Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,51

back to her seat and sat down, smiling at her friend and watching the teacher expectantly.

“Thank you,” Roman said to the teacher.

“She’ll be just fine,” Mrs. Waters said, escorting Roman out of the classroom.

As they walked out into the hallway he heard one of the little boys as he spoke to Darcie. “Whoa, dude! Your dad is huge!” he said.

“Yeah, he is,” she said proudly. “And he’s really cool, too.”

Chapter 12

Candy flounced in through the front door of the bar, swinging her purse off her shoulder. “I’m here,” she called out.

Lazarus was in the kitchen washing the last of the glasses from the night before. “Back here,” he yelled.

Moments later Candy walked into the kitchen. “Where’s Patch?” she asked, her voice full of tone already.

“He had something to do. I’m getting everything ready to open for him,” Lazarus answered without looking up.

“Why would he trust you to open up, you’ve only been here for a few weeks? We don’t even know you,” she said.

“Most likely because I’m the only one here he can depend on since you don’t show up until you feel like it,” Lazarus snapped.

“I overslept. It’s hard to get up and get to work early when you’ve got a new boyfriend,” Candy said smugly.

“10:00 A.M. ain't early, little girl,” Lazarus said.

“I am not a little girl!” Candy insisted.

“If you say so.”

“You know, you will never have anything in life. Unlike my Frederick who is on his way to owning his own business.”

“Is that so?” Lazarus asked, without looking up.

“Yes it is. All he’s waiting for is his mother to hand over her control of their business and he’ll be rolling in money,” Candy said haughtily.

“Good for Frederick,” he said, trying to seem very uninterested. “Happy he’s got his mother’s money to milk dry. You’re gonna need somebody to pay your bills for you when you can’t keep a job because you keep showing up late.”

“You can’t fire me! This is my uncle’s bar! I can fire you!” she snapped.

“Doubt it, but go for it if that’s how you feel,” Lazarus said.

Candy didn’t answer, she stood her ground, clearly fuming from their exchange.

“You know, if you showed a little respect, you could have someone like me. But instead you insist on being insulting. You’ll never have the luxury of me on your side,” Candy said, her face actually red she’d worked herself up so much.

“It ain’t a contest, Candy. I’m just here ‘til the next option opens up. Until then, go back to your little office boyfriend. He’s soft and will fall for your manipulations. That’s the type you need, you can’t handle a real man, sweets. Anybody with any real bite and you’d run screaming for help.”

Lazarus knew he’d pushed her too far when her eyes flashed and she opened and closed her mouth because the words in her brain were flying faster than she could speak them. He did his best not to grin when she started rambling, giving him every bit of evidence he needed that Frederick was the same Frederick he’d been looking for.

“My man is not an office man, you fucking judgmental bastard. His mother is the head of a crime syndicate and he’s been running it for her for years! As soon as she has all her legal troubles cleared up, he’s taking over and then we’re getting married. He’s going to take care of me and I’ll never have to work in this stinking dive again! All I’ll have to do is be there for him and love him! He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me! You’ll see!”

Lazarus shook his head. “And I suppose you’ll have a family and live happily ever after.”

“He’s already got a little girl, and her mother is a piece of crap and in jail. She killed somebody! And she gave the kid up to some man Frederick doesn’t even know. His mother is going to find her, and then he’s getting her back and I’m going to help him take care of her and then we’ll have our own kids, too. My whole life is finally falling into place! You’ll see!” Candy yelled at him.

Lazarus leaned against the sink behind him as he looked at her. “Sounds like it’s all planned out,” he said.

“It is! Deciding to flirt with him was the best decision I’ve made. He’s strong, and he’s smart and he takes no shit! Anybody crosses him, they end up missing. He’ll take care of me and I’ll take care of him