“Hung,” Knight called, making sure that it sounded more like “Hoong” than “Hung.”
The young Oriental stopped sweeping the floor out in the pub and came to the window between the kitchen and the bar. “Yes, Mister Knight.”
“When y’r done wi’ that, c’n you come in here?”
“Yes, Mister Knight,” the young man said, and continued to sweep.
Father Theo had provided some very good names of people to take Valko’s place while he was gone to Paulie. However, Knight knew he had been a hard-ass on most of them, if not a bit intimidating.
None of them were Valko.
Marissa was the one who had pointed it out to him this afternoon. “You’re not being fair to these kids. Just because you’re friends with Valko doesn’t mean you have to be an asshole to everyone else.”
Knight loved Marissa – and all the waitresses – like famiy. So he took her advice to heart. She was right, of course. Knight was worried about Valko. Although he had texted him a few times and got good and reassuring answers, he wouldn’t feel totally at ease until he was back and could keep an eye on him.
He looked at the apron on the hook and thought of Valko, What was this need to protect the kid for, anyway?
The door opened, and Hung stepped inside. He was a small but thin kid, about eighteen; industrious like the other kids who had crossed the threshold and attentive, at least until Knight started barking. His dark eyes focused entirely on Knight, as if he offered pearls of wisdom instead of orders. Knight wiped his hands on his apron absently. “Look, I’m sorry if I started in on you t’day.”
Hung blinked. “I don’t think you did, Mister Knight.”
Knight had stopped telling him to call him “mister” after five times, so he just shut up about it. “I know I did t’ the other kids.”
“If you did, I didn’t notice.” He smiled, “You’re a lot like my mother.”
Oh, dear God, Knight thought, hearing about such things as Tiger Mothers. He hoped to God he wasn’t turning into one of those. “Thanks. I think.”
“No, thank you, Mister Knight, for letting me come here and work.” He grabbed a spray bottle and a clean rag. “I’m going to wash the seats.”
“You do that,” Knight said, “An’ when you come back, you c’n wash th’ floor in here while I go take a break.”
Knight watched the young man go. He looked up at the calendar. Tonight he was going to leave early and talk to UNITY. Mal had been working with them and found it lucrative – if a bit crazy. It might be date night tonight…with UNITY.