Page 10 of Whiskey Wednesdays

“A couple of hidden motion sensor cameras by the exterior doors. The footage is only retrieved if the main system goes down. My business partner is a cynical bastard and doesn’t trust one system.”

Connor nodded grimly. Noah started sputtering and protesting as Damien pulled out his laptop.

Dad’s shoulders slumped a little as he gazed at Connor. “You have enough on your plate right now, but tomorrow morning I’ll be putting in my official notice.” He turned to Damien. “Tell Zeke thank you for being a cynical bastard.’”

Thank God for whomever Damien’s partner was. If I ever met the man, I’d give him a big hug.

Standing up, I turned to my dad. “Let’s go. We don’t need to be here for this.”

Connor looked over in surprise. “You’re not going to watch the video?”

“We already know what’s on it.”

I took hold of Dad’s arm and we walked out. When we reached the front stoop, Connor came striding out.

“Javier, I don’t want you to quit. I’m missing something important here.”

Letting go of my dad’s arm, I turned on him. “You know what’s going on, you just don’t want to admit it.” Then my temper broke loose and I stuck my finger in his chest. “You’re too stupid and self-absorbed. It must have been all the concussions you suffered from playing hockey.”

“What exactly do I know?” Connor asked carefully.

“That Noah is a mean, dangerous asshole, he’s the one who stole from you, and he’s probably been doing it for years.”

Connor’s face went still. “Really? And how would you know that?”

“Because unlike you, I’mnotstupid or clueless. When you aren’t here, he treats everyone like trash. He harasses your staff and abuses your property.”

Dad touched my arm. “Isa, let’s go. You don’t want to get involved in this.”

I didn’t take my eyes off Connor. “I already am. Noah tried to frame me because I stood up to him and called him out on his bullshit.”

Connor tilted his head and studied me. “What bullshit?”

I ignored his question. “And you know what? You’re more culpable than he is.”

“In what way?”

“You subject the people you hire to his poison and toxicity, then you ignore it or pretend it doesn’t happen. And you don’t care.” I shook my head and turned around. “You’re not worth it. Come on, Dad. Let’s go.”

Connor’s calm demeanor slipped, and he suddenly looked angry and overwhelmed.

He turned to my dad. “Javier, please come back tomorrow morning so we can talk.”

Dad nodded. “Alright.”

“I need to go back inside, but I want you to stay on.” Connor ran both hands through his hair and rubbed his face. “From how all this went, I probably have a mess I need to clean up.”

I leaned forward. “You can’t pretend you didn’t already know–”

Dad put his hand on my shoulder. “Isa, you had your say. Now it’s his turn.”

I looked at my father and bit the inside of my cheek. “Okay, I’ll listen. For you. But he doesn’t deserve your kindness.”

Connor studied us for a moment as if we were a puzzle. “My daughter is coming to live with me full-time, and she’s coming this week. It’s better for us not to be in Vancouver right now.”

My stomach bottomed out. Dad would never leave now; he was a bleeding heart for small children and injured animals.

“Your daughter?” Dad asked. “Isa said you’d mentioned you have a five-year-old.” He made it sound like Connor had told me this in polite conversation, not while he’d been spewing orders at me.

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