“Mr. Simms? We’re ready for you. Do you think you could start with the National Anthem?”
Huh? “Ah…sure.”
“Great.” She led me to the platform. People in fancy suits and dresses mingled about.
“Ah, here he is,” Mr. Stark said from the platform. “I’m very pleased to have Ryder Simms to entertain you all in this fundraiser for Jay Wallace and his bid to run for mayor of Salvation.”
Oh, hell no! Fuck, fuck, fuck. I closed my eyes as I realized I wasn’t just betraying my own good sense, but also my sister. I skidded to a stop, ready to bolt. I couldn’t play for the man who was backing my sister’s opponent. And what a fucking moron I was not to realize Stark would pull something like this. What an asshole.
He looked at me and arched a brow with a knowing smirk on his face. The only salvation I had was that I’d finagled an extra five thousand from him. I guess that’s what my loyalty and pride were worth. Thirty thousand. Jesus, if Sinclair found out she’d skin me alive. And I’d deserve it. But my child deserved a safe home and a dad who could provide. So, swallowed my pride, and stepped on the platform.
I played the National Anthem, wondering if any of these people really understood patriotism. My guess was that they’d sell their loyalty in a minute, but then again, I just had done it myself.
Then I went through and played the set I’d prepared. My heart wasn’t in it, so I couldn’t say the gig went well, although people clapped and some sang along.
When I finished, I headed straight to Stark. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”
Stark laughed. “An asshole that just paid you thirty thousand dollars for a thirty-minute set. That’s a thousand dollars a minute, Mr. Simms.”
“You didn’t give a shit about me. You just want to get back at my sister.”
He shrugged.
I leaned closer to him, plucking the check from his fingers. “That’s the reason you’ll never fit in this town no matter how much you buy, even if you buy the mayor.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because Salvation is a good town filled with good people. You’re not a good person.”
He flinched slightly, which along with the check, was my reward. Not that it would soothe the guilt and self-loathing that I’d sold my soul, but it was something.
I left the gig and immediately drove to Mr. Coffey’s house.
“Ryder, what are you doing here?” He said as he opened the door. He checked his watch. It was just before nine at night, which was probably too late to show up at someone’s house, but I wasn’t going to put this off any longer. Not with someone slimy like Stark involved.
“I’ve got twenty thousand dollars and a contract, right now, to invest in the Salvation Station.”
“What?” He let me into his home.
“Who is it, dear,” his wife asked from their living room.
“It’s Ryder. I’m going to take him to the den,” Mr. Coffey said.
“Is everything all right with the restaurant?”
“It’s fine,” he said motioning me to the extra bedroom that they used as a den.
“Can I make you coffee or something?” she asked us. I had a moment to wonder if Trina would ever be wifely like that. Probably not. The kitchen was definitely my domain, and I was fucking fine with that. I’d be happy to make coffee for her guests.
“We’re fine, dear.” He shut the door. “Now what are you up to?”
“I have the money, but I don’t want to just be a partner. I want this to be considered a down payment in the purchase.” I had to hope to fuck a bank would finance the rest, but at this time, I just needed a commitment from Mr. Coffee.
“I’m not quite ready to sell.”
“You told me you were considering Stark’s offer,” I reminded him.
He shrugged. “It’s hard to turn down cash like that.”
Boy did I know it. “The problem is, you’d be selling to Stark. Do you want to be seen as a sell-out or would you rather keep the place in the Salvation family, so to speak? I’ve got twenty grand to give you right now. All you have to do is sign this contract that says I’m a partner, I can buy it when you decide to sell, and under no circumstances can you sell to Stark.”
His bushy gray brows rose. “You’ve got a beef with him.”
“I do. You know I do after what he did to my sister and her husband.”
He nodded. “You wonder what makes a man act like that. He’s got enough money he could buy some manners, you’d think.”
“So, you’ll take my money? Make the deal.”
He sat in his chair and sighed. “Stark’s offer is a lot. I have to consider my and my wife’s future. We’re not getting younger and medical care gets more expensive the older you get.”
Part of me wanted to argue. The other part of me was feeling like I’d sacrificed my pride and betrayed my sister for nothing.
“Fine. I’ll take my twenty grand and buy something else. I’ll have my resignation to you tomorrow.” It was an impulsive move, not conducive to the steady, well-thought-out hand Trina would want me to deal. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
“Now hold on boy. What bee’s gone up your bonnet?” He frowned at me. “We’re negotiating here.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to negotiate. I want to secure my future too. I’ve got a child on the way and house to fix up, and I need to get my financials in place. I’ve been a good employee of yours for a long time. I know the folks who come
