“Twenty, you said? That’s like… £1200. That okay?”
I shrug and feign annoyance. “I told him it was a waste of money, but he insisted.” I lean in, showing a bit of cleavage as I bite my lower lip. “Between you and me, he makes a shit ton of money. He probably won’t even notice tomorrow.”
The bartender laughs and nods. “Sure. Twenty shots of the Macallan, coming up.”
I smile sweetly. “Thank you!”
When they’re ready, I take the tray and pass them around to everyone I can find in the bar. I save a couple for Zoey and me, but otherwise, I don’t care who drinks them—as long as someone does.
And people do.
I gather our things to leave, knowing full well that the man in plaid is going to figure it out sooner rather than later, especially if his alcohol-ripened breath is any indication. Zoey is still dancing with a group of women, and I pull her along after me, telling her that we need to go. She stumbles behind me while giggling manically, completely oblivious. I always forget what a lightweight she is.
“Fuck,” I mutter, looking around. “I forgot my jacket. Wait here,” I command, leaving her and quickly making my way back to the booth. I grab my pea coat and turn, only to find the man and three of his friends watching me. His evil eyes narrow, and he pins me with a murderous glare. Fair skin, blue eyes, fuck boy haircut…
And there’s something rotten about him. I can smell it from here.
“Excuse me,” I say, pushing past them. There’s a curtain separating the booth from the bar, so we’re completely alone back here. He grabs my arm roughly and pulls me closer. My heart pounds.
“You are a little cunt, aren’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t find out before you left?” He grabs the hair at the back of my head and roughly jerks it back. “You and your little friend think you’re funny?”
I spit in his face, and the look of shock that passes over him pleases me. “Fuck you,” I retort, my voice rough. “You don’t scare me.”You should see the shit I’ve put up with.I stare into his narrowed eyes, and then I smile as my knee moves up and clocks him right in the balls.
I didn’t take those self-defense classes for nothing.
He lets go of my hair instantly, dropping to his knees in pain, but as I push past him, one of his friends shoves me against the wall of the booth. He takes a knife and holds it against my throat.
“There are three of us, and one of you,” his friend sneers, and though he and his friend are shorter than the blonde guy, they’re still bigger than me.Stupid.Why did I instigate them?
I’m gearing up to scream—even if it might be futile—when a voice interrupts us from behind the two guys.
“If you lay one more fucking finger on her, I will personally draw and quarter you.” Both men turn to find Benedict towering over them, with Hayes at his side.
“This bitch,” the man on his knees gasps. “She fucking ordered twenty shots of Macallan,” he wheezes, his eyes watery, “and charged my card. All because I asked her to dance.”
I look at Benedict, and his lips twitch with a hint of a smile. “Well, then, you should’ve listened to her when she said no.”
Hayes takes a step forward, a knife glinting in his hands. It’s noticeably bigger than the little pocketknife they have. Plus, I would not want to be on the receiving end of his crazy antics.
“Goodbye, boys,” he adds, his eyes wide and deranged.
The three of them scatter, and I’m left with Benedict and Hayes, who look like two members of the fucking mafia with their long coats and glowering expressions.
“What the hell?”I stare at Benedict. “How did you know I was here?”
“It’s time to go,” Benedict says, his voice stern.
“Zoey is at the front of the bar,” I explain.
“Go make sure she’s okay,” Benedict commands Hayes, who turns and gives me a smug smirk before entering the crowded dance floor to go find her.
Benedict doesn’t look at me as he leads me out of the booth with a gentle hand on my back. I stop walking and turn to face him fully.
“Benedict.”
He looks at me, an irritated expression on his face. “I don’t think you realize how far our network of Brotherhood members reaches.”
I pull back. “So, you were having mefollowed?”
