Chapter Seven

 

 

“Hello, princess.”

Crap. She knew that voice. Miller managed a small smile as she glanced down at the couple she’d just served. “Can I get you anything else?”

They shook their heads before turning their attention to their meals. Miller didn’t even look behind her. Instead, she headed to the bar to wait for Vanya, the bartender, to prepare another order.

“What? No greeting for your dear dad?”

Okay, maybe Rogan was right. This job was not a good idea if it made it easier for her father, to get access to her.

He moved up beside her. “I’ll take a beer, thanks. You’ll get that for me, won’t you, princess? You get drinks for free, right?”

“No, I don’t. Put it on my tab,” she told Vanya, the bartender. He gave her father an assessing look but nodded.

“Thanks, princess.”

“I’m working. And don’t call me princess.”

She grabbed the tray of drinks Vanya had poured, and left. For the next few hours, she avoided her father as best she could while he sat at the bar and drank. She winced as she thought about how big her tab was going to be. It would probably take her entire paycheck to pay off.

“Thanks,” Finn said as she collected his empty plate.

She could tell him about her father. But what could he do? Her father wasn’t doing anything wrong. Well, other than drinking away this week’s paycheck. But that was nothing unusual. Besides, she didn’t really want it getting back to Rogan that her father was here. He had enough on his plate. She’d noticed how stressed he appeared lately and she didn’t want to add to his worries.

Miller took the dirty plates into the kitchen. The restaurant was slowing down for the night with only a few lingering customers. She couldn’t avoid him forever. The sooner she got rid of him, the better.

Miller made her way over to the bar and asked Vanya for a coke. “What are you doing here, Dad?”

“What do you mean? I’m here to see my little girl.”

She snorted. “Don’t pull that bullshit with me, Dad. You only ever turn up when you need something. So, what is it, money?”

“Well, I am a bit short at the moment. But I don’t want to take anything from you. I want to earn my money and maybe be closer to you.”

Okay, what the hell was his game?

“I’ve been watching you. You’ve got a good gig going on, hooking up with Rogan MacGuire. Like father, like daughter.”

“I am nothing like you,” she hissed, glancing around. Vanya was at the other end of the bar and no one else was close. Finn gave her a questioning look, and she shook her head with a smile.

“I know I made mistakes when you were growing up. You think I don’t regret that? I do. I want to make it up to you. I want to show you I’m not the loser I was.”

Sure. He was the one who’d taught her how to spot con artists and liars. She’d learned from the best.

“Best watch your nose doesn’t grow any bigger, Dad. Tell me what you want and then go.”

His gaze turned calculating. Ahh, here was her real father. “I want in.”

“In?”

“In with MacGuire. He takes care of his men. I want to work for him.”

Over her dead body. “No.”

He grabbed her arm as she turned to leave. “Princess, I’m in a tough spot. I owe some money to folks who won’t take it kindly if I don’t pay them back.”

“Let me go.” Turning, she saw Finn moving towards them. She waved her hand at him. “You’re calling attention to us.”

“Everything okay here?” Finn asked.

“Fine thanks, Finn. I was about to settle this man’s tab.” She moved around the bar and waited for Finn to wander off.

“What was it this time?” she asked her father, faking a smile for Finn’s benefit. “Gambling? Drinking? Drugs?”

“Something like that.”

So, probably all three. “How much?”

“Five grand ought to do it.”

“I don’t have that kind of money.” The most she could get together would be a few hundred.

“It’s chump change for MacGuire.”

“I’m not asking him for money. I don’t owe you anything, Dad. You’ve never been there for me. Why should I help you?”

“Because they’re going to hurt me if you don’t. Do you want my death on your conscience?”

“You’re a grown man. You got yourself into this.”

“The thing is, I’d hate for them to get to you to harm me.”

“You told them about me?” The depth of his betrayal actually stung when she’d thought she was beyond being hurt by him. “Just when I thought you’d gone as low as you could, you actually manage to surprise me.”

“Look, a grand ought to buy me some time.”

Fuck. What was she going to do? She could probably put together a thousand dollars if she used the money Rogan had put aside for her plus what she’d earned from waitressing.

“Fine, I’ll get you the money. But you’ll get out of my life and you’ll stay out. Got it?”

“If that’s what you really want, princess.”

