Dante's Way (13 page)

Amara hung her head in defeat. “You don’t have to tell me. I understand. I’ve waited too long and missed my opportunity for a bed. I’m sorry to have bothered you so late.”

Why hadn’t she come here the same day Mr. Lee had given her the card?
She could feel Randy and his buddies hiding out there in the shadows waiting and watching to see what was going to happen.

She turned to leave, but suddenly Pastor Allen’s wrinkled hand touched her on the arm stopping her. “My child, I promised Mr. Lee that I would give you shelter. I never break my word to a friend especially one I’ve known for as long as him. Come on inside my child and let me show you to your room.” He took a step back holding the door open wider for her.

Excitement and shocked mixed in with several other indescribable emotions raced through Amara’s worn-out body as she faced Pastor Allen and stepped inside. The second the door closed behind her, it felt like she was instantly wrapped up in a warm and secure blanket that would protect her from all of the dangers lurking on the outside.

For the first time in a very long time, Amara felt like she would actually be able to sleep tonight without any fear. The feeling was so foreign to her; it brought fresh tears to her eyes.

“Amara, are you all right?” Pastor Allen asked, watching her closely over the top of his wire-rimmed glasses.

“Yes sir, I’m fine,” she answered, softly.

“How about I show you to your room? You can get settled then get cleaned up while I find you something to eat in the kitchen. I can even show you where to do some laundry if you need to wash any dirty clothing.”

Turning her head, she stared at the man next to her. “I get my own room?” she whispered, taken by surprise. She thought she would be sharing a huge room with other people like in the YMCA.

“Yes, we aren’t that big of a place to house a lot of people, so each person gets their own room. Right now, you’re the only person here. However, you will have to pull your weight around here for your room and food. Is that something you can handle?”

“I will give you and anyone else all the help you need. I’m not afraid of hard work. In fact, I miss working more than anyone knows.”

Pastor Allen gave her an understanding smile as she walked back with him towards her room. “I bet you have. I hope this place can give you the peace and guidance that you have been searching for since you ended up on the streets.”

“I know I can find my way here.”

Amara was sure of one thing. She had gotten blessed with the opportunity and she wasn’t about to blow it by not taking full advantage of it in the best way she could.

Chapter Seventeen

Opening the sliding door to his back deck, Dante strolled outside and took a seat in his favorite lounge chair. It was way past time for him to be in bed, but he was too wired from the bar tonight.

The sales he raked in from the 80’s theme were better than what he’d anticipated when he’d outlined it on paper a few months ago. Tonight was an absolute success; however, he didn’t feel the fulfillment he should have from having a packed house. Most bar owners prayed for nights like he got blessed with a few hours ago, yet he still wanted more. Nights were his favorite time of the day. The quiet and serenity gave him the opportunity to reflect over his day and then go over new ideas for tomorrow.

However, coming home to a dark house every night was getting old faster than he thought it would. He wouldn’t admit to Jim or any of his guys that he was lonely and missed having a committed relationship.

Taking a sip of his bourbon and Coke, he relaxed more in his seat wondering why he was feeling so restless all of the sudden. For the better part of his life, he loved living each day as it came and not getting tied down by his history.

Setting his glass on the table next to him, Dante crossed his ankles and folded his hands on his bare stomach. He looked over his property and remembered how the picturesque view of the city below was the deciding factor that made him put an offer on the place four years ago.

Every single detail of his new house was different from the small, cramped two bedroom house he’d lived in with his parents and his four brothers. However, those conditions back then didn’t make him love his mother and father any less. He knew how hard they worked to keep food on the table for him and his younger siblings.

He lost count of how many times he tried to reconnect with his family especially his brothers, but all of them returned all of his letters unopened and changed their phone numbers. It was hard for him to believe his entire family had truly washed their hands of him.

Why were they still holding that one incident against him after all of these years, he would never know; but his parents had always preached to him and his brothers that it was their way or the highway. Despite all of the turmoil they caused him, he still wanted the connection that came with having a family.

Family support was so important to him. Which was why a huge part of his heart still hurt from the way his own family disowned him. He understood why his parents wouldn’t want to do anything with him, but what about Rowan, Morgan, Tanner and Lucas?

Sometimes people made mistakes, but life was about understanding, yet he hadn’t been shown any kind of forgiveness. It was like the day he moved in with Griffin’s family and they accepted him into their lives. He no longer existed to any of them. One thing he learned very quickly when he moved out on his own and into the real world, was he wasn’t going to let anyone to push him into anything.

Now he cherished the close bond he had formed with Jim and the rest of his friends over the years. All of them had welcomed him into their close knit group with open arms, yet he still wanted what all of them had for himself. Dante didn’t know how much longer he could sit around and watch their families grow with smiling and laughing children.

He constantly came home to nothing but his dog, Bear, night after night; it wasn’t something he wanted to continue doing but right now, he didn’t see a way out of it. He wasn’t getting any younger and it was about time he got his personal life the way he wanted it.

He was more than ready to romance one special woman. Working hard to accomplish his dreams had taken center stage but now he needed...no wanted...more to enrich his life and soul. His girlfriend should want to devote some time to him and their relationship. Now, he wasn’t expecting her to spend every single second with him but when he was with someone, he
loved
all the aspects of it. Like walking hand in hand on the beach or just staying in bed late on a Sunday morning reading the newspaper.

He was a romantic at heart. He hadn’t been given the right woman to shower all of his skills on and he wasn’t about to waste his time on another relationship that wasn’t going anywhere. The need to be the other half in a strong committed relationship was pushing him more and more each day. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t just settle for any woman, not at his age, because he was in it for the long haul now.

