Page 105 of The Killer Card

“Come,” Nathan repeats slowly. “Work. For. Me.”

“I’m better than desk work but not better than waiting tables?! Nothing wrong with it, but I have law degree, Nathan. I should use it—"

“Not as a waitress!” He whisper yells. “As a fucking managing partner! Jesus Christ, you know everything about the place, just come work there! With you managing the day-to-day operations we’ll be expanding within the year.”

He’s not wrong. I practically lived at The Pink Flamingo when I was in Lightning Cove. I played Nathan when he wasn’t around, worked with Gavin to get all the books in order. The club ran like a well-oiled machine under my leadership.

“Wait, Gavin is your operations manager?”

“Right… That reminds me,” Nathan hums, then I hear a door open again. Very quietly his whispers, “Gavin, baby?”

“Mmm?” A man’s voice grumbles.

“You’re fired.”

“What….?”

“Go back to sleep.” The door opens and closes again, then Nathan says a little louder. “There. Now you’re my operations manager. Welcome aboard—”

“I haven’t agreed to the position yet!”“But you will. Because you hate Boston. You miss your friends. And you love a particularly attractive young man—”

“He’s older than you—”

“Who would fight the world for you. Which, I shouldn’t have to remind you, is hot as fuck.”

“It is…” I agree.

But can I really just uproot my life for the vibes?

Can I really just go back to Boston, quit everything I’ve been working the last three years to build, and return to Lightning Cove just to work for my brother? Make my degree only partially useful? Throw away every expectation my father set for me?

I was meant to follow in his footsteps- lawyer to judge to mayor to governor to senator. Eventually I would run for president or the supreme court. I would schmooze my way through politicians, make a marriage deal based entirely on status and not love the man a day in my life.

Or I can be with someone who looks at me like I’m a queen. Someone who may not supply any opportunities of advancement but will always support my choices. Someone who has a less than stellar record with the law but makes me feel safer than any bodyguard or security agent hired to my father’s events.

My father will never approve of Graham, but he might learn to find him amusing. Eventually…

“Dad is going to be mad…” I mutter, picking invisible lent from my skirt.

There’s a smile in Nathan’s voice. “Is that a yes?”

I remember all the days and nights I pushed Graham away only for him to return time after time with nothing but love in his eyes. I think of the concern he’s worn every day since he arrived. I imagine all the days ahead when he’ll worship me, and support me, and never hesitate to come when I call.

“It’s an I’ll think about it—"

“YES!”

“What the fuck?!” There’s a thud on the other end of the line that can only be Gavin rolling out bed, shocked awake by my brother’s shouting. “Nathan Mychal!”

“MY SISTER IS COMING HOME!”

“I said I’d think about it!” I protest.

“That’s great, baby… Wait…”

“Shit—” Nathan curses under his breath.

“DID YOU FUCKING FIRE ME?!”