She gritted her teeth together. “It is. It will take me a day. Put your number on my cell phone. My next shift is the day after tomorrow. Come back then.”

“I can come to you. Meet MacGuire.”

“Stay away from Rogan. Believe me, he won’t be interested in seeing you. And if you come near him, the money disappears. Got me?”

Her father held up his hands, looking for all the world like the injured party.

Yeah, she’d learned about con men from the best, and he was sitting right in front of her.

 

***

 

“Boss, can I speak to you a minute?” The door to his study opened and Finn appeared.

Rogan waved him forward. “Any problems tonight?”

Miller had arrived home about forty minutes ago. She’d stopped in to see Rogan before retiring to the living room to watch a movie. Hopefully, he could join her soon. She’d seemed tired and distracted tonight. But, then, so was he.

“No, no problems exactly.”

“What is it?” Rogan stared up at a clearly nervous Finn. He was the son of one of Rogan’s men and Rogan had taken him on mainly as a favor.

“Miller got me to stop at an ATM on the way home.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“She withdrew an awful lot of money. I don’t know why she’d need so much cash and, you know, with her history…”

He was worried she’d use the cash to buy drugs.

Was something stressing her out? Had she pushed herself too hard, too fast?

“I’ll take care of it. Thanks for letting me know.”

 

Miller stared at the television screen. The movie had been playing for twenty minutes, but she had no idea what was on. Her mind spun with tonight’s events. Damn her father. He had the uncanny ability to appear when she was starting to turn her life around.

What would she do? She had around seven hundred dollars. But she knew her father. He’d come back again and again. How long until Rogan found out?

How long until he grew sick of the drama?

She wasn’t a good catch. Drug addiction, family drama, no money, no home.

Maybe she should tell him. Get it over and done with.

But what if her father really did leave for good after she gave him the cash?

Yeah, right, and hell had just frozen only.

She rubbed her sweaty palms against her pants. She’d been experiencing fewer and fewer cravings. Rogan’s support, along with her therapy sessions had really been helping. She’d finally felt like she was starting to get her life back. Until now.

Until her past had caught up with her. Shaking her.

The urge to take something to ease her way through this rough patch was nearly overwhelming.

She drew her legs up against her chest, wrapping her arms around them. She placed her forehead on her knees. When would she get over this? Was she going to be stuck this way for the rest of her life? Would any little thing set her back?

Well, she wasn’t going to let it. She was tougher than this.

“Miller?”

She glanced up, blinking to focus her eyesight as Rogan stepped into her line of sight.

“Hey.”

“Everything okay?” he asked, taking a seat beside her.

“Sure. You finished for the night?”

He nodded. “Thought I’d have an early night. You look tired.”

“Guess I am a bit.” She snuggled against him, sighing deeply as she let his scent surround her. The feeling of safety she always got when she was close to him immediately calmed her.

“You got plans for tomorrow?” he asked.

“Nah, I was going to hang out and relax. Is that okay? Do you want me to do anything for you?”

“No, relaxing is a good idea. I’m worried about you.”

“Me? Why?”

“You’re working too hard.”

“Kettle meet pot. I don’t work nearly as hard as you, Rogan.”

“I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard. You know what the therapist said about getting stressed.”

She sat up and turned to look at him. “What’s this about, Rogan?”

He shifted, drawing something out of his back pocket.

“You went into my room,” she whispered, staring down at the envelope she’d stashed her cash in.

“I need to know what you’re using this money for.”

“For drugs, isn’t that what you’re asking? You want to know if I’m going to use this money for drugs. But do you trust I’m going to tell you the truth? I mean, if I’m a druggie, doesn’t that make me a liar as well?”

“No, it does not,” he told her fiercely. “I will believe whatever you tell me.”

“You gave me the money, Rogan. I wasn’t aware it came with ties.”

He watched her for a long moment. “You’re right. I trust you. If you need my help or to talk, I trust you’ll come to me.”

Rogan handed the envelope of money into her shaking hands.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to snap. It’s your money. You have every right to ask me how I’m spending it.”

“No, I should apologize. I gave you that money. If you’d gone out and spent it all on clothes, I wouldn’t have batted an eye.”

“Wouldn’t it have been safer not to let me have any money?”

“I wanted to show you I trust you. That I knew you would seek help before you did something stupid.”

