Dante's Way Read online

  Thirty minutes later, Dante stood at the back of his bar watching as Kent hurried up and got the wings prepared for the remaining lunch crowd and the upcoming dinner service. He still couldn’t believe the stores didn’t have more wings in stock, but he was thrilled with what he was able to buy. It would keep his customers happy for the rest of the day.

  “Look who finally made his way back to work,” a high pitched voice said behind him before a pair of slender tanned arms wrapped around his waist and a kiss was planted at the back of his neck. The scent of Charlie perfume surrounded him way before Dante had to even guess who was coming on to him.

  Dante pulled Bambi’s arm off of him and then turned around. “Haven’t I told you about overstepping the bounds at work? You are my employee and you need to learn how to respect my authority.”

  Bambi’s eyes narrowed as she placed her hands on her slim hips. “Are you kidding me? After everything we’ve been through, I think you should be treating me as more of an equal instead of throwing this employee shit in my face,” she snapped. “I was the one you put in charge when you ran out of food today.”

  Grinding his teeth, Dante took several deep breaths so he wouldn’t lose his temper. It was still early in the day and he might need Bambi’s help again.

  Now wasn’t the time to piss her off, despite the fact she was beginning to wear on his nerves. Bambi wasn’t very good at taking no for an answer especially when it came from a man. Bambi thought every red bloodied man, married or single, should be in love with her.

  “How about you get back to work and we can discuss this later? I know the front of the bar is packed with customers and I don’t want them to be kept waiting for too long.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” She glared at him.

  “No, I’m telling you to go and do the job I pay you for. I don’t sign your checks to argue with me,” he pointed out and meant it.

  Yeah, Bambi might be one hell of a worker, but everyone was replaceable, including her, which is what she should know. She had to stop pushing him or she was going to lose her job.

  “Fine,” she huffed. “But I’m not done talking to you. I know we had something good and I want to get it back. I’m not giving up on us, Dante.” Bambi spun away from him walking off towards the doors leading back to the bar.

  He wanted to rekindle his relationship with Bambi like he wanted to eat a bowl of macaroni salad that had been left out in the sun for too long. She might not be through with him, but he was definitely done with her.

  Dante realized as much as he hated to lose a good employee, it might be time for Bambi to find another job far away from him. He had too much going on to let her get under his skin. If she wasn’t able to handle them being only boss and employee, it was her problem not his. He wasn’t about to get caught back up in her drama again.

  Being the dominant one in their relationship in and out of the bedroom turned Bambi on; it literally made her hot. However, she made one mistake when it came to him. She didn’t understand that he was the man and he wasn’t about to give up control for anyone. Enough about Bambi! He had more important things to take care of before he left for the day.

  Spinning away, Dante started walking back towards his office. He hoped that he might be able to get the warehouse to make a special delivery to the bar early tomorrow morning. Hopefully, his idea would work because right now he couldn’t deal with another crisis coming out of nowhere.

  Chapter Ten

  Later that night, Dante placed all of the money from the lunch and dinner crowd in the very back of the bar’s safe before closing it and punching in the code. Hell, after the way the dinner crowd packed in tonight, he was surprised that the place hadn’t run out of food before closing.

  He wanted to get everything taken care of before he headed home for the night. Luckily, the warehouse supplier agreed to have one of their drivers make an extra stop at the bar tomorrow and drop off his chicken order before heading out of town.

  Tomorrow, he was going to have an early morning meeting at Inked to go over the details for the tournament. Knocking a few things off his to-do list would ease some stress. He might even be able relax with a cold beer and chips in front of the television.

  “There you are. I thought you’d left with Kent to avoid me until I saw your bike still parked out the back when I was throwing out the last of the trash.”

  Damn, Dante thought. He hoped to be way gone before Bambi ever came back inside. Why did she have to come back here looking for him? Didn’t she have anything better to do with her time than bother him? When was she going to get the hint that things were truly over between them?

  Moving away from the safe, Dante faced the brunette who had her back pressed against his closed office door. He could tell from the gleam in her eyes that she thought they were going to rekindle something since they were alone, but she was in store for a rude awakening.

  Dante was positive Bambi could latch her claws into a new man with her big light blue eyes and long black, flowing hair. The poor guy would be hooked and in too deep before the fool knew what evilness lurked beneath her pretty packaging.

  “I was on my way out of the door,” Dante said, grabbing his keys and helmet off of the edge of his desk. “Whatever you want to talk about can it wait until tomorrow?”

  “No, I want to talk about us,” she whined, coming closer into his personal space. “I want to know why you broke up with me. Everything was going good between us until you got introduced to Jim’s friends. I know they turned you against me. I’m positive that Keira had something to do with it. I know that bitch doesn’t like me ever since I flirted with her husband.”

  Dante couldn’t believe she was trying to make what they had into something more than it ever was. Shit, it was over before it even began. Why couldn’t she see what was in front of her face?

  “No one had anything to do with me not wanting to see you again,” he said, already tired of the conversation. “You have to know that we weren’t really a couple. I never made any promises to you about anything the few times we were together.”

