Chapter 6 - The Brother Who Finally Stayed
Victor Hail’s empire collapsed in forty-eight hours.
The ledger contained everything.
Payments.
Shell companies.
Bribed officials.
Warehouse thefts.
Names Roman had trusted for years.
Victor tried negotiating.
Roman refused.
Tommy Sullivan tried blaming Victor.
Nobody believed him.
Raymond Cole talked first.
Then everyone started talking.
Sadi watched most of it from Roman’s breakfast room with a mug of coffee and a heating pad against her ribs.
Ben entered quietly.
“You look better.”
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
He sat across from her.
Sadi waited.
Ben rubbed his hands together.
“I’m leaving.”
She stared at him.
“Of course you are.”
“No. Not running.”
“Sounds like running.”
“I talked to Roman.”
“That sentence worries me.”
“He arranged a job.”
Sadi blinked.
“A real one?”
“Shipping office in Pittsburgh.”
“You hate Pittsburgh.”
“I’ve never been.”
“You said you hated it when the Steelers beat Baltimore.”
“That counts differently.”
Despite herself, she smiled.
Then it disappeared.
“You left me.”
Ben looked down.
“I know.”
“You knew Tommy might come after me.”
“I thought he’d scare you.”
“He nearly killed me.”
“I know.”
“No, Ben. Look at me.”
He did.
Tears filled his eyes.
Sadi didn’t soften.
“You don’t get to say sorry and disappear again.”
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I’m asking for the chance to become someone you might forgive later.”
That stopped her.
Ben continued.
“No cards. No betting. No borrowing. No charming my way out of rent. I work. I pay back what I legally owe. I call you every Sunday.”
Sadi stared at him.
“Every Sunday?”
“Even if you don’t answer.”
She nodded.
“That’s a start.”
Ben stood.
Then hesitated.
“Can I hug you?”
“My ribs say no.”
He laughed through wet eyes.
She held out her good hand.
Ben took it.
Later, Roman found Sadi on the terrace beneath an awning.
“You’re supposed to be resting.”
“I’ve been resting for three days. I’m becoming furniture.”
Roman stood beside her.
Rain fell beyond the stone railing.
Sadi glanced at him.
“You gave Ben a job.”
“He needs structure.”
“He needs a miracle.”
“Pittsburgh will do.”
She smiled.
Then her expression became serious.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you help him?”
Roman looked out at the rain.
“Because he came back.”
“He came back because you terrified him.”
“Motivation is motivation.”
She shook her head.
“That’s not the answer.”
Roman remained silent.
Sadi waited.
Finally he said, “My younger brother had Ben’s problem.”
She looked at him.
“Gambling?”
“Everything.”
“What happened?”
“I kept paying his debts.”
Sadi understood before he finished.
“You made it easy.”
“Yes.”
Roman’s jaw tightened.
“The last time I refused, he disappeared. I spent years wondering if refusing sooner would have saved him.”
“Did he die?”
Roman nodded once.
Sadi said nothing for a moment.
Then, “Ben isn’t him.”
“I know.”
“And I’m not your second chance.”
Roman turned toward her.
“I know that too.”
“Good.”
He almost smiled.
She studied him.
“What happens now?”
“To Victor?”
“To me.”
“You go home when Dr. Bennett clears you.”
“And after that?”
Roman’s eyes held hers.
“That depends on what you want.”
Sadi laughed quietly.
“Everybody keeps asking me that.”
“What’s wrong with asking?”
“I’m not used to having an answer.”
Roman leaned against the railing.
“You could go back to Dempsey’s.”
“It smells like onions.”
“You complained about my coffee.”
“Your coffee costs twenty dollars and tastes afraid of itself.”
Roman laughed.
Actually laughed.
Sadi stared.
“What?”
“I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Neither did Marcus.”
She smiled.
Then Roman said, “I have a restaurant.”
“Of course you do.”
“The Harbor Room.”
Sadi stared at him.
“The place with three-month reservations?”
“Yes.”
“What about it?”
“It needs a floor manager.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“This is pity.”
“No.”
“Charity?”
“No.”
“Guilt?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Roman looked at her.
“You walked into a garage with cracked ribs because you wanted the truth. You challenged my uncle in my own study. You locked him in a pantry with one good arm.”
Sadi shrugged carefully.
“It was a sturdy pantry.”
“You don’t scare easily.”
“I was terrified.”
Roman’s expression softened.
“That’s what courage actually is.”
She went quiet.
“So this is a job offer?”
“Yes.”
“And if I say no?”
“I’ll complain privately.”
“Very mature.”
“I’m evolving.”
Sadi held out her hand.
“Salary?”
Roman looked at it.
“You’re negotiating already?”
“I’m a waitress, not an idiot.”
He shook her hand.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.”
Neither let go immediately.
Sadi noticed.
Roman noticed her noticing.
Then Marcus opened the terrace door.
“Boss, we have a situation.”
Roman didn’t look away from Sadi.
“What?”
Marcus glanced between them.
“Apparently I have excellent timing.”
Sadi laughed.
Roman sighed.
“Terrible timing, Marcus.”
Marcus smiled.
May you like
“That’s what I thought.”
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