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"I'll show him the ropes," Shay offered, giving Stryker a look, silently warning him to back down. "Here, Gavin, take a seat beside Patrick. You must try our beer. It's one of the main highlights of our establishment."
"Do you drink now too?" Gavin raised his brow realizing he knew much less about his sister-in-law than he realized.
"No, I don't. Only a sip, but that doesn't count."
"Ya right. That I have to see - our angel sampling beer."
Arlana's eyes met his in a silent challenge causing Gavin's eyes to darken as he brought his glass of beer to her lips. Tilting her head, Alrana swallowed the amber liquid Gavin poured down her throat, winking as her eyes watered a moment before she choked.
"That still counts..."
"Of course it does, Dolly. Good girl," Patrick gently rubbed her back, attempting to read Gavin's eyes as he settled Arlana in his arms.
Shay exchanged a look with his brother before summoning Gavin to follow him out of the dining room where some men were playing cards, not giving them a second glance.
"Arlana has told us you drive transports for a living. We will pay you well to work overtime. You will need to make deliveries between our network here and our second location in New Brunswick."
"My wife doesn't like my job as it is and I only drive within Ontario..." Gavin ran his hand through his hair, pausing for a moment as he considered the offer. "What will I be delivering? We'll need to discuss pay as well. My wife is also in charge of the finances. If she sees it is worth it, financially speaking, I may be able to convince her to let me take on extra hours. I have a family to support and all."
"Of course," Shay opened the back hatch as a tall, dark-haired man approached. "We will make it worth your while. As you may have heard, we are a family-run business so take care of our own. You are more than welcome to bring your wife here for a visit. As you saw tonight, some parts of this business are very respectable. I know Arlana misses her sisters and would love to see them again. Think it over, but before I answer your question, there is someone you need to meet."
The newcomer's eyes darkened as he took in the sight of the man standing beside Shay, but seemed uncertain as to how to proceed. It was understandable. They had learned the hard way that very few could be trusted.
"Carraddos, meet Gavin. Gavin, this is Carraddos. He runs the local Italian butcher shop and you will be making deliveries for him should you accept the position. You will be paid a flat rate per delivery and your entry fee to the club will also be waived. Patrick is very generous with the Christmas bonus as well. The only thing we will need is for you to sign a confidentiality waiver. We cannot have our secrets disclosed, you understand, as it gives us a leading edge over the competition."
"That makes sense. As I said, I need to run this by my wife. Adelaide makes the decisions, but I am personally very interested in the offer and am sure I can make her see the benefit in my accepting this second job. It's a pleasure to meet you Carrados," Gavin reached out, shaking the Italian's hand.
"Carraddos, proceed as usual. Brion will be with you in a moment to take care of the paperwork and go over the order. Give me a moment."
Gavin didn't realize until that moment that Shay had an earpiece until he spoke into the discrete microphone, calling Brion to the back door.
The men exchanged a look before Brion led Carraddos back outside while Shay returned with Gavin to the dining area.
Musicians played on a nearby stage, but Gavin's focus wasn't on their performance, immediately noting that Arlana was nowhere in sight.
"Is she gone for the evening?" Gavin poked at his dessert as he sat back at the table.
"No, Arlana will stay until closing but was called out for a bit. What do you think of this place so far?"
"It is different than I had imagined - far classier than a typical gentleman's club."
"That would be because we are not a gentleman's club. There are, of course, various areas where guests are entertained for the evening based on the results of the initial tests they each receive upon registering, but this area you see now is for family - for those who work here or are related. Your test results were interesting, but I noticed your connection with Arlana tonight and thought you would rather spend the evening in her company and getting to know us...unless I was mistaken? I don't think so, though, as the tests don't lie."
Gavan shifted uncomfortably, wondering just how much his blood test had revealed.
Arlana approached Gavin from behind as she returned to the room, nodding discreetly to Patrick before speaking.
"I thought your tour may last longer," Arlana gently touched Gavin's shoulder, alerting him to her presence. "Have you decided to join the family business?"
"The offer is very tempting," Gavin answered, gazing into her eyes. "Something within me feels like this is the offer of a lifetime."
"It is..." Arlana whispered, but couldn't say more.
Some secrets were not meant to be shared - not yet.
"Our cousins take care of their own and have each other's backs. Everything is shared equally, but loyalty is essential. What happens within these walls is never spoken of once we leave the club. I trust you, Gavin, and have personally vouched for you tonight. Please, don't disappoint me."
"Never..." Gavin whispered, and he meant it. "With or without Addy's approval, I'm taking the position."
"Wonderful," Patrick leaned back in his chair. "Stryker, get the contract. It will be better for all concerned if you don't ask too many questions, Gavin. Your job is very simple. You just need to deliver the goods ."
Gavin wasn't paying much attention to the rules as he immediately signed on the dotted line.
"I don't believe we have anything to worry about when it comes to our long-lost cousin," Patrick winked at his brothers as Brion joined them at the table.
“We need to get back to work, but I’m sure you two have some catching up to do. Take all the time you need, Arlana. I’ll have someone fill in for you until you return. It was a pleasure to meet you, Gavin. We’ll see you tomorrow evening. We open at 10 pm so you’ll need to show up by 9:30.”
“I’ll be here. It was a pleasure to meet you as well.”
The Kirkpatrick brothers stepped away from the table, motioning for Stryker to join them as they retreated into their side office.
"What about you, Arlana? You mentioned your job is to make sure the guests are taken care of..."
"Yes," Arlana flushed, glancing over at the office door as it closed behind her cousins. "I make them as comfortable as possible before working on the paperwork. You'd find it boring."
"I don't think so," Gavin disagreed. "I can see there is something you aren't telling me."
Arlana bit her lower lip, looking away.
"You're right, but this is not the time. Are you heading back home tonight? How long are you in town for?"
"I leave in the morning," Gavin stood, pushing his chair back under the table.
"Ah okay. I'll walk you to the door. I'm glad you made the right decision."
"Me too," Gavin whispered before the bouncer stepped forward, guiding Gavin out the door and into the night.
Arlana watched for a moment before retreating back the way she had come, slipping into the office where the meeting was underway.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
Patrick winked at Arlana but continued with the meeting, handing a stack of paperwork to the redhead closest to him.
"Well done, everyone. Tonight was a great success. Arlana, I need to speak with you, so please stay behind. Boys, it's time to get to work."
Arlana waited until the others left the room, before standing and approaching her cousin.
"Yes?"
"Well done tonight. Keep your eyes on the vision, Sweetheart. You're a natural and are more valuable to the organization than you realize. My one suggestion, and I say this with love - don't wear your heart on your sleeve. It is not in your nature to be cold, but in this business, one can never be too careful. Do you understand what I am trying to say?"
"Yes, I believe I do."
"We will speak of this more if Gavin passes the test. After speaking with him tonight, I believe he holds promise. If Gavin is trustworthy after he has been tested, we will promote him. Now, come, there is something I want to show you that I think you will find particularly interesting. There is a program I want you to be in charge of. My brothers and I have discussed it and believe you are the perfect for what we have in mind."
"Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm not sure I understand."
"The program will be held within the club, but in a separate area. You will still work at the front desk, but I believe this will bring you fulfillment. Am I correct?"
Arlana flushed as she read Patrick's scrawling handwriting on the slip of folded paper he passed her.
"When can we begin?"
"Good girl. Come into work early tomorrow and speak with Mollie. I will let her know that you have agreed to the assignment. Mollie will teach you everything you need to know, but I believe you will make the program a great success."