done
differently. Right now, at least he had a purpose. Protect Sera. Keep Ruby’s involvement in his father’s arrest confidential. If he could do those two things, maybe he could look back one day and say he’d done something that mattered. Keeping his own ass out of jail didn’t quite rate in comparison, but it drove him, too. No way would he pass his father in the Rikers Island cafeteria and see smug satisfaction on his face.
Finally, after an eternity, the car pulled over to drop him at the curb outside of Rush. The other passengers were still in their element, mimicking the cries of pain they’d induced tonight, already talking about the next time.
Irritation snapping behind his eyes, he stooped down and leaned into the passenger side window. Everyone shut up, attention zeroing in on him. “Listen up. You assholes want to go out and get your dicks wet, get drunk? Have at it.
But keep your fucking mouths shut.
You’re about as inconspicuous as a couple of Macy’s parade floats. This isn’t your first fight and it won’t be your last, so quit acting like it. You’re embarrassing yourselves and me in the process.”
The driver held up his hands. “You got it, boss.”
God, he hated being called that. Boss of what? A car full of shitheads. He straightened and patted the car’s roof once. “Take it easy on them girls.”
Spirits somewhat restored, the car full of men pulled away as Bowen walked into Rush, nodding in greeting at the bouncer. As he wove through the crowd at the bar, he heard his name spoken several times. Some of the voices female, some male. He ignored them all.
The moment his eyes landed on Sera, the screaming in his head died down to a whisper. Face flushed, hair falling out of its ponytail, she looked more than a little flustered. Since he’d left, the place had grown busy, the typical Saturday night crowd looking to get rowdy. The tray full of drinks in her hand looked seconds from gracing the floor.
Good Lord, the girl was a horrible waitress. Why did that make him want her even more?
He didn’t even realize he was walking toward her until Connor stepped into his path, bringing him up short. “Driscol.”
Bowen gave a quick nod, angling himself so he could keep an eye on Sera.
“Look at you, fully clothed. Is there a special occasion?”
“Nah.” Connor shrugged. “I just don’t have a beautiful girl in my bed at the moment.”
His vision swam with red. “I’d be more careful about what comes out of your mouth. I don’t care if this club belongs to your cousin. Don’t talk about her.”
Connor considered him in a way that made Bowen almost uncomfortable. This wasn’t a typical neighborhood guy. Too much went on behind his eyes. A quick glance at the man’s forearm and the navy tattoo told him Connor hadn’t spent his entire life in Brooklyn, like the rest of them. “I just wanted to confirm my suspicion.”
“The suspicion that I’d like to kick your ass?”
“Nope.” He tipped back his bottle of Heineken. “The suspicion that the ladies’ man I’d heard so much about is gone over one chick.”
Bowen accepted a glass of whiskey from the bartender, not bothering to deny it. He’d already screwed himself with his possessive behavior. “So what? You want to go paint our nails and talk about it or something?”
“Funny. You know why I brought it up.” His voice trailed off when the music quieted between songs. When another one kicked in, he spoke again.
“She overheard something. Something she shouldn’t have.”
“Excuse me?” Bowen swore he could feel the blood turning to solid ice in his veins. “We’re talking about Sera?”
“No, the other girl you almost ripped my throat out over.”
“Talk,” he gritted out.
Connor finished his beer and set it on the bar. “Last week. Hogan had a phone conversation in the hallway outside my room. He didn’t realize she was inside changing my bandage.” He glanced over his shoulder at Sera where she took a drink order. When he turned back, his eyebrows were drawn low. “It was the date of the shipment. She heard it. No location, but it was enough to worry my cousin. That’s why she’s marked, man.”
Even having already known Hogan wanted Sera gone didn’t ease the blow of hearing it spoken aloud. Over his dead body would those words ever come true. “The question is, why are you telling me this?”
“I’d be dead if it wasn’t for her. I repay my debts.”
Difficult as it was to admit, Bowen believed him. He’d had a lot of experience dealing with liars, and this guy wasn’t one. Second, he knew all too well the way Sera could work her way under your skin, make you question your own loyalties. Watching her call an order to the bartender, his throat squeezed. He needed to distract himself or he would carry her out of there over his shoulder. “How’d you end up here?”
Connor raised an eyebrow.