4. Victor

Chapter four

Victor

D ean and I walk out of his office, then make our way down the hall toward the kitchen. He’s dressed in black slacks, a white button-up shirt with a tie. When I told him he needed to dress the part, he took my advice seriously. He’s standing tall with his shoulders held back. Dean’s come a long way.

“You’ve done a lot with this place since you took over. I’m proud of you.” Dean’s lips tip up in a smile and he shakes his head.

“Well, you kept me out of trouble. You helped me become the man I am today, and I’m thankful for it.”

I clap him on the back. He has changed a lot in the past four years. The guy I thought I was going to have to beat the shit out of has become a trusted business partner. He took over this restaurant two years ago and has turned it into one of the busiest restaurants in the city. It’s given me the time to focus on other projects I’m pursuing, like the pub I’m about to open and focusing more on commercial construction.

“My lawyer will be by tomorrow with the paperwork for you to sign.”

He walks with me to the door of the kitchen and shakes my hand. “Thank you for selling me this place. I love it here. I’m hoping once I have another year or two of experience, I can open another restaurant in town.”

Pushing the door open, I glance at him. “Don’t wait too long. You’ve been handling this restaurant just fine for two years. Time is short, so go after what you want.”

We say our goodbyes and I glance around the restaurant one more time before leaving. My eyes land on a young woman that has slick black hair. She’s with a blonde and redhead. I watch her closely. Something about her mannerisms seems familiar. I study her as I take a step in her direction, letting the door close again, hoping she’ll turn toward me so I can get a better view. It looks like she and the redhead are consoling the blonde. She sits back, tucks her chin slightly, and turns her head. Even before I see her profile, I know it’s her.

“Olivia,” I whisper as I walk closer.

I haven’t seen her since that lunch with her and Donovan. My ribs grow tight as I think of all the things I could have done differently. I hold my breath as my eyes rake over her. She has become a beautiful woman, a far cry from the girl I used to know. Before I know it, my feet have carried me to her table.

My eyes take everything in about her. She’s safe. My muscles relax at the realization. I’m still not convinced that Donovan didn’t do something to her. After everything I’ve learned about him, I wouldn’t be surprised. He may have acted nonchalant a couple of months ago when I spoke to him, but I don’t trust him. How can he not know she’s in this town?

“Olivia?”

Her attention slowly turns to me. Her eyes grow wide and she swallows. She’s breathtaking. Her long black hair, ivory skin, and ocean blue eyes make me forget to breathe for a moment. The sounds of the restaurant fade into the background. I can’t take my eyes off her. I release a long breath as I take her in. My eyes slowly take in every angle of her face.

“Victor, hi. Hello!” Her cheeks flush a bright pink, and her hand comes up to her slender throat. My eyes land on her pulse and I wonder what it would feel like against my lips. What would it look like with my collar wrapped around it? What the hell? I force myself to look away from her and look around the table at her friends. “Ummm… This is Victor.” She motions to me quickly, then to her friends. “Victor, these are my best friends, Ansley and Caroline.”

She won’t look me in the eye and I don’t like it. “I asked your stepfather about you the other day. He acted like he didn’t know where you were.”

She’s in the same town we had lunch in every month, the same town he’s infiltrated with his drug and human trafficking. There’s no way he doesn’t know where she’s at. Was he acting like he didn’t know to see what I knew? I take a step back when Olivia shoves her chair back. She clenches her jaw and balls her hands into fists as she glances around the restaurant. I want to pull her into my arms to ease whatever thoughts are going through her mind right now, but from her posture I know it wouldn’t be accepted. I rock back on my heels to keep myself in place. What the hell did he do to her and why wasn’t I there to stop him?

“He wouldn’t. Would he?” She studies me like she’s trying to figure out if he would know where she’s at.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

I take a step toward her, still considering wrapping her in my arms, but she steps back, stumbling over her chair. She glances around the restaurant again, looking anywhere but at me. She’s terrified that he could be here, that he found her. I begin to plan how I’m going to kill Donovan.

“Yes. Everything is fine.” She’s lying. “Do not tell my stepfather you saw me.” Her eyes finally land on mine. She pulls her lips between her teeth as she begs without begging. I rub my hand along my beard, needing to do something with my hands when all I want to do is comfort her and assure her she’s safe.

“Of course,” I finally respond.

Olivia turns abruptly and stalks off. I glance at her friends, but other than a slight glance in my direction, they chase after her. I look around the restaurant to see if we attracted any attention, but other than a few glimpses, no one was truly looking, all too involved in their own conversations.

She has no idea I’ve been worried about her for four years. I should have tried harder. I should have let Leo dig more. Heading in the direction the girls went, I stop in front of the restroom, assuming this is where they ended up. I stand outside the door to wait. I’m not leaving without knowing if Olivia is okay, even if I have to go into the bathroom myself. The blonde comes rushing out, almost running into me. I barely give her a glance as my eyes stay focused on the door, hoping Olivia will come out.

“Is she okay?” I ask. I see her shake her head out of the corner of my eye.

“You won’t tell her stepfather you saw her, will you?”

I glance at her briefly before my attention returns to the bathroom door, willing Olivia to walk out and shake my head. “I don’t speak to her stepfather anymore.”

She wrings her hands and exhales a long breath. Does she know something? “But she said you were his best friend. And you just said you asked him about her the other day.”

The other day. The other day was a couple of months ago. I’ve upset her for a poor choice of words. I roll my shoulders realizing that Olivia isn’t coming out of the bathroom, so I turn my full attention to the girl, Caroline I think?

“I was. Was being the important word there. And we had unfinished business I had to take care of, so I asked him about her.” My mind begins to race, trying to figure out a way to get in touch with Olivia again, or giving her a way to contact me.

Will she want to talk to me? I rub my hand across my neck. Why didn’t I notice something was wrong when we had our monthly lunches? Why didn’t I push Leo or Malachi harder to find her? Because something is obviously not right. I was so wrapped up in everything I was going through, then healing and trying to get over all that shit. I shake those thoughts away so I can focus.

“Assure her I will not tell her stepfather.” I pull out my business card and hand it to her. “Please give that to her and tell her she can call me anytime she needs to.”

She reaches for the card and glances between it and me. I stare at her for a few more seconds, nod, and walk away. If I don’t walk away, I’ll barge into the bathroom to try to get Olivia to talk to me now, and she’s clearly not ready. I find their server, pay for their meal, and leave. I hope she calls me. Now that I know she’s in this city, I will find her and I’ll make sure Donovan doesn’t.