofia’s sighpulls me from my thoughts. “You know Dean. He never thinks before he speaks—just blurts out whatever’s on his mind even if it comes across offensive. But it was Jason’s reaction that was completely unexpected. He literally turned into the Incredible Hulk, Mila. It was pretty scary... and a little hot.” She snorts, laughing. “If you ask me, it almost seemed like he was looking for an excuse to beat Dean up,” Sofia declares.
I try to grasp everything she’s sharing, running through all the possible reasons Jason might have snapped the way he did.Then suddenly, it hits me.The bruises. Jason must’ve figured out that it came from Dean. I should’ve known he wouldn’t let it slide. He is an ex-cop, after all. He’ll dig and dig until he uncovers the truth, no matter what. If things between Dean and him were bad before, I’m afraid they’ve only gotten worse from here on out.
“What happened after? When Jason kicked him out of the restaurant?” I ask.
“We drove Dean home, and on the way to his place, Brody asked him what the hell was going on between him and Jason. And all he said was that Jason has always had it out for him ever since he started dating you. He didn’t say much after that, but I could sense his mind was racing.”
Fuck!I need to talk to Dean. I have to know if he’s okay. He hasn’t messaged or called me since that text last night, and I’m starting to get worried. Dean always checks in with me every morning without fail, so his silence right now is deafening.
“I’ll give him a call once I get home. He’s been quiet all morning and that’s not like him.”
Sofia shrugs. “Last night probably took it out of him. He certainly wasn’t expecting the night to go down like that. I’m sure his ego is a little wounded. Just give him time.”
I force out a smile, and nervously start pulling on my sleeves, as if my bruises are suddenly going to burn through the fabric.
