Free Taming McGruff (Book 3, Once Upon A Romance Series) by Laurie LeClair Page B

die-hards first. Really, the salary some of them make is outrageous. Strike fear in the others. Uproot them, cut hours, and then bring in new hires. Less money, less skill. And, better yet, no loyalty to the store.”
    He swallowed hard, knowing from his extensive research she’d tried this angle before. Griff, on the other hand, had always used the reverse in his esteemed career in the industry: build up the business by creating opportunities for employees, keep them educated and interested, pay them what they’re worth, establish them, respect them and earn their respect. Loyalty naturally followed. It had made him a very rich man and, in turn, he’d made others wealthy.
    “Start there. Show me you’ll do it, and then we meet again for the next lesson.”
    Griffin had seen battle, gunfire, bullets, and even bombs. He shifted his left shoulder at the haunting memory and the wound he walked away with on the day that nearly took his life. But he’d never faced such a cold-blooded, cold-hearted enemy like this before. “What are you willing to pay?” He had to know.
    “A million dollars.”
    He laughed. “That’s chump change.”
    She cut him a look. “All right, to start.”
    “Take me back to the store,” he said.
    “Is that a yes? Do we have a deal?” Glee made her voice rise.
    “I’ll get back to you.”
    Less than ten minutes later, he got out of the car, and then shut the door.
    “I’ll be back,” she called as he walked toward his Vette.
    The limo pulled away, passing behind him.
    Griffin couldn’t gulp in the fresh air fast enough. All he wanted to do was get behind the wheel, roll down the windows, and drive as fast as he could.
    Looking toward the store, he noticed Bruno there with his arms folded over his chest. The Protector. Something went through Griff. He changed directions, strolling toward the night guard.
    Bruno sniffed. “Something smells bad out here.” He eyed Griff.
    “You don’t know the half of it,” he agreed. “Hungry? I haven’t eaten yet.”
    “You buying? I’ve got a craving for ribs.”
    “Sounds good to me. You got time for some of those stories?”
    “Yep.”
    Griff let out a long, slow breath. His new plan began to form the minute Mrs. King asked him to ruin King’s. Now, if he could just get Priscilla to agree.
     
    ***
     
    “Housewares, all clear,” a male voice crackled over the radio.
    “Roger, that,” Bruno said into his radio, and then set it back down on the desk. “We got forty minutes before he gets back from his rounds.” He bit into the spicy rib and murmured his approval.
    Griffin couldn’t eat, not after his encounter. He shoved his food toward Bruno.
    “You ain’t talking. What she want?” He nodded toward the door.
    Could he chance it? “She hates King’s.”
    He snorted. “That one, what a piece of work.” Shaking his head, he said, “Mr. K. didn’t stand a chance once his first wife died. Devastated. The Barracuda moved in for the kill.”
    The nickname, given by Charlie, fit the older woman to a tee.
    “She took over, ordering everyone around like she owned the place. He could barely function, so she got away with a whole heck of a lot.” He pointed the cleaned-off rib at Griff. “But you know he had people, close to him, who stood up to her.” His grin went from ear to ear now. “Fireworks! Whoa, it was like all heck broke loose around here.”
    “She won.”
    “Ah, no way. Mr. K.’s friend and lawyer man stepped in, shook the you-know-what out of Mr. K. and woke him up to what was going on. Oh, happy day, that was.”
    “Lawyer man?” Griffin’s middle clenched.
    “Yep, Big Jim Weatherford. But you knew that, didn’t you?”
    How could he not? His father was a legend in this town, before and after his downfall.
    Bruno looked him square in the eye. “You look like him, your daddy.”
    The air sailed out of Griff’s lungs. “When did you realize it?”
    “First night you walked in those doors.” He jerked his