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“Good. Now, let me tell you how fucking glad I am to see you.”
He was hugged again, just as tightly. “I’m glad too, Uncle Dante.”
“Let’s go work some shit out to get people into this place.”
Sel sighed then agreed, “Whatever I need to do, Uncle Dante. I’m ready.”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, I think you are.”
Chapter Six
Dante looked over all the men gathered around what was his yard for the time being, noticing some could use a long nap, so he decided to keep it short. “I’ve proposed to Nathan, Mark, and Binx the positions I’d like you to have here at the resort. As you can see,” he said, nodding to the house he’d share with Blaine and the dogs. “We’re not up and running yet. Roland Brady is the architect, and he’s drawn up all the plans except for a few. I’ve given him a heads up that there will be a few more full houses to be built for special sub-contractors here.”
Nathan held up a hand, like Dante expected. “Hang on, sub-contractors? Is that what we’d be?”
“I’ve run the numbers past all my accountants. You’d make more, and I’d save more doing it that way. For example, the restaurant would be Binx’s to run. He can lease the building, hire the staff, make the menu. The only addendum to the lease is that it looks like an old west dining establishment.”
Binx’s eyes were round as saucers, but he was smiling. “All mine? Like…all mine?”
“Binx, don’t get ahead of yourself,” Mark suggested.
“No, I get it. I’d have more control,” Binx said. “Of course, we’ll talk about it, the three of us, but I’m not getting ahead of anything.”
Mark nodded with a smile that showed he was surprised at Binx’s reasoning.
“The church would be the same?”
Dante nodded to Mark. “It would, except, as a part of the town, you would get a cut of more than what you’d collect in your plates. I really can’t say how many will attend, Mark. We have yet to figure out how that would work, but you won’t be working for nothing.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m not in this for the money. I’m here more in support for Binx and Nathan, frankly. A new church, well, that is wonderful, and I’ll make the best of it, three parishioners or ten.”
“Very nice of you, Mark, but none of us are going to bed hungry, if I can help it. I want this place to be profitable, as well as comfortable. We’re building a town for us, gay men. The world is once again trying to squeeze us back into the closet, and I, for one, won’t allow it.”
Nathan started his inquiry with a hearty thanks. “We worry about it all the time, Dante. To know we’re safe here, that would be wonderful. Safety, jobs we love, it all sounds wonderful.” Then he got down to business. “The leases…how much are we paying for them? I could have two splinters a month to pull, or I could have more. I’d like to pay the lease on a sliding scale. That way neither of us is out anything.”
Dante was shocked. “Meaning, if you are needed for something more than…a splinter, your lease is free that month?”
The sly smile he wore showed that he knew exactly what he was getting into. He would patch up gunshot wounds and he’d forget about calling the cops.
“Exactly.”
Dante nodded even as he laughed, but he saw Lonnie eyeing him sternly. The cop, always the cop. “Lonnie Walton, is this going to bump your conscience?”
“I’m here to support my friends and watch out for their safety. That’s all. As far as my job at home? I’m currently off the clock.”
Dante laughed but said, “Well, Sheriff, I’d like your input on the problem we’ve had here, if you could give enough time to check it out. I haven’t forgotten all you did for Brett. You have a good head for investigating.”
It didn’t take a second for Travis to add a caveat to that. “Without throwing him in danger, that is, Dante.”
“Of course not, Travis. I don’t want anyone in danger. I simply want him to look over the facts we have and give us a threat assessment.”
“I’d be happy to do that, Dante,” Lonnie agreed. “But the moment I see danger for my friends, whether from this murderer or from…anyone here, I’m pulling them home.”
“That’s a deal, Lonnie. I will do the same for my people. This entire thing is contingent on everyone being safe. My nephew and husband are here. I’d sooner pluck out my own eyes than to have either in danger.”
Binx bounced in his seat. “When do I get to see the plans for the restaurant?”
“I’ll set up a meeting with Roland tomorrow, if that’s soon enough. He’s drawn up the outside, but the inside is up to you, Binx.”