  “Why would you say that to me?” Bambi whined, sauntering towards him. “I thought something good was happening between us. So, what occurred to change your mind, if it wasn’t those snobby ass friends of yours? I saw how they constantly looked at me like I was beneath them. Who in the hell do they think they are?”

  “Bambi, you can’t actually think we were a perfect couple? Half of the time, we both were doing different things even when we were in the same room. We didn’t have much to talk about. I can’t pretend that we were this great romantic couple when we weren’t.”

  “Dante, I know that you thought I was too controlling and a little bit too needy when we were dating, but don’t give me this stupid ass excuse,” she shouted. “All of my girlfriends loved it when I told them I was dating the Dante Braden, but now I wished I never laid eyes on you.”

  God, he didn’t want to get into this. However, he got himself into this mess and he had to get himself out of here before Bambi totally flipped out on him.

  “I’m sorry you’re upset, but you know I’m telling you the truth. I can’t be with someone who wants to be in charge all of the time. I’m a man and I like being the man,” he told her. “I want to be the one who takes cares of things...not have a woman who thinks I want her telling me what to do.”

  Crossing her arms over her breasts, Bambi continued to look at him. “I thought we were equal. I like giving orders, what’s so wrong with that? Aren’t you man enough to handle it?”

  “Of course not...what man would? You need to find a man who likes to have orders barked at him. Since I’m not that kind of guy, I think it’s best for the both of us to just admit we never had more than a few good nights together.”

  The line of Bambi’s mouth tightened as she gave him a look of disbelief, like she wasn’t used to a man telling her didn’t want to be with her. Growing up, his parents ruled everything he did. He wasn
’t going to allow them to get replaced by her of all people. He would be out of his mind to let that shit happen.

  She took a step back from him. “You are serious aren’t you? I gave you a lot. Do you know how much time I invested in you?”

  “I think it would be for the best if we went back to being only professional around each other since we’re too different to be in a commitment with each other.”

  Bambi pressed her lips together and glared at him. “Do you actually think I still want work in the shit hole next to you day in and day out?” she yelled. “I’m not interested in being your employee and nothing else. I definitely have better things to do with my time like find a man who can handle a strong woman, so I quit you sonofabitch. Sorry, I can’t be one of the sad, needy spineless women who turns you on because she is dying for you to help her.”

  Suddenly, she snapped her fingers at him. “I get it now. I know what your problem is.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what my problem is?” Dante said.

  “You’re incapable of dealing with a woman who can take care of herself. You love this knight in shining armor title you have, but it isn’t for me.” Turning away from him, Bambi stormed back across the room, opened the door and walked out slamming it behind her.

  He wanted to be upset, but he actually felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Bambi was turning out to be bad business for the bar. If she hadn’t quit on him, he would have fired her tonight. So, he had lucked out with her getting upset and quitting on her own.

  Since the bar was now a waitress short, he would have to place an ad in the newspaper this week or Monday at the latest to have enough people for the pool tournament, so everyone else wouldn’t have to carry the extra weight left by Bambi. One thing was for sure, this time he would make certain to hire someone more professional than her.

  After the day he experienced, from almost running out of his most requested item on the menu to Bambi quitting on him, Dante was positive all he wanted to do was go home and get comfortable on the couch or maybe the patio for the rest of the night.

  However, with all of this going on he still couldn’t get the homeless girl out of his head. Something about her wouldn’t allow him to let go. She seemed so frightened and alone. She might not know there were places out there...good honest shelters that would help her out with good living arrangements and finding a stable job

  He wouldn’t feel like he had righted a wrong until he got her pushed in the right direction. After getting arrested and then tossed in juvenile hall, he never imagined his life being this excellent, but someone proved him wrong by taking an interest in him. He shook his head. For sure, though, he hadn’t been anywhere near the trouble she was at the moment.

  Chapter Eleven

  Early the next morning, Amara shoved the last of her belongings into her backpack and zipped it up before sliding it over her shoulder. Most of yesterday, after her encounter with Liam and Theresa, she searched for a new spot to sleep. Since she wasn’t able to find one, she slept here again. However, she couldn’t do it any longer.

  Amara picked up the old, torn remains of her used bedding and she carried them over to the trash can at the corner of the building and tossed them inside. She was trying to get away before Mr. Lee showed up at work. He didn’t know anything about her plans to move on and it was for the best. He wouldn’t let her leave.

  “Amara, what are you doing?”

  She froze at the sound of Mr. Lee’s surprised voice behind her. Darn it. She truly hoped to be gone before he showed up. She knew this wouldn’t be a clean break, but one of them had to break the cycle they were in, so it might as well be her.

  “I’m moving to a new spot,” Amara answered, facing her friend.

  “What?” he said. “I thought you were happy sleeping here. It’s a good spot and most people are too scared to come on my property after hours. You’re absolutely safe here with me. So, tell me the real reason you want to leave. Did something happen I don’t know about?”

