Tyryn sighed. “Obnoxious customer.”
His vision darkened at those words as Tyryn reached for two plates and set them on a serving tray. “Are those for that table?”
He nodded. “Maybe the fourth time’s the charm.”
“Fourth?”
“It was undercooked. Over cooked. And then too cold.”
Ture took the tray from his hands. “Here, I’ll deal with it. You take a half hour and unwind. I’ll get Glee to cover your section . . . Which table?”
“Thirty-four, and thank you, boss.”
“No problem.” Ture headed for the door to the dining room.
Maris frowned as he saw Ture leave with a tray and a major grimace. That’s odd. He went over to Tyryn who was now sitting on a stool with his head in his hand as if he had a massive migraine. “Hey, what happened?”
“Two words. Ass. Holes.” Tyryn sighed. “Aristos came in and decided nothing was good enough for them and that our restaurant was seriously overrated.”
Maris winced. Ture would be devastated if they attacked his pride and joy. Pulling the apron off, he went to the window and peered out to see who was at the problem table. The minute his gaze focused on the troublemakers, his fury mounted. Brux Nylan and his best friend Aston Hyrun. Nylan’s father was a senator who’d scandalized Darling back in the day, and had almost cost him his life. Aston was a prick both he and Darling had gone to school with. One who’d been friends with Crispin. And the same bastard who’d thrown Maris out into the rain, naked, and locked the door.
Shaking with the weight of his rage, Maris left the kitchen to back Ture who had no idea of the magnitude of viciousness he was about to encounter.
Nylan spat the food in his mouth onto the plate. “This is the worst yet. Unacceptable. How can this possibly be the premiere restaurant when it serves dog food?”
The look of hurt on Ture’s face cut through his heart. Unable to bear it, Maris stopped next to Ture and put his hand on his shoulder. “You’ll have to forgive them, Tur. They’re so used to the palatableness of the boots they lick that everything else tastes strange. Perhaps if you dip their food in dirt, they’ll find it more to their liking.”
Aston curled his lip as he glanced about the restaurant. “Well, well, look who’s here. I’m amazed Darling let you off your knees long enough to leave the palace. Or does he take the bitch role? I’ve never figured out which of you is the woman.”
“Oh honey, the bitch is all me. If you had a dick at all you’d know that.”
Aston shot to his feet, but Maris didn’t blink or back down.
Maris raked Aston with a sneer. “You lost your tongue or your nerve?”
“I don’t want to get fag blood on me and catch whatever disease you’re carrying.”
“Then by all means, shall I show you the door . . . or would you rather go out through a wall?”
“Come on,” Nylan said, rising to his feet. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
“You’ve lost more than that.”
Maris looked past Nylan’s shoulder to see Drake standing there with an expression on his face that said he’d heard the majority of this conversation.
Drake stepped back so that his guards would have access to the two men. “Brux Nylan and Aston Hyrun, you are both under arrest for treason and any other charge I can think of while I eat.” An evil glint shone in Drake’s eyes as he met Maris’s gaze. “I think they’re both going to find out all about the bitch position in jail.”
“You can’t be serious!” Aston snarled.
“This is outrageous!” Nylan shouted. “I’m calling my father.”
Drake patted him on the cheek. “You do that, puddin’. I can’t wait for your father to confront my brother.” He smiled at Maris. “We should probably sell tickets for that event, eh, Mari?”
“Indeed.”
As Drake’s guards hauled them out while they screamed obscenities, Maris glanced around the shocked diners. “Sorry for the drama everyone. Two felons being arrested is always newsworthy. But to make it up to everyone, your dinners are on me.”
Ture gaped at his remarkable offer.
Drake leaned in to whisper to Maris. “I’ll cover it for you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Then let’s split it.”
“If it’ll make you feel better.” Maris scowled. “Why are you here, anyway?”
Drake inclined his head to a beautiful blond sitting at a table. “Date. It impressed her that I got in here— thank you for that, by the way.”
Maris rolled his eyes at how little it took to make Drake happy. “Thank you for your help.”
“No problem. I don’t like people insulting any of my brothers.” He held his hand up to Maris. When Maris took it, Drake pulled him into his arms. “Love you, bro.”
“Love you, too.”
Drake clapped him on the back then returned to his date.
Maris paused as he caught the strange look on Ture’s face. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”