Standing By (Road House) by Stevens Madison

Author:Stevens, Madison [Stevens, Madison]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Romance novella
Published: 2013-05-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The cell on the counter of the bookstore chimed for the millionth time that day. Pan had managed to ignore every other time but refused to turn the damn thing off. Iris was resting at her home with Luc. Going to the appointment yesterday had taken a toll on her. Pan worried that Iris might need to get a hold of her. Besides, she wasn’t going to let that jerk stop her from having access to her phone.

The tinkle of bells could just barely be heard over the phone.

“Is that my dumbass brother?” Pan was so happy to see Nic looking much better. A deep cut on his lip and bruise on his cheekbone were the only signs something had happened to him. That night he had seemed so pale in comparison to his normal deep olive coloring.

Pan slipped the phone in her pocket.

“He is sorry you know.” Nic came over the counter and plopped down on the stool next to her.

She nodded. He might be sorry, but she just couldn’t deal with him.

“You seem to be looking better. How’s the eye?” She reached out and gently touched the bruise.

“Oh, nothing I can’t take.” Nic puffed out his chest, and Pan had to bite her cheek to keep for snickering.

“I’m sure.”

Nic grinned at the mild ego stroking but faltered when the phone starting to ring again. Pan pulled it out and put it on vibrate. At least she wouldn’t have to hear the thing.

“This is all our dad’s fault.”

“What is?” Pan stared at his downcast face.

“All of this.” Nic waved to the phone. “Emilio told mama that night that he couldn’t be with you because of everything.”

Pan fumbled. Emilio had said almost the same thing to her at the bar.

“Why?” she didn’t want to ask. She wanted to hear it from Emilio, but the thought of talking to him twisted her heart.

“When papa and mama met, they came from two different worlds. Mama’s family was old-school Italian. Wanted her to marry a nice boy from the block. They had come here and started a butcher store. Then opened several others. It’s not like they were rich, but they had money.” Pan was awed by how distant he seemed from them. Like they were strangers.

“My father stopped in one day, and it was all over. They fell in love instantly. Mama said it was like movie. Well, her folks didn’t like it. They vowed to disown her if she married him. In a year they were married. Mama hasn’t seen them since.” Pan’s heart ached for Mama Diaz.

“But papa wasn’t quite the man Mama thought.” Nic twisted in his seat. “You have to understand. He’s not a bad man. It’s just the way of things. You want to move up in the world, and you have to scratch a few backs.”

Pan shook her head. She knew where this was going and knew he couldn’t be more wrong.

“Well, at least, that’s what my father thought.” He tore his eyes from hers and stared at a line on the counter.

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