“Mark, get her another drink, please,” I order, then silently mouth, “Water.”
Rae is so far gone that she won’t notice the difference. Impossible to comprehend that level of intoxication, but trust me. She’s found it.
“You got it, Rox.”
He fills a glass with water and ice before handing it to me.
“C’mon, Rae,” I urge, leading her to the couch. She tries to veer toward the juke box, but I hold her steady. “I’ll find something to play, okay?”
“‘Kay.”
Rae flops onto the sofa, leaning her head against the back. Her eyes close, and it’s only minutes before she’s softly snoring. I take the glass of water from her hand before it spills and carry it back to the bar.
“I hate seeing her like this,” Mark comments.
“You and me both.”
“Is there anything I can do? Other than serving her copious amounts of booze?”
I smile sadly and shake my head. “No. She’ll work her way through this in her own way and her own time.”
“Okay.” He dumps the water in the sink. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Nah, I’m good. I’ve gotta work in the morning.”
“How’s the new job going?”
A month after Screamer informed me that I’d be under lock and key, I told him that I was going job hunting. At first, he argued, but I reminded him that Jace hadn’t done anything since Saint, and through conversations with Sammie, Melody, and Greg, we were able to confirm that he was back at the home he and I shared and had been seen out with several different women.
The Soulless Kings’ and Limitless Throttle MCs had reconvened and agreed that, while Jace was still out there, the threat he posed was considerably less with him in a different state.
“It’s great,” I reply, grinning.
I started working at a local domestic violence shelter as a peer counselor and am taking night classes for a degree in psychology. This isn’t the path I thought I’d be on, but life had other plans. I love the new plan, though.
“Good, I’m glad.”
“Hey, um, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” I begin. “Have you talked to Seth lately?”
The night Saint beat the shit out of him, Seth had been banned from the club. He’d only been a prospect, so that’s the worst punishment he received.
Mark shakes his head. “Nope. Figured no good could come from talking to him. I love Limitless Throttle and really want to earn my patch. That won’t happen if I interact with someone banned.”
“True enough,” I agree.
Mark reaches across the bar and rests his hand on top of mine. There’s no spark, no hint of anything beyond the friendship we’ve developed.
“I really am sorry about that night, Rox,” he says solemnly.
I smile. “You’ve apologized a million times. It’s fine, Mark. Really. Let it go because I have.”
He releases a pent-up breath. “Thanks.”
“Get your hands off my woman.”
I whirl around to see Screamer striding toward me. He and I come and go from each clubhouse as we please, and it’s nice seeing him so comfortable in both locations.
“Leave him alone,” I chide even as Mark pulls his hand away.
