Annie’s eyes were wide with fear and I went to her. I put my arms around her and pulled her close. Smoothing my hand over her hair, I murmured, “It’s going to be okay, honey. Donovan will help us. We don’t have to do this on our own.”
Her body was tense. I knew her reaction must be from remembering the shit we’d been through together. We’d come a long way since then and I’d learnt how to defend myself. How to defend us.
I won’t let you down again.
She pulled away from me. “Okay,” she whispered, but I could tell from her hesitation I hadn’t convinced her.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I promise.”
She answered me with a small smile and nod.
It was the best I’d get out of her.
Turning to Jess, I said, “I’m gonna lock the front door until Donovan’s guy gets here. If any customers want to leave, we’ll let them out, but no one else gets in, okay?”
She nodded. “Good idea.”
I locked the door and we waited.
How the fuck do I get myself into these situations?
***
Banging on the front door twenty minutes later startled all of us. The bar was empty now after the last customer left five minutes ago.
“Might be Blade’s guy,” Jess suggested.
“Let’s hope so,” I said, and went to check it out.
Thank god for the glass panel in the door.
Two bikers stood on the other side, staring at me.
Shit.
I hesitated, not sure whether they’d been sent by Mario or Donovan.
One of them spoke. “Blade sent us, babe. Open up.”
I eyed him. Ink pretty much covered every inch of his skin, and although I didn’t usually go for that look, I had to admit he was gorgeous. I shifted my gaze to the other guy. He was more my type, with less ink, and had the looks sure to melt any woman’s panties. But they both oozed a don’t-fuck-with-me attitude.
That’s what I need.
I unlocked the door and let them in before locking it again after them.
The heavily-inked one looked at me. “You can leave it open, babe. We’ll stay till Blade comes.”
Gratitude overwhelmed me. “Thank you.” It came out almost as a whisper.
His grin lit his face and that was when I appreciated fully what he had going on. He was breathtaking with that grin. “You’re welcome.” He pointed to himself, “I’m Nash, and this dickhead is J.” He pointed at J as he introduced him.
J jerked his chin at me. “You ladies okay? Haven’t heard from Mario again since you spoke to Blade?”
They followed me to the bar where Jess and Annie were waiting. “No, he hasn’t been back,” I answered.
“Good to hear,” J said as he settled on a bar stool.
“You guys want a drink?” Jess asked, her eyes roaming all over Nash. She had a weakness for bad boys, and I figured he was hitting all her buttons.
They both declined.
Nash pulled up a stool as well and scanned the room before giving his attention to me. “You had the bar long?”
“I’ve been part-owner for about a year now. Before that I worked here for years.”
“You do well?”
“We used to but the last few months have been slow.”
He turned his gaze back to the far corner and then looked at me. “Ever thought about putting a stage over there and bringing live music in? I’ve always thought this place would do well with that.”
“You’ve been here before?” I’d never seen him here.
J snorted. “Highly doubt that, babe. You don’t have any skin on show in here, hardly Nash’s preference.”
Nash ignored him. “I’ve been here a few times over the years, but I keep up with all the bars in the area. We’ve got a strip club not far from here so it pays to know what’s happening out and about. Not much live music around, so you could do well.”
It paid to never judge a book by its cover. My parents never taught me that, but once I was on my own in the world, I’d quickly discovered it. I loved meeting people who proved it. Smiling at Nash, I said, “Thank you, I’ll put some thought into it.”
He grinned at me again. “Anytime. Gotta look after Blade’s woman.”
Blade’s woman.
I was far from his woman, and yet Nash’s words shot delicious warmth through me. I had no idea where last night would lead, or what it meant to Donovan, but I wanted more.
I needed more like I needed air.
***
When Donovan strode into the bar a little over an hour later, his face said it all.
Anger and concern all rolled into one.
He came straight to me. His hand cupped my chin, and his eyes bored into mine. “You okay?”
I am now.
“Yes.”
His chest heaved. “Thank fuck.”
Letting go of me, he turned to Nash and J. “Thanks for coming.”
“Anytime, man. You want us to tag along when you go see Mario?” Nash asked. From the gleam in his eye, I was betting he hoped Donovan said yes.
“Heading over there now. You got time?” Donovan asked. Turned out I was right because Nash jumped at the opportunity. I didn’t even feel sorry for Mario. As far as I was concerned, he deserved whatever they did to him.
J interrupted, “You got eyes on this place now?”
Donovan nodded. “Yeah, two of my guys are sitting outside.”