“Well, you were wrong. It is for something stupid. Or someone stupid. The money is for my father.”

“What?”

“He turned up tonight at Solnyshko. He’s got himself into some sort of trouble and he owes five grand. I told him I could only get access to a thousand. I can’t even rustle up that much.”

Rogan studied her thoughtfully. “Why do you want to give him anything at all?”

“I don’t want to. I want him out of my life and this seems like the easiest way to achieve that. He always turns up, it seems, right when I’m getting things together. When I’m happy. I want him gone.”

“You’re not giving him any money,” Rogan told her.

“I know it’s wrong to use your money, but I was going to pay you back.”

“Shh.” He placed a finger over her mouth, giving her a fierce stare. “I don’t want to hear any nonsense about owing me something or paying me back. I thought we had established you owe me nothing.”

“Then what do I do?”

“You do nothing. I’ll take care of this. When are you meeting him?”

“He’s coming back during my next shift.”

Rogan nodded. “Leave this to me, a thaisce. He won’t bother you again. I promise.”

 

***

 

“Hello, Ms. Toresso. Or can I call you Miller?”

Miller paused, midway through counting a shelf of canned tomatoes. She glanced up as a man approached. Jesus, he was gorgeous. Dark-blond hair, tanned skin, and a five o’clock shadow. There was a dangerous air about him. He looked to be in his early thirties, but she figured he was one of those men who grew more attractive with age.

If so, he was going to be a knockout by the time he was fifty.

“Umm, this room is for employees only.” The restaurant wasn’t even open yet, how had he gotten back here?

“I know. I’m looking for you.” He nodded, and a man she hadn’t even noticed stepped out of the shadows and grabbed two crates, dragging them over. This man was older, rougher looking. He wore dark jeans and his tight, black T-shirt barely contained his bulging biceps.

“Please sit,” the handsome guy told her, as though they were in a meeting.

How the hell had he even gotten into the storage room? The door to the alley should have been locked, and she’d have noticed if he’d come through the door leading to Solnyshko’s kitchen. If he’d come through the alley why hadn’t the guard stopped him?

And, more important, what did he want?

Nerves strummed through her. Why hadn’t she brought her cell phone with her? She’d left it with her purse in the staff room. When she’d arrived for her shift ten minutes ago, Oleg had ordered her to do an inventory. Miller thought it was ridiculous when they were opening in an hour, but, with Sofia off sick, Oleg was in charge.

The Russian bartender set off all her creep alerts, but there wasn’t much she could do. Sofia had a restaurant manager for when she wasn’t here, but his shift didn’t start for another two hours.

He wouldn’t cross Oleg anyway.

Did Oleg have an ulterior motive in sending her back here? Had he set this meeting up?

Why? What the hell did this guy want?

“I’ll stand.”

“Sit.” His gaze morphed from friendly to cold. This man was used to getting his way. Despite the nice clothes and expensive haircut, she could sense he had a rough side.

Miller sat. Self-preservation was high on her priority list right now. Was she a magnet for crazies and no-hopers? At least, her father seemed to have given up. He hadn’t turned up the other night as they’d agreed. Rogan had spent the whole evening at Solnyshko, waiting for him. She’d felt awful about wasting his time, even though he’d assured her there was nowhere else he had to be.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“My name is Step Callahan. I’m sure MacGuire has mentioned me before.”

Oh shit. The leader of the Seven Sinners? What did he want with her? Where the hell was Finn when she needed him?

She’d been happy at the change of guard. Colm and Cillian would barely let her out of their sight when they were on duty. Finn had checked out the back room, but then one of the kitchen hands had asked him for help moving some boxes. Crap, was there was a conspiracy happening here?

Maybe she should plead ignorance. He might think she was some dumb bimbo Rogan was just fucking. “Sorry, Rogan hasn’t mentioned you. Are you friends?”

Callahan’s gaze narrowed angrily. Didn’t like hearing that, did he?

“I don’t have time for pleasantries. Your guard will be returning soon.”

“You paid Oleg to let you back here, didn’t you?” The more she kept him talking, the better. Mind you, would Finn have much chance against these two? Especially if Oleg and his friends joined in?

“I’m the leader of the Seven Sinners. Maybe you’ve heard of them?”

Slowly, she nodded.

