The table erupts into laughter, the sound booming over the low hum of the bar.
Ranger stands, dragging another chair over with a scrape against the wooden floor.His lips curl into a grin as he looks at Blade and says, “I like her.What are you drinking, Hannah?First one’s on me.”
“A beer?Something local?”I reply, hoping I sound more confident than I feel.
Vex finally lets go of me, and I settle into the chair Blade pulled out for me as he settles into the chair Ranger dragged over.Before I can relax, Blade’s hand comes to rest on my shoulder, warm and firm.I glance at him, and his expression is unreadable.
“Would you rather sit somewhere else?”he asks, his tone calm, but there’s an edge to it I can’t quite place.
I let my gaze sweep around the table.The men are all watching Blade now, their faces carefully neutral, but I can feel the weight of unspoken tension hanging in the air.This feels important, a test I wasn’t prepared for.
Plastering on my best smile, I shake my head.“No, I’m fine here.”
The men relax slightly, a few of them exchanging glances before turning back to me.
I clear my throat and ask, “Have you all eaten?”
This time, the laughter is softer, but it breaks the tension.It’s not much, but it’s enough to make me feel as if I’ve passed, at least for now.
“No, we’ve been drinking,” Prophet replies with a grin, his voice rough but with a hint of humor.His jacket is slung over the back of his chair, leaving his thick, muscular arms on full display.The tattoos etched into his skin catch my attention—crosses, bold and intricate, standing out against his tanned arms.
“Prophet, right?”I ask, trying to sound casual, though I can’t help but feel small under the weight of his presence.
He nods, and to my surprise, his face splits into a wide smile.It’s the kind of smile that softens his otherwise sharp features, almost making him seem approachable.
“Yeah,” he says, his gaze steady as though he’s sizing me up while deciding whether or not I belong.
“Well, I haven’t eaten nearly enough today...”I say, glancing over at Ranger at the bar, “...and since he’s getting me a beer, I definitely need to eat if I’m going to keep up.”
Prophet quirks an eyebrow, his grin tilting into something a little mischievous.“Keep up?Honey, there ain’t no way you’ll be able to do that.”He chuckles, the sound deep and rich, filling the space between us.“Especially on an empty stomach.”
The way he says it isn’t mean, but there’s a challenge hidden in his tone as if he’s daring me to prove him wrong.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes and instead shoot him a playful smile.“We’ll see about that.”
“Kyler, pass the menu down,” says Blade, his tone carrying the easy authority of someone used to being obeyed.
Kyler nods without a word and picks up a menu from the center of the table and hands it to me.
“Thank you,” I say, offering him a polite smile.
He nods again, his gaze flickering to mine for a brief moment before dropping to the table.There’s something quiet about him.But when he avoids my eyes, I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of the scar on my face, the way he’s looking down as though he’s uncomfortable with it.
Blade casually drapes his arm over the back of my chair.“Hungry?How about burgers or pizza?”he suggests.
I ponder for a moment, unsure.“What’s good here?”
His grin widens.“Honestly, everything.It just depends on how hungry you are.”
I furrow my brow, considering my options.“Well, burgers can get messy, and I’m not a fan of mess.Pizza sounds better, but I can’t eat a whole one.”
Hollywood lets out a hearty chuckle.“Don’t worry about being messy.Wait until you see Vex eat.”
The rest of the table reacts—some laugh, others grimace, and a few nod—but Kyler stays silent, watching the scene unfold.Blade, however, doesn’t seem to care about their reactions.
He leans in closer to me, his voice low and a little teasing.“I can help you eat a pizza.”
I tilt my head, a small smile playing on my lips.“Do you like pineapple on your pizza?”
