Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I was waiting when Aldo stepped into the room with Connor. How he got him there, I had no idea, but Connor suspected nothing until he saw me and viewed the enclosed room. He paled and stopped walking.
“You’ve been busy,” I stated, crossing my arms.
Connor tried to bluff, then became belligerent and, finally, teary and pleading. I let him dig his own grave, not speaking, listening, watching. Silence always unnerved the guilty. It worked with him, and he admitted to stealing money. He even told me how he did it.
Aldo totaled up the sum of what we estimated he had stolen and presented it to him. Connor swallowed, straightening his shoulders. “I can’t pay you back. I don’t have it.”
“Where is it?” I asked, my voice cold. Unfeeling.
His bravado disappeared. “I used it to pay my sister’s tuition and living expenses. She’s going to be a doctor. When my parents died last year, they had no insurance. It took everything they left to bury them and pay off their debts. It’s my responsibility to help her. I was desperate—she’d worked so hard to get into medical school. I only did it until I had the money. Check the past couple of weeks. I haven’t taken a dime!”
Internally, I cursed at his words. His excuse and his request. He hadn’t brought a bottle into the bar the past while. But that didn’t justify his theft.
“So, your excuse is it was a limited time? What about when she needs it next year? The year after?” Aldo snapped.
Connor shook his head. “I got another job—days. I’m saving all that money for her.” He turned to me, pleading. “I didn’t want to, Mr. Costas. I didn’t think you’d miss it.” His eyes were terrified. He swallowed. “Please make it fast. Make it look like an accident so my sister gets my insurance.” He hung his head.
“You should have come to me. Asked me,” I snapped.
“I didn’t think you would care.”
“So instead, you stole?”
He nodded, not meeting my gaze.
I met Aldo’s eyes. He nodded at the tablet he was holding. He’d asked for all the information on Connor’s sister’s education and the supposed debt, verifying it. I had no idea about either issue, but then again, I never got involved in my employees’ personal lives. Aldo lifted a shoulder in deference. He knew the decision on punishment was mine.
I wavered again. My pause surprised both of us. I couldn’t let this go—we all knew it. Connor had stolen from me. He needed to pay for what he had done. It was simple in my world. You did the crime, you paid the consequences.
But he was a kid. Desperate to help his sister. That did count for something. Because it was family.
That was the word that won out.
“I’m not going to kill you,” I informed him. “I don’t murder people for being stupid.”
“What do you do, then?” he asked.
“You will pay your debt plus interest. You’ll no longer keep your tips. You will be monitored closely. You quit your other job, and you’ll work here exclusively—under watch. If I think, even suspect, you are skimming, stealing, taking advantage, there will be no other chances. You will forfeit something you cannot get back.”
Connor’s eyes widened.
“My life?” he asked.
“Don’t find out.”
“I won’t.” He paused. “So, that’s it?” he asked, relief making him stupid. “The rumors of the scary Roman Costas were just that? Rumors?” He blew out a breath. “Kinda funny—”
He never finished his sentence. He screamed as his arm snapped, and I pushed him into the wall, holding him by the throat.
“Don’t push it, boy,” I hissed. “I’m holding back by a thread. Say one more word, and you will not walk out of here. You hear me?”
He nodded, unable to speak with my hand wrapped around his throat. I tightened my grip, my anger getting the better of me. I smashed my fist into the wall by his head, and I held his eyes. “One more squeeze and you’re done. Do we have an understanding?”
He blinked, unable to move or speak. I let him go, and he crumpled to the floor, gasping for air and crying. He wet himself, the scent of the urine hitting me.
I shook my head. “Get your arm fixed. Be grateful it was your left one so you can still work. Be doubly grateful it wasn’t your neck.”
I headed for the door. “Tony will take you to the doctor. Don’t make me regret this.”
I walked past Tony in the hall. His bruising was still evident from the beating he’d taken from me, but he was walking. “Take care of it.”
Aldo’s phone rang as we stepped into the elevator. I was angry. Pissed with myself. Furious for the reason. Goddamn Effie had gotten into my head. It had to stop.
“What?” I snapped as he held the phone from his ear.