Page 13 of Black Sheep
“Because Tanya seems to think you won’t be able to hack it. She’s laying money on the fact that you won’t show up tomorrow.”
Heat, a direct result of the anger burning deep in my chest, floods my system. I clamp my teeth together to stop the words dying to spring forth and take a deep breath instead.
Cannon watches me closely, as if he’s observing every fleeting emotion I’m trying not to show on my face while I prepare a response that isn’tyour head waitress is a massive bitch who needs an attitude adjustment.
Apparently, Cannon is tired of waiting for me to reply, because he says, “She’s going to try to make you quit. I would’ve warned you, but that’s not how things work here. If you can’t handle her, you can’t handle the job.”
“I can handle her and the job,sir.” The emphasis on the last word comes through my clenched teeth.
Cannon leans back in his chair and crosses one ankle over a knee. “You’re stone cold, aren’t you, Drew? That’s a quality I don’t often see in women around here.”
“You don’t have many women around here, from what I’ve noticed,” I say, not sure what kind of reaction he’s fishing for.
“Women aren’t allowed to apply for membership to the Upper Ten. They’re only allowed in the club for special occasions, which take place two or three times per year. But that’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”
I lift my chin in challenge that comes naturally to me. I don’t know what his purpose is, but I’m not losing this job as soon as I got it.I need to be here.“What are we talking about, sir?”
“Cut thesirshit. My name is Cannon. No one here has ever called me sir and meant it with respect, so no one says it. Understand?”
“Yes, s—. I mean yes, Cannon.”
He uncrosses his ankle and shifts forward in his chair to lean his elbows on the desk. “Good. Because with brass balls like you’ve got, you’ll do well here. Win Tanya over, and you’ll do even better. It’s not your fault she hates you. She’d hate anyone in your position. That’s on me, but I’m not going to fix it for you.”
What a dick.He knows she’s pissed at him for their one-night stand, and he’s going to let her take it out on me? Asshole move.
My chin goes higher. “I’m not sleeping with you. I’m sure as soon as she understandsthat, we won’t have a problem.”
Cannon’s head jerks back and his eyes narrow on me.
Fuck.I shouldn’t have said that. If I was considering seduction as a last resort for information, I’ve jacked it up royally.
Cannon’s chest puffs out as his gaze bores into me. “Says who?” The words come out quiet and dangerous, and the heat that was rushing through my system from anger pools between my legs.
No. No. Seduction is a last resort. Not a first choice.I dump a mental bucket of ice water on my unruly lady parts and reinforce my bravado.
“Me. I don’t care if you screw every woman who walks in this door, but I won’t be on the list.”
A predatory smile stretches over his face, and holy hell, if that isn’t a good look for him, then I don’t know what is. My panties are a lost cause as his green-and-amber gaze catches and holds mine.
“Interesting.” He breaks our stare to push a piece of paper across the desk toward me, and when he looks up, there’s no trace of the intensity that was there a second ago.
Whoa. It’s like he changed his mask.The trick is impressive to me, wildly so, given my chosen occupation.
“In the meantime,” he says as I glance down at the paper, “here’s your schedule. You’re on days until your training is finished and we’ll ease you into the evenings. Club is open until two a.m., unless we have a special request from a member, in which case, we will stay open all night, if necessary.”
“Doesn’t the State Liquor Authority have a problem with that?” As soon as the question is out, I know it’s a stupid one.This is a mob establishment.
A smirk tugs at the corners of Cannon’s mouth. “You’ll find, Drew, that many rules that apply to everyone else don’t apply to us. But if you’re really concerned, the chairman of the SLA should be in tomorrow night. He enjoys his Cohibas.” He rises and waves toward the door. “You can show yourself out.”
8
Drew
Day two moves along much like day one, except I arrive fifteen minutes before the appointed time printed on my schedule. There are four pressed white shirts hanging on the door of my locker, and I change into one after stowing my bag. I’m on the floor a full five minutes before Tanya walks in the door.
If I thought she was in fine form yesterday, today’s mood is even worse. She barely speaks to me. I follow her silently, memorizing orders, and even correcting her once when she relays them to the kitchen staff. It doesn’t win me any favors.
At four, she has to leave to run an errand and appoints Letty my watchdog for the hour she’ll be gone. Cannon is nowhere to be found, and I’m starting to wonder if my grand idea of infiltrating the Casso family through one of their legitimate operations is going to work.
