AllFreeNovel
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I take a sip and… “Damn.” There are notes of citrus, mint, honey, and, the star of the show: dulcet tones of Adamov gin.
“It’s strong, but I don’t skimp on the alcohol,” Rurik explains. “Especially when it’s this good.”
“I’m glad my label has you inspired.”
Rurik dips his head to me and turns to Dom. “By the way, the new guy? He’s doing okay. He has an attitude, but he’s thorough.”
I turn to Dominik, and he answers my question before I can even ask. “Jasper. I put him to work.”
“As a barback?” I grimace.
“We’ve all worked our way up from the bottom,” says Dom coldly. “He may be your favorite, but he’s not mine.”
“So this is you righting the scales?” I ask. “You’re gonna treat him like shit because you think I’m too easy on him?”
“No, this is me testing your theory that Jasper has turned over a new leaf,” he fires back. “If he has, then grunt work isn’t going to scare him.”
Gritting my teeth, I turn back to the bar. “Fine. Let me know how he?—”
“I heard you the first time, damn, man!” Jasper calls over his shoulder as he rushes around the corner, lugging a huge crate of bottles. “I’ve only got two hands!”
In his anger, he doesn’t see Rurik, so he’s as shocked as anyone when he slams into Rurik’s back, dropping the crate in the process. Glass shatters, liquid shoots up in a geyser, and Rurik roars out a curse.
“Fucking hell, man, that was The Liquid Gold! It’s our most expensive whiskey!” Rurik eyes the damage. “How many bottles is that?”
The man Jas was calling to, Anton, comes around the corner and clicks his tongue at the destroyed crate. “‘Only two hands’? More like two left feet.”
Jasper’s upper lip puckers. The two hands in question fist at his sides. I’ve known him long enough to know that Anton better get the fuck out of the way before he’s bleeding on the ground.
Before reckless fists can fly, Dom clears his throat. “I guess this assignment isn’t going to work out either, is it, Jazzy boy?”
Jasper’s eyes slide from Anton to Dominik. Then to me. His brow twitches as he comes over. “You had to pick today of all days to show up.”
“Decided to put on a show for me?” I try to tease, but the mood is tense.
“That’s all this is: a show. I should be doing a legitimate job!” he snarls. “But your little bitch of a lapdog here keeps insisting on giving me these fucking bullshit roles?—”
“Because you haven’t yet proved that you’re responsible or capable enough to handle anything important,” Dom interrupts.
“I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me!”
“I don’t remember asking you to break a dozen bottles of Liquid Gold. That crate alone is worth over ten grand. Once you’ve paid off your debts, you can repay Arsen for the?—”
“That’s enough, Dominik.” I step in between the two men and push them apart. “Go to the back and check inventory. We should have plenty more Liquid Gold.”
Dominik throws me an aggravated glare before stalking off towards the staff area.
I turn to Jasper. “You won’t get on Dom’s good side talking to him like that.”
Jas’s chin is high and proud. “I was defending myself.”
“You don’t have to defend yourself against your brother.”
His eyes drop. He wrings his hands like he doesn’t know what to do with them. “You’re right. It’s just… fucking Dominik. The man gets to me.”
“Anton and Rurik must have the same talent then.”
He flushes. “They’ve been riding me all day.”
