Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
A cold feeling replaced the tension.
He added, a grim look on his face, “Trust me on this one, Montell.”
Justin moved over, eyeing the two of us. “You guys okay?”
Anthony’s jaw clenched, giving him a hard look too. “We’re good. This ain’t none of your business.” One last searing look my way. “When things go off, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With that, he stomped away. Justin was giving me an assessing look, drying his hands with a towel. “I’m aware I’m new here, new in your roommate’s life, but I’m here. My brother’s a cop—”
“A cop?”
A more guarded look came over his face, hardening it before he gave me a tight nod. “Detective Worthing. He’s at the 116th.”
I didn’t know his brother, but the 116th was a good district. “I’ve known Anthony for a long time, that’s all. History. I can take care of myself.”
“Kelly told me what you do for a living. You gotta be tough to do that job.”
I gave him a look. “I’m good.”
But he didn’t look convinced. He lifted his chin up, moving back to his section, and I caught the measured look he gave in the direction Anthony had gone. The rest of the night passed with less drama, which said a lot considering I saw two parolees violating their parole, right in front of me. One caught me looking, looked like he shit his pants, and took off. The other one came over and bellied up to my bar, thinking we’d be “friends” about this. The crowd around me enjoyed the stern warning I gave him, which went like this: “Get out of here. Sober up. Expect a call from your parole officer.”
His chest puffed up the same time he was reaching over the bar for me. “Now, come on, you bi—”
Then he wasn’t talking anymore because I was around the bar, his hand twisted behind his back, and I was marching him out of the club myself. The security guards saw me coming, saw the guy red in the face because even though he had a good seventy pounds on me, I was still handling him. They opened the door. I shoved the guy out, and when he started arguing, I was in his face. “Walk! I don’t have time for this. Not tonight. Not here.”
He came at me again, and this time he swung.
I ducked, grabbed him, twisted his arm, and pushed him to his knees. By the time that happened, a nearby patrol squad hit their lights. I knew the cops. They knew me. They arrested the guy, but he’d be out within an hour.
So yeah. I still considered Anthony’s earlier warning the most drama of the night.
The rest of the night was me filling orders, getting hit on by a few guys and a couple girls, and also being called “bitch” six times because I didn’t take someone’s order fast enough. The whole time I was trying not to think about whether he was upstairs. If he was watching me. If someone else was sent up to serve him and his friend.
Then it was closing time.
I did the usual. Closed out my drawer, counted up the tips, cleaned my section, and went over the inventory list. Kelly came over, giggling and half all over Justin, who gave me a rueful look back.
“I’m heading to Justin’s for the night. Want to come over? We can unwind with a drink?”
Tempting, because I was still wired. A drink wouldn’t help this “wired” feeling in me. Only one thing would work it out of me.
“I’m going to head home.”
Kelly’s face got somber, and she came over to give me a hug. She said in my ear, “You okay? I saw Anthony at your bar earlier. It looked tense.”
I hugged her back, giving an extra squeeze. “I’m good. Stay safe, all right?”
She was back to her giggling and sighing self as she drew back, but she rested her forehead to mine. “He’s nice, huh?”
Some of the tension in me eased, just a little. Kelly sounded scared in that one question, but I nodded slowly against her forehead. “He does seem like a nice guy.”
“Can you look him up for me?”
I barked out a laugh. “I don’t need to. Anthony put him in the section next to mine—that says he’s solid. Anthony wouldn’t have done that if he had something I’d find in the system. My guess is that he’s fallen a bit too quick for you.”
She jerked her head back, her eyes wide. “He’s fallen for me?”
Ooh. I winced. “I’m guessing.” Maybe I shouldn’t have shared?
But it didn’t matter. Kelly was back to swooning, and the ever romantic in her was falling as well.
They took off after that, Justin giving me a wave as they left, his other arm around Kelly’s shoulders.
Once I was done, I headed out, and it was the first time I checked my phone.