32. Nash

Chapter 32

Nash

“ D id you see this, boss?” Marcus asks as he plops down some mail on my desk when I look up from my laptop.

It’s been a few days since the festival, and I’m going through emails, paying bills for the business, and putting in an order.

“What is it?” I ask as I slide on my glasses and pick up a letter on the top of the stack.

Marcus crosses his arms and waits, looking pissed.

I scan the notice, and anger fills me. “What the hell?”

It’s a certified notice saying that our liquor license is in question, and we have been identified as an establishment accused of serving minors.

“That’s not true,” Marcus bites out, looking defensive. He crosses his arms, shaking his head .

“I know,” I agree. “I will give you one guess where this stems from. It’s another attack from the Sullivans.”

“Well, it’s war because I won’t risk my job. I didn’t ask for any of this.” Marcus shakes his head angrily.

“I’ll handle this,” I say as I run a hand down my face and over my jaw.

Marcus gets back to work, but I can tell he’s worried. We’ve never had anything like this happen. My staff has always been extra diligent at checking IDs, and we’ve never served anyone underage. This is complete and utter Sullivan-manufactured bullshit.

I’m sick of this guy. He’s coming for Everly, her job, the library, and now my pub. I’ve worked too damn hard to build a legacy for me and my future family for this guy to come in and mess it up. He had a chance to have a family, and he threw it away. I’ll be damned if he messes up what I’ve worked hard to build here.

Richie thinks that the more he throws at us, the more inclined we are to give up and wave our white flag in surrender. But what he doesn’t realize is that the more he tries to ruin and hurt my family, the more ammunition and determination that gives me. The more I’m ready to go to war for them.

I grab my keys and head out.

It wasn’t hard to find him. He was at the country club with his parents having lunch when I stormed through the club, heads turning as they watched me approach their table.

Recognition passes his face when he sees me across the room coming toward him, and then his face darkens. “How did you get in here?” Richie practically spits out as I stop in front of their table.

“Coming for my pub? Really?” I look at their faces as they shift uncomfortably in their chairs, looking around to see who is watching them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Richard clips as he tries to sit up straighter in his chair, shifting nervously.

“Oh, I think you do,” I say casually.

“You need to leave,” Brenda Sullivan hisses in a whisper, looking around embarrassed.

People are watching, and judging by the pursed lips and shaking heads, they are sick of the Sullivans too.

“No, I’m good. You see, I don’t think you realize what you’re doing. You’re going to sink your ship and never come back from this,” I say in an even tone, watching Richie and Richard exchange a look.

They know exactly what I’m talking about.

“Everly and I are together. We’re a family. I will be around Willow, and I will show up for her and take care of both. I won’t tolerate any disrespect toward either of them or anyone else in my family. You better wrap your head around this. Because this isn’t going to end well for any of you. Do you understand?” I ask as I look at all their faces and take note that they’re all refusing to make eye contact with me .

“You will lose everything,” Richard mutters angrily. “I’ll stop at nothing to destroy you.”

“Consider this your final warning,” I reply quietly, unable to contain a sadistic calm and eerie grin.

I turn and head out to my truck and realize that if the Sullivans are going to stand in my way, they’re in for the fight of their life. I will stop at nothing to keep Everly and Willow safe.

I take Everly and Anne Marie lunch at the library, which isn’t technically supposed to be open, yet they’re still there and strictly volunteering. But hopefully, that will all be fixed soon.

I think about everything they’ve put Everly through and see how strong Everly is. She had to start a whole new life by herself and make herself happy again because the two men in her life who were supposed to protect her failed her.

“Hi!” she calls as she comes from around the desk and reaches up to kiss me, taking a bag from my arms. “What’s all this?”

“Lunch. Figured you might be hungry.” I shrug as I set down a carrier of drinks and another bag.

“This was sweet,” Anne Marie says as she motions for us to have a seat at one of the big tables.

“I heard about what happened with your liquor license,” Everly says, looking concerned. “What does this mean for the pub?”

I shrug. “It’s been a mess. I think we’ll be okay for now, but it was just another way the Sullivans were trying to start trouble. ”

Her face darkens, and I slide her drink over to her. “It’ll be fine. I think things will blow over soon.”

“What do you mean?” she asks. “It feels like we’re all under attack here.”

“I think you were right. The Sullivans are in over their head with this arena investment. Investors are backing out, and it turns out the Sullivans are broke and need money,” I say as I take a fry.

I’m going to figure out how to make sure they stay out of our way. I’m not sure how yet, but I will figure this out.