“Perhaps Rogan doesn’t speak to you. I guess he’s not in the habit of talking to his current piece of ass. Although I had suspected you meant more, considering you live in his house and his guards watch your every movement.”

Piece of ass?

“Usually, he takes his fuck of the day to his apartment in the city. But I guess he wanted you closer at hand.”

Fuck of the day. Oh hell, no.

Miller took a deep breath, calming herself before her temper got the best of her. He was winding her up, hoping she’d lose her temper and say something she would regret.

She was smarter than that.

“I guess we have more important things to talk about.”

He stood, face filled with thunder, about to explode.

“Boss, we’ve got to go soon,” the other man said.

Step glared down at her. “I have some information you would be very interested in.”

“And what would I owe you for this information?”

“Nothing at all. I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart.”

Right, and she was Superwoman in disguise.

“I’m not interested.” She stood as well, not liking the way he loomed over her. The sooner he left, the sooner she could breathe properly again. Show the slightest bit of fear and he would pounce. Miller had grown good at hiding her true feelings. Some of her father’s associates had been like Callahan. They appeared civil.

But that was all show.

“Your mother was murdered while she was dating Iker Florez, wasn’t she?”

She paused. What the fuck was he getting at? “So what?”

Anger filled his face. She needed to cool things down before he completely blew his stack and took her down in the explosion.

“Yes, she was. Why?”

“Because her murder coincides with the time my father disappeared. They found his body in Lake Medina. You might have seen it on the news.”

“I did. My condolences.”

He shrugged. “My father was an idiot with no vision. He was all brawn and no brains. No wonder he was killed. Doesn’t mean his killers won’t pay.”

“And you think my mother had something to do with that? Did she know your father?”

“Not that I know of. But a number of people stood to gain from my father’s death. Iker Florez was one. He gained territory. Your boyfriend’s father was another. With my father gone, it was easy to push the Seven Sinners out of the city. See where I’m going with this?”

He was clutching at straws.

“You’d need evidence, not supposition to prove that.”

“Yes. That is exactly what I’m after.”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with my mother.”

“I think Rogan’s father murdered my old man after an incident between our two gangs.”

An incident? He made it sound like they’d had a disagreement, not that a young boy had lost his life.

“And I think Iker Florez helped him. Soon before my father disappeared, Rogan’s father, Iker, and the former leader of the Russians formed an alliance. They drove the Seven Sinners from San Antonio. It’s all too much of a coincidence. Your mother was fucking Florez. She may have known what was going on.”

“She’s dead. She can’t tell you anything.”

“But don’t you think the timing is rather coincidental? They died around the same time in a similar location.”

“How do you know about my mother’s death?”

“I make it my business to know about these things.” That didn’t sound creepy at all.

“Do the police know when your father died?”

“They can’t work out an exact date because he was in the water too long, but he went to a meeting and he never returned. Three days after his disappearance, your mother’s body was found a few miles from Lake Medina. At the time the police believed she had been there a few days.”

“What do you want?”

“If I find any evidence of who murdered your mother, I will be certain to tell you. If you’ll do the same for me.”

“You want me to spy on Rogan for you? He was just a kid.”

“He knows something. Or, if he doesn’t, he suspects. You’re in a position to use your charms for information.”

It was obvious he didn’t think much of her. The feeling was mutual.

“You really think I’ll use sex to get information out of Rogan?”

“I guess it depends on how much you want to know the truth.”

Callahan turned and left. His guard gave her a long, assessing look, making her shiver, before following his boss out. These were not guys to mess with.

“Miller?” Finn called out. He rushed inside. “Sorry I was gone so long. I had to help move a few things.”

“We’re leaving.” She folded her arms to hide her shaking hands. She felt bad about leaving Sofia in the lurch. Especially when she was ill. But she wasn’t sticking around here with Oleg. He’d set her up. Why else would he have sent her back here?

“What? Why? Did something happen?” Immediately his face hardened.

“Nothing you need to worry about. But I need to talk to Rogan. Can you take me to him?” She worked hard to keep her voice from displaying how rattled she was.

“I wish I could, but the boss is in the middle of something.”

“Fine. I’ll call him myself from the car.” She brushed past him. It wasn’t Finn’s fault, but her temper was fraying. The fear she’d hidden in front of Callahan morphed into anger.

“I’m leaving. Find someone else to work my shift,” she told Oleg as she passed him in the kitchen. He shot out a hand and grabbed her arm in a crushing grip, bringing tears of pain to her eyes.

