Midnight Vigilante, Leonor Bass [top business books of all time .TXT] 📗

gotten into a real fight with someone stronger than her she had bled, broken two ribs, and carried more bruises than she could count. The doctor who had helped her was part of Santino’s crew, which was a plus since he never asked where and how she got hurt so badly. In the days that followed, her husband had taken care of her dearly, making sure she was healing properly and safely.

When her wounds had healed, Santino’s training continued. He taught her new, effective techniques that she hadn’t had the chance to learn before. Though it had been very different from the fight she had gotten into now; she didn’t have to use a gun back then, and nobody had died either.

This time Riley didn’t have friends to help heal her wounds. She couldn’t go to the hospital, either, with the fear she would be asked questions whose answers she didn’t have. Her options were nonexistent, so the only thing to do was dust herself off and move on, ignoring her throbbing headache and the metallic taste of blood on her mouth.

It was that simple in theory, yet very difficult in practice. She donned makeup, something she hadn’t worn in years, to cover her bruises until they faded.

Upon arriving to work, Riley attempted to act as casually as possible. “Good morning, Paige.”

“Good morning. What’s this?” Paige asked, touching Riley’s face and looking at her fingers, stained with something creamy and light brown.

“That’ll be concealer. You know, makeup,” Riley said with a laugh.

Paige wiped her fingers on a towel and crossed her arms. “Yeah, a concealer you used to cover up those nasty bruises you have. Did you fight with somebody?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Then what’s with the bruises?”

“I tripped when I was at home. I’m using makeup because I knew you would ask me questions, but now I see I didn’t to a very good job,” Riley commented.

“Those are not bruises made by a fall. Those are from a fight. Cut the bullshit with me, Riley. I’ve seen enough people trying to cover injures like this. What did you do?”

Riley sighed heavily. Paige might have caught her on her lie, but she wasn’t about to tell that she had murdered two men the night before, nor that she wasn’t going to stop until the threat was eliminated.

To Riley’s relief, Mr. Eaton walked toward them, interrupting their conversation.

“We have a problem. I can’t find someone to deliver the wines on time, and if we don’t, we’re gonna lose the best customer we have,” Mr. Eaton said in a huff, as if they knew what he meant.

“I’m sure you can find someone. Maybe one of the boys can do it?” Paige asked and for some reason avoided Riley’s gaze.

“I can do it,” Riley immediately offered. Mr. Eaton smiled, but Paige didn’t look pleased at all.

“Perfect. Since Dimitri has to take care of the deliveries here, and you need to stay behind the bar, Riley would be of great assistance for this delivery run,” Mr. Eaton said.

“No, she can’t. Someone has to stay with me behind the bar, and you know this . . .man always asks for someone to stay with him,” Paige told him, carefully avoiding saying whoever’s name she couldn’t say.

“I’m sorry, but who is this guy you’re talking about?” Riley asked.

“Julius Martinson,” Mr. Eaton replied “He needs someone to waitress at his parties, besides taking the wines up to his house.”

“I’ll go then. Like I said, I don’t have a problem with that,” Riley replied quickly, understanding Paige’s reaction.

“No, you don’t have to. I’m certain my dad will find someone else. Right, Dad?” Paige prompted, her final words pleading.

“I already told you, there’s no one else. I can’t go, and neither can you. If Riley is offering, then I’ll take her up on it,” Mr. Eaton responded.

“Good. I’ll go as soon as you want me to, sir.” Riley replied.

“No, you won’t,” Paige interfered. Her father just frowned at her, but she ignored him and turned to Riley. “I know what you’re trying to do and I won’t let you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Riley replied, but Paige kept standing in the way and she found herself unable to communicate with her boss.

“Paige, if Riley has been kind enough to assist us, I don’t know what the problem is?” Mr. Eaton asked her, though he didn’t wait for a reply.

“Dad–”

“She’s just worried, sir. Paige thinks I need more rest after my sister’s passing, but I already told her I’m okay. Besides, this will be a great opportunity for a distraction,” Riley told him. Paige just narrowed her eyes, already reading the true intentions in her words.

“Perfect, you’ll be the new replacement for the old girl. I’ll settle everything so you can take all the things today,” Mr. Eaton said and disappeared at the back of the bar. Riley tried as hard as she could to not smile widely or look remotely as happy as she truly was. Paige took the opportunity to get things straight with her while her father wasn’t listening.

“I know what you’re trying to do and I’m not gonna let you, do you hear me?” Paige spoke with a harsh tone. Riley frowned at her tone.

“First, you’re not the boss of me, all right? Second, I have no idea what you’re even talking about. And third, what are you gonna do, lock me up?”

“Don’t patronize me, Riley. I know you think Julius killed Lydia and this is the perfect opportunity to hurt him. I won’t let you get in trouble because of that man. He’s not worth it,” Paige advised, but Riley was taking none of that. She had already set a plan, one that she wasn’t going to share with Paige.

“Would you look at that? You just gave me an idea; you see, I’ll walk into his house, bottle in hand, and just throw one of them at his head and BOOM! Julius is dead. But wait! While he lies on the floor I might also