I should have just finished the third asshole off, too, so there would be no one to talk. If this wasn’t a shit storm, I didn’t know what was. I’d just declared war on Bitter Hill, a gang that was our ally, and over what? A girl? A challenge?
The door opened and she came out. She’d taken my shirt off and stood clothed in that damn see-through bra again. “I no longer want to sleep in this. It feels dirtier than the blood-soaked shirt did, because it’s yours. Unlike me.”
With that, she stalked across the room and chucked my shirt at me, hitting me dead center in the chest. “Heidi, put the damn shirt back—”
“No.” She tossed her hair over her shoulders, her blue eyes flashing beams of fire at me. “And when I’m asleep in your bed, think of this. I sleep nude . . . but you’ll never get close enough to see that for yourself. Because this is over.”
With a dramatic hair flip that only a woman like Heidi could pull off, she turned on her heel and went into my room, shutting the door behind her. As I held my shirt—which now smelled like peaches—she slid the lock into place.
Okay, yeah, I’d started a war over a woman.
But what a woman she was . . .
And she was all mine.
CHAPTER 6
HEIDI
The next night, I cleaned the same spot on the bar for what had to be the millionth time, my motions jerky and rough. Jimmy sat on the corner stool, watching me like usual, but that wasn’t what had me on edge. I could handle him with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back. All night long, from a table toward the back, a few guys had been staring me down all night. Watching. Waiting. Planning. I could tell from their clothing that they were from the same gang as the assholes who’d attacked me—Bitter Hill.
And the man Lucas had let get away?
Yeah, he was here, too. Watching me.
I had a feeling they were lingering to see if Lucas showed up, whether he’d really staked his “claim” on me or not. If he didn’t, I’d be fair game. Lucas had told me as much last night, but I’d refused to accept it. Refused to pretend to be his “property” to scare off a gang that had suddenly decided I was interesting. I didn’t know what I’d done to earn this level of attention, but I didn’t want it. Even so, I had a feeling the scrutiny wasn’t going anywhere.
The second Lucas had claimed me, the wheels were set in motion.
And the fact that he’d killed two of their guys to protect me? Well, that didn’t help, either. I’d seen enough to know that a challenge had been thrown down, and now I was going to be smack-dab in the middle of it, whether I liked it or not. It was becoming clear that I was stuck with Lucas, and his protection. And I didn’t get a say in that, either.
The biggest guy at the table kept staring at me, so I raised a glass to him and downed the water I’d gotten myself moments before. As soon as I set the empty glass down, he smirked and rested a hand at his hip. On his gun, no doubt.
Then he stood and moved toward me, one cocky step at a time.
My heart sped up and my muscles stiffened, but I forced myself to remain calm outwardly. When he stopped before me, he leaned on the bar casually, his back to the wall and his front to the door. Watching out for Lucas, more than likely. I knew how men like him worked. Always on guard. Always ready for the next fight.
“Where’s your man?”
I stared back into his eyes, not backing down. He was tall and muscular, but I didn’t care. It was all about appearance with guys like this, and to show him weakness or fear would be the biggest mistake I could make. “I don’t know. Working, maybe? I’m sure he’ll come in soon. He always does. It’s why we started dating in the first place. The guy just kept showing up, like a bad penny. Eventually, I gave in. Romantic, isn’t it?”
Shaking his head, he chuckled. “For your sake? You better hope so. I need to talk to him. He crossed the line last night, and this needs to be settled. I understand he felt the need to protect his girl, but thing is? No one knew you were his to protect. And if you’re not, and he lied to us . . .” He let his words trail off, staring at me menacingly.
He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I knew exactly what he inferred, and exactly how much danger I would be in if the lie was exposed. Damn it, Lucas had been right. I still needed his protection. Tossing the rag down, I crossed my arms. “That’s all fine and dandy. What can I get you to drink . . . while you’re waiting for him to show? I see you didn’t have anything on the table back there, and this isn’t a charity establishment, so . . .”
“Is that so?” He glanced down and tapped the paper on the bar that had tonight’s specials printed out on it. “Well, then . . . I’ll have four of these two-dollar Sam Adams, please.”