“You don’t go anywhere.”

“Let her go!” Finn called out from behind her.

Scuffling filled the room then a pained grunt. She glanced behind her. Two of the kitchen hands holding Finn between them. There was a rip in his shirt and blood on his face.

“Hey! Let him go, assholes!” She pushed at Oleg, but his grip tightened and she cried out.

“Where you think you’re going?”

“I’m out of here and I’m not coming back. At least not while you’re here, asshole. You let him in, didn’t you? What did he pay you? What about the security guard? Did you bribe him to look the other way?”

Oleg grinned nastily. “I don’t know what you talk about.”

“Let me the fuck go!”

“Do you have a fucking death wish?” Finn yelled. “MacGuire is going to murder you for touching his missus.”

Okay, she was going to have to have a word with Finn about what to call her. MacGuire’s missus was not how she wanted to be known.

“I think he be more interested in how his girlfriend have secret meeting with his enemy.”

“You set that up and, when I tell Rogan, he’ll have Anisimov kick your ass out of here,” she told him.

The grip on her arm tightened until her vision blurred. How the hell could he be so strong?

“You think anyone believe you? Some piece of ass? They take my word over yours.”

Rogan would believe her. Rogan would always believe her. Damn it felt good to have someone on her side, backing her up.

What the hell did Sofia see in this jerk?

“But maybe we teach you both a lesson.”

“Let them go, Oleg.”

Miller had been so occupied with Oleg she hadn’t even noticed Sofia entering the kitchen.

“Sofia, go!” Oleg yelled. “This nothing do with you.”

“This is my restaurant. She’s my employee. Let her go. Now.”

Oleg scowled down at her, and Miller shivered at the dark look in his gaze.

“I’ll make sure they don’t talk. Let her go or I’ll tell Sacha about this.”

Surprisingly, Oleg let her go. Then he nodded at his friends who pushed Finn away. He slammed into her. Miller winced as her stomach smashed into the sharp edge of the stainless steel table.

He quickly apologized, but Miller shook her head, eager to get the hell out of there.

Oleg’s friends snickered as Miller and Finn followed Sofia through the kitchen to the employee entrance.

“Go. Now. Before he changes his mind,” Sofia urged.

“Come with us,” Miller replied. “Rogan will keep you safe.”

“I’m safe here. Sacha would never let anyone hurt me.”

“He seems to be doing a great job protecting you from that asshole.”

Sofia winced and placed her hand on her lower back, as though it were paining her. “There are things going on you don’t understand. Please don’t tell Aleksandr.”

Miller peeked up at Finn, who appeared just as incredulous. “We need to go, Miller.”

She nodded. “I know. Sofia, I have to tell Rogan about this. I can’t keep him from talking to your cousin.”

Sofia sent a panicked gaze over her shoulder. “Can’t you leave Oleg’s name out of it? Please, Miller.”

Miller bit her lip. Her instincts screamed at her to tell Rogan everything. To get Sofia the hell out of here. But the woman’s gaze was filled with pleading and fear.

“Fine. I’ll keep quiet about Oleg’s part. Be safe, Sofia.”

She followed Finn into the alleyway. He kept her close behind him, head pivoting right to left as he led her to the car. Only once they were on the road did Miller’s heartbeat slow. Tremors shook her body and she squeezed her hands together, wincing at the pain in her arm. She pulled her sleeve up, biting her lip as she examined her bruised skin.

“I never said I wouldn’t tell Rogan.”

“What?” she asked suddenly realizing she’d left her purse and her cell phone at the restaurant. Crap.

Finn glanced back at her through the rear-vision mirror. “I never said I wouldn’t tell Rogan. About Oleg.”

“I know. That’s what I’m relying on. I want you to tell Rogan everything.”

Finn studied her for a moment then nodded.

He’d lost his easy-going demeanor. His gaze was hard. Focused.

“I left my cell at the restaurant. Can I use yours to call Rogan?”

“Sure.” He stopped at a light then searched his pockets. “Fuck. It must have fallen out when those assholes had hold of me. Christ, the Boss is going to kill me. I’ve fucked up so many times.”

“Don’t worry. Rogan will be grateful we both got out of there safe.”

“Yeah. I don’t think he’ll see it that way.”