o glasses and sliding one my way. "Have a drink, let's catch up. Are you hungry? Our chef jus

ket over the barstool and sitting down across from him. "Adam didn't come

in college now. He and Eli both. How is he d

in my voice. "He's studying business at the

f he can make it through the next few weeks. You just missed him he was

r flooded me with the good memories of my time here and the Avenettis themselves. I couldn't

long enough, I'm sure you w

g at first, but was going down smoother now. "It looks like you've done p

een a little pet project of mine, but things are really coming together. I'm he

ords out. It wasn't like this was any surprise. I'd known this day w

ntil Dad retires, but he's already m

is dream after all-but for some reason, it felt like someone had sucked the air right out of my lungs.

rsation and gave me a sympathetic smile, chang

ed my shoulders nonchalantly, swirling

mean, don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to see you. I know Brandon will be,

stretching. I thought I could come back and get one of the shop owners in town to hire me for a few months, but it turns out they are all under Avenetti rule now and won't hire me without consent." I r

uld give it to you. Hell, I'll give it to you. You're family. You don't have to

make a living the honest way." I hissed,

cking off and realizing he had struck a nerve. "But

lly. I had moonlighted as a bartender when Adam and I first mov

usly. "And you don't know how

r? I don't know, I didn't have t

ou want it. I just think the

from his father, I really just needed to place myself in the innerworkings of the group. They may not run product out of here, but I had a

illing to entertain the thought. "Well, I'm desperate as hell for the help, and I love the thought

ot an apartment a

ow, I just had to pray he wouldn't question them. He wanted to press me f

ks up around eight. D

" I smiled, relieved that thin