I’ve no intention of going anywhere near them, but I’m not sure staying away is going to work out too well considering I work here. Simon knows the guy he’s with makes me nervous so my guess is he’s going to ask me for drinks again to force my hand. He’s a dick and I really hope Hunter or Ruben find something on him soon so they can get rid of him.
Simon’s worked here since the club opened and I don’t know why he’d turn his back on Ruben when he has the manager’s job. Ruben pays all his staff well and as the manager he must make a small fortune so why do something illegal? He’s a greedy idiot and I hope one of the guys gets the chance to punch him in the face to knock that arrogance off of it.
“Rosie? Are you listening to me? Stay the fuck away from them. If you get asked to do drinks or anything you come and find me or…or ask Lucien to go with you.”
“I’m not deaf. I hear you.”
He lets out a breath before turning and heading off somewhere while muttering to himself. I can’t help but smile at him and watching him walk away reminds me of one of the characters from JR Ward’s black dagger brotherhood books; muscular, dark and lethal.
“Here you go Lucien.” I place his usual whiskey in front of him on a napkin and notice how tired he looks. “You okay?”
He knocks back the whiskey in one swallow and stays silent while I pour him a refill.
“I’ve been a lot better.” He takes a drink more slowly this time. “How are things with you? My brother still treating you right? And what was that about with Hunter?”
He’s on a roll tonight. Lucien isn’t usually so talkative unless of course it’s about his niece or nephew.
Leaning across the bar, I answer him, “I’m fine. Ruben is treating me well and Hunter has told me to stay away from Simon and the guy he’s drinking with. They give me the creeps.”
“Rosie,” he hisses. “What the fuck is going on?” He puts his hand to my mouth. “I know you’re aware that something is wrong here at the club, but what the hell does Simon have to do with it? And who is Hunter? We don’t know him. My brothers vouch for him but why is he warning you away? What does he know?” He wraps his hand around mine, which I don’t think he realizes.
“Calm down. I’m not sure where Hunter’s come from but he’s a friend and only looking out for me. I don’t know what’s really going on here or what he knows. You’ll have to ask him. He only knows that they both give me the creeps because he was here the last time they were. Don’t get bent outta shape over it.” I pull my hand from his and with a pat, I serve a couple more customers, but unfortunately, my peace doesn’t last too long.
“Rosie?”
Fuck!
“Yeah, Simon.” He doesn’t say anything so I look up and meet his hard stare. He’s pissed about something. With a quick glance to the guy next to him, who has a smirk on his face, I realize all isn’t well between them, which fills my stomach with dread.
“Two lattes in my office.”
Bastard!
“Simon,” Lucien interrupts, “I don’t think I’ve met your guest.” He holds his hand out to the guy and says, “I’m Lucien McKenzie.”
The stranger hesitates before reaching out and clasping Lucien’s hand. They size each other up and I can’t read the hardened look on Lucien’s face, but he doesn’t look happy.
“Joe Abatangelo.”
Within seconds, Simon is ushering Joe toward his office.
“Don’t forget the coffee,” he shouts over his shoulder.
“I’ll take it,” Lucien finally looks at me. “I agree with Hunter. You need to stay away from them.” He rubs his neck. “Make the coffee please, Rosie.”
Ugh! What is it with men and demanding and where the fuck has Ruben gotten to? Surely it shouldn’t take all this time to have a quick chat to find out what’s going on. I mean shit all he needs is to be here and he’d probably find out what was going on.
With the coffee ready, I add a small plate of biscuits and indicate with my hands to Lucien that it’s ready to be taken in to them.
I’m pissed that someone else is doing this, but I’m also relieved I don’t have to face them both. Why can’t everyone else see something is going on between the two of them? I know Hunter knows there is something, and, perhaps now Lucien does.
“Where’d Lucien go?”
“Taking coffee to Simon’s office. He insisted on meeting ‘Joe Abatangelo’ and suddenly decided to get on my case as well.”
“You’re distracting me. Stop standing like that,” Hunter mumbles.
I’m not standing like anything. My hands are on my hips as I frown at him. “You want to elaborate?”
He smirks. “Standing like that makes your shirt gape where the two buttons are missing, which in turn is giving me and everyone else who is looking a glimpse of your smooth skin and sexy pink lacy bra.”
Fuck. I quickly hold my shirt together with my hands and say, “Hold down the bar while I go change,” without giving him time to refuse.