Hector walked by as I placed the drinks in front of their destination, and he grinned and nodded. I hadn’t been sure the boss man would allow me to return after all the shit I’d caused, but I was damned grateful that he had. It appeared that we needed each other, whether we wanted to or not.
Cassie’s song ended and I watched as she collected her earnings from the stage before she vanished behind the curtains. In a few minutes, she’d be working the room, which meant I had to be on the lookout for a possible catfight. So far, Lacey and Cassie had managed to remain united in their common interests, but I knew it wouldn’t last. Each wanted to top the other at the end of the night, and right now, the scales were tipping in Cassie’s favor.
“Excuse me. Can I get a Grey Goose? Double shot.”
I turned around slowly, coming face to face with one of the three men I’d managed to avoid. Goose was smiling, as if no time had passed at all. If he was angry at me for not returning his calls, it didn’t show.
“Sure,” I answered, returning his smile, and marched to make his drink. It didn’t take long to create his beverage of choice. When I placed it in front of him, he handed me a twenty and said the same thing he’d said a very long time ago. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks.” I turned to the register, cashed him out, and stuffed the remainder in the tip jar. I was tempted to return to the other end of the bar. Instead, I walked over to him, resting my elbows on the counter.
“So how goes it?”
He laughed. “Do you really have to ask that question?”
“Let me guess.” I couldn’t totally erase the sarcasm from my voice. “You were sent here to check up on me?”
“Whatever clued you in?” He sat his glass on the counter.
“I don’t know, maybe the dozens of messages on my phone?”
He sighed, staring at his drink. “You can’t run from Gabriel forever.”
“Who said I was running?” When he glanced up, I smiled. “I’m just giving him a little of what he likes to dish out. It’s only fair.”
“He’s hurting, Rhiannon. He really is. He prowls that home of his night after night, and he’s restless. You need to talk to him and resolve what’s going on between you.”
I thought that hearing about Disco’s agony would make mine easier. Unfortunately, it made me feel worse. Yes, he’d done something atrocious, something totally unforgivable, but despite it all, I still loved the asshole bastard.
Not to mention, I wasn’t entirely innocent.
“I’ll talk to him.”
“When?” Goose asked before I could finish my sentence.
Unable to commit myself to an exact date, I shrugged. “Soon.”
Fortunately, our chitchat was interrupted, and I found myself running from one end of the bar to the next. It was to be expected on a Saturday. There was plenty of cash to be spent and plenty of bubbly to go around. When I made it back to Goose, he had a folder in front of him.
“Want another round?”
“No, but if you want what’s inside this folder, you’ll agree to meet me when you’re off the clock.”
I eyed the folder dubiously. “And what’s so special that I’d be willing to do that?”
“The information you need on Marigold Vesta. It took a lot of time to gather it, but with Sonja’s help, I managed.”
I reached for the folder, but he pulled it away. “If you want it, come to Ruby’s Diner after close,” he said. “It’s right around the corner.”
Narrowing my eyes, I grumbled, “I know where it’s at.”
“Then you’ll know where you can find it.” He rose and nodded at me. “Good night, Rhiannon.”
“Wait a minute.” I reached over the counter and snagged his shirt. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”