  Mr. Lee continued watching her, waiting for an answer. Amara had been around him long enough to know that he wouldn’t let her leave unless he got the truth. There was no way she could even think about being dishonest with him. He would see right through her.

  “You’ve been a wonderful friend to me. Always bringing me food and clean, dry clothing to wear when I didn’t know the next time I’d see those things again, but I’m tired of being your charity case.”

  Amara held up her hand cutting off Mr. Lee when he tried to cut in. He wanted to hear the truth and he was going to get it whether he liked it or not.

  “I can’t keep depending on you. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be out on these streets. It could be for months or years, but I can’t lose the ability to take care of myself.”

  “Amara, how am I harming you by helping you out every once in a while? I only want to show you that everyone isn’t going to give you the cold shoulder because you are homeless. I like helping you out. I never thought you were depending on me for anything. I know how self-sufficient you are and can be when the time calls for it.”

  She sensed Mr. Lee was trying to make up for something he didn’t do in his past to help Jennifer. “Mr. Lee, I’m going to find another spot to sleep and there isn’t anything you can say or do to stop me. We’re still friends, but I need to move on for my sake. Honestly, I took shelter behind your business for way too long.”

  Sighing, Mr. Lee ran his hand across the back of his neck. “Are you sure about this?” he asked again.

  “Positive,” she answered, knowing there wasn’t anything he could say or do to make her change her mind.

  “All right, but at least let me give you some money to buy food for a few days.” Reaching into his back pocket, Mr. Lee grabbed his wallet, opened it and pulled out a few bills along with a white card. “Here I want you to take this.”

  Amara took a step back. “I can’t take that from you. It’s way too much money. You’ve already done so much for me. I don’t want to be greedy. Our friendship means more to me than you constantly doing things for me. I thought you knew that already.”

  “Take it,” he said, waving it at her. “I’m not going to argue with you.” Grabbing her hand, Mr. Lee placed it in her palm and closed her fingers around it. “I’m going to miss the hell out of you. Don’t forget to come back to this end of town.”

  Shoving the money into her pocket, Amara blinked back sudden tears as she gave her friend a goodbye hug. “I promise to not forget you and I will come by again to see you,” she whispered in his ear.

  Ending the hug, Amara twirled around and ran out of the alleyway knowing if she stayed a minute longer she would start crying like a new born baby and not stop. She hated to leave her favorite living spot, but it was a point in time for her to move on.

  Rounding the corner, Amara breathed in the salty air as she headed towards her favorite taco vendor near the beach. When she first moved here from her small town near Columbus, Ohio, she made a habit of coming here at least twice a week. It was her favorite treat after a long hard day at work until she lost her living arrangements.

  At first, when Liam used to drag her here to spend the day with him, it was painful looking around at everyone else’s happiness. All of her loneliness and confusion welded together in one upsurge of hidden yearning to be anyplace but here at the moment. Amara hated when she got like this because nothing was about to change.

  So, why should she agonize over it? But sometimes it was hard not to when all of her dreams of making it here slipped through her fingers. However, eventually she got used to it and allowed herself to get lost in the serenity again.

  Near the entrance of the beach, Amara spotted an empty bench and sat down before heading over to the food truck and getting something to eat. She needed to check and see how much money Mr. Lee had shoved into her hands before she left.

  Glancing down at her hands, Amara blinked back the tears at the grime and filth undern
eath her nails. Even her once beautiful dark brown skin never seemed to be clean enough anymore, but only being able to bath maybe three or four times a month was taking a toll on her self-confidence. However, she didn’t even know why she cared about how she looked anymore. Looking bad is what kept men who were looking for ‘pleasure’ away from her.

  Suddenly, Amara’s stomach growled making her remember the reason she sat down on the bench in the first place. She was starving, so getting a hot meal in her belly was her main focus now.

  Taking the backpack off her shoulder, Amara laid it to the side and she dug inside of her pocket pulling out the handful of money along with the card Mr. Lee gave to her. She laid the paper to the side then quickly counted the money in her hands. She was stunned to find almost sixty dollars there.

  Mr. Lee didn’t have to do this for her. This money would keep her fed for a while, if she didn’t buy anything too expensive from the food trucks around town.

  Yet, money wasn’t the only thing he had given to her. He had slipped something inside of the money. Picking up the business card, Amara read it frowning when she saw it was information for Pastor Allen’s outreach. She thought about tearing it up and tossing it into the nearest trashcan; however, she folded it back up and shoved it back into her jeans.

  Why wouldn’t Mr. Lee stop trying to make her go there?

  How did he know the homeless shelter was safe? Well, she wasn’t ready to go there and find out anytime soon either. Right now, she would rather take her chances out here than being closed inside a strange place.

  For a split second, Amara wavered, wondering if she was making the right decision. Could something be pushing her towards the outreach shelter and she was fighting too hard not to go there? She shook the wandering thought from her head. She wasn’t wrong about her decision to keep trying to pull herself up from the mistakes she had made

  She was the one who had to find a way to get everything she cherished the most back. Although, Amara just wasn’t quite sure how to do it, but something would come to her.