Chapter 4 Still beautiful and sexy

Brandon's Pov

When the car pulled up to the bar, I could see it was already crawling with drunk idiots. I had had a hellacious day, and came here looking for some kind of escape, but it was looking like that wasn't going to happen.

The audit at the warehouse had somehow gone awry and Herrera had extended the cease-and-desist order. Apparently, we failed some kind of health department inspection, and now I had to wait 3 fucking business days to get another guy out there to clear us. This bullshit was really starting to wear on me. I had much bigger things to worry about than Herrera, especially if he wanted to pussyfoot around what he was really after. The bastard was an inexperienced pig, looking to make a name for himself. Problem was, he didn't have the balls to do that. Instead, he wanted to pin me against the wall with bogus violations and try to interfere in our business in the most disgustingly passive aggressive way I had ever seen. That wasn't how we usually handled business. If he wanted to take us down, he was going to need a plan that was a hell of a lot better than the one he currently had. Yeah, the factory being shut down for a few days decreased business a little bit, but in the grand scheme of things, it was minimal. It was more irritating than anything. At this rate, we'd all be dead before he dug up anything substantial on us.

"You like the dress? I bought it especially for you.' Cass intertwined her fingers in mine, drawing my attention back to reality.

"It's great." I said, trying not to appear as distracted as I was. Cass was pretty and all, but she wasn't the brightest bulb in the box. I had been upfront with her from the beginning that I didn't want anything more than a good fuck from her, but yet she still jumped every time I called. It was somewhat pitiful actually, but not enough to stop me from calling. I realized how cold that made me seem, but my heart had been hardened a long time ago.

Tonight, I needed Cass to take my mind off of everything. Cass and a bottle of my brother's best whiskey.

The car dropped us off up front, and Cass and I headed inside. The hostess recognized me right away and took us to a roped off bottle service area in the back. Jav and few of our other guys were already there.

"Hey man." I grinned, pulling him into a hug.

"How'd it go today?" He asked, pouring a glass of whiskey from the bottle on the table and sliding it towards me.

"Let's not talk shop tonight, I'm just here for a good time."

"Good deal, man." He grinned. "How's it going, Cass?"

"Hi Javier." She smiled. "Babe, can you get me some champagne?" Cass whined, flopping herself down on the couch and smirking up at me. She knew I hated when she called me that.

"Sure. I'll be right back." I ducked out of the area and towards the bar, hoping to run into Alex anyway.

He was behind the bar with Rolo and did a double take when he saw me.

"Brandon. Hey." Pure shock was on his face. "What are you doing here tonight? I thought you'd be working."

"Herrera shut the factory down for a health code violation. I needed an outlet." I grumbled, sliding onto the bar stool. "We're up in the back with Jav and the guys."

"We?" He arched his eyebrow at me.

"Cass."

"You've got Cass here tonight?" His eyes widened.

"Yeah," He was acting strange. "Is that a problem?"

"No, not at all. I just thought you were done with her."

"Yeah, well, we've all got needs." I chuckled. "What the fuck are you doing back here? Haven't you hired a bartender yet?"

Alex let out a sharp laugh. "Funny you should ask... Hey, I've got a little surprise for you upstairs."

"I hate surprises." I glared, sipping on my whiskey.

"You're gonna love this one. Trust me." I could immediately tell he was hiding something from me by the way he chuckled.

"You better not be fucking with me. I'm not in the mood for it tonight." I snarled.

"Just get your ass upstairs. Come find me after." He grinned, hurrying away and getting back to work. Yeah, he definitely had something up his sleeve.

I had half a mind to just go back to Cass and not worry about his shit, but I was curious nonetheless. As I got to the top of the stairs, I heard a woman scream and immediately my steps quickened.

I threw the door open to see Dante hovering over some poor girl. "What the hell is going on in here?"

Dante backed away quickly and the girl began to slowly turn around. When she did, all the air was sucked out of my lungs. No. It couldn't be. It couldn't be her. She was long gone; I hadn't heard from her in years. There was no way this was Sadie.

Her eyes met mine and it was even harder to deny. Those sexy dark brown eyes that held each and every one of my dreams. Her dark hair hung loosely on her shoulders and all I could think about was the way it used to look splayed out on my bed. Legs for days, that used to wrap tightly around my waist as she screamed my name. She was the same old Sadie, but something was different--something slightly off with her. Her lip quivered as if she was scared of me, cowering back against the wall, and I fought every urge in my body to not run to her and scoop her up in my arms. To tell her it was okay, that she didn't need to be scared. That I loved her and would protect her. God, I had missed her, it was pointless to deny it. All the animosity I had harbored these last few years towards her clashed with my need to touch her, to feel her, to own her body and mind again.

"Boss. This is Alex's new bartender. I was just checking for a wire." He defended.

Sadie glared at him, but kept her mouth shut. The only thing I was sure of right now was that Dante was taking advantage of her. And no matter what was going on, that was one thing I wouldn't fucking stand for. I absolutely hated this kind of violence against women.

"That's how you check for a wire? Practically assaulting her in my office?" I hissed, slamming the door behind me with such force it almost came off of its hinges. There were a million emotions running through my body right now, but anger and rage were winning out.

"What else am I supposed to do?"

I let out a sharp laugh. "Maybe start with asking?"

Dante dropped his eyes, moving out of my way as I approached Sadie.

I locked my eyes on her, searching for some kind of answer in them. What was she doing here? Why did Dante think she was Alex's new bartender? Was this the surprise Alex had been talking about? Gently, I put my finger to her chin, forcing her to look up at me. Her eyes were dark and mysterious, the light that used to be in them long gone as she dared me to get closer to her. I could tell she wanted to jerk away from my touch, but the stubborn side of her won out, like it always did. She would never admit defeat. "Ms. Sorento, are you wearing a wire?"

"No." Her lips parted, her voice so quiet she was practically whispering.

I shrugged, breaking contact and backing away before I took it any further like my body wanted me to. "Good enough for me."

"How do we know she's not lying?" Dante asked through clenched teeth.

I grinned, eyeing her carefully. "Because Sadie knows what happens to people who cross the Avenetti family, isn't that right, princess?"