Okay, enough was enough. Sitting here feeling sorry for himself wasn’t his way and it wasn’t going to get him anywhere. When it was time for his woman to find him...she would. So, until that day arrived he might as well find other exciting ways to keep himself busy and out of trouble.

Dante got up from his seat and went back into the kitchen walking past his black Lab who was relaxing by the end of the island. He glanced down at his stubborn best friend before heading over to the sink.

“Why didn’t you come outside with me?” he asked, washing out his glass in the sink before placing it in the dish rack to air dry.

Bear raised his head and looked at him for a few minutes before putting it back down like he hadn’t seen anything worth his attention.

Dante had adopted Bear as a puppy about two months after opening
Inked.
Honestly, he went to the pound to pick out a full grown dog, but the moment he spotted Bear peeking at him through the bars of his cage he knew he wasn’t going to leave without the adorable puppy.

Bending down, Dante rubbed his buddy on the head before Bear sat up licking him on the face. ‘”Okay, there is no need to get all loving. You can sleep in my room tonight, but you have to stay off the bed. I need my rest.”

He stood up and strolled out of the kitchen with Bear following closely at his heels. One thing was for sure, whoever he ended up with would have to love dogs because all of his ex-girlfriends had hated his dog, especially Bambi, which made tossing her ass out of his life permanently that much sweeter.

Chapter Eighteen

Walking around the tiny bedroom, Amara ran her hand over the desk as the morning sun shone brightly through the open window casting a warm glow inside the room...
her room
. When she had been running for her life last night from Randy and his two friends, she never imagined waking up in a warm comfortable bed with nice clean sheets.

Stopping in front of the mirror, she ran her hands over her hair and then the clothing she got to wash and dry last night before going to bed. Tears burned the back of her eyes as she stared at an old reflection that she never thought she would see again.

She was clean...not a quick two minute clean from washing up in a gas station bathroom because she was afraid of being caught. But a long, hot shower that she stayed in as long as her body could handle until the water turned cold.

Amara couldn’t believe how in a span of twenty-four hours how much her circumstances had changed for the better. This small room was paradise and she would do any kind of work to show Pastor Allen how much she appreciated his kindness. Turning around, she couldn’t help but look at herself again and secretly wonder what Dante would think at this moment if he saw her all cleaned up like this instead of wearing dirty, stained clothing.

As much as she tried to shove the handsome...no
gorgeous...
bar owner out of her mind Amara couldn’t do it. Every time she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep, his face was there and his compelling eyes watched her like he could see all of her wishful dreams.

How could she still be thinking about a guy who only wanted to hurt her? Well...maybe not physically but mentally he was driving her crazy. The last time he spoke with her at the park was completely strange.

Why would he want to help her now?

He did seem so sincere, but she wasn’t about to believe he had turned over a new leaf where she was concerned. God, Dante wasn’t even smart enough to see that she was a grown woman instead of a teenage girl.

Moving away from the mirror, Amara wandered over to the window hoping to get Dante Braden out of her mind. She should stop thinking about him because she wouldn’t run into him again, no matter how much a small part of her wanted to see him and get lost in the scent of his expensive cologne.

She gazed out of the tiny window noticing there wasn’t much of a view, but for the time being it was hers and she was going to cherish tiny details. Being here could be her first step at getting her world back on track and finally making something out of herself.

A part of Amara believed her parents had a helping hand in bringing her here to the outreach shelter. They were big believers in good things happening to good people. How could she not think they had been looking out for her through the hardest struggle in her life?

Not once did she ever think about not finding a permanent way out of her situation. Both of her parents had given her a strong constitution to constantly find the best in every situation no matter how unbearable things might look at the moment.

Resting her shoulder against the wall, Amara watched as a food truck pulled up in the shelter’s alley. Minutes later, Pastor Allen along with two other men, started unloading different items from the vehicle. As she continued to watch them, she began to feel a little guilty she wasn’t down there offering them some help.

Amara rushed away from the window and went out of the bedroom door and then down the hallway excited about the thought of finally doing some kind of work. It didn’t matter to her how small it might be as long as she was being kept busy.

****

Hurrying out the bathroom, Dante wrapped the towel around his waist and picked up his cell phone from the night stand by his bed answering it on the third ring.

“Hello,” he said out of breath

“Hey man. Did I catch you at a bad time?” Caleb laughed. “Should I call you back in about ten minutes or something?”

“No, I’m not busy in the way you think. I was getting out of the shower when I heard the phone and I was trying to catch it before the person hung up. What can I do for you?”

“I’m here at the bar and I was wondering if you could make a trip to
Inked
for me. I left my phone at the front desk. I can’t be without it until I get back there later on this afternoon.”

Dante made his way over to his closet. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Coming back over to his bed, he tossed them down on top of it. Today was already busy enough for him, but Caleb didn’t ask him do a lot for him so he guessed he could swing by the tattoo shop.

“Sure, I can run by there. I was going to be in that part of town anyway. I need to drop off some donations to the local shelter downtown. I haven’t checked in on Pastor Allen lately. I’ve been so busy with work and putting the final touches on the tournament.”

“Are you sure that you aren’t going to look for Amara again? Or have you given up on helping the little Orphan Annie?

“Truthfully, I think I’m going to leave it alone. She wasn’t too thrilled with me approaching her at the beach so why should I keep pushing the issue with her?” he asked. “She’s gotten along by herself for this long.”

“I can’t believe Superman is giving up his ways of helping someone in need,” Caleb teased. “What is it? Was she too much for you to handle or are you losing your special powers?”