Bridget, who had also survived the crash thanks to Father Trevor, worked as a bartender atCriminal World Bar and Grill. She'd been so shaken from the wreck she'd sworn off all driving.
For weeks, she'd been trying to coax me into leaving the church, even if just for a night.
But I didn't think I deserved a life of freedom. My choices had led to people getting hurt, people getting killed.
Ryan had never reached out after banning me from his life. I couldn't blame him.
Gotta stop thinking about that day.
Taking a deep breath of cool night air, I stepped in front of the heavy wooden door.
Am I really going to do this?
If anyone from the church caught me at the bar, there'd be hell to pay. Pun intended. It was only a matter of weeks before I became a novitiate, which meant the next phase of my hopeful nun status would start. I'd be given a new name and probably moved to a new order and church.
But there was a restlessness inside of me, and when I'd finally given in to Bridget repeated requests to visit, I'd begun to feel something besides dread.
Excitement had needled its way into my head. To do something rebellious, something unexpected, had perked up that part inside of me that felt as if it were dying.
The door flew open, almost smashing the tip of my nose before I jumped backward.
"Look at that pretty little thing," slurred a burly man with a long, brown beard. Alcohol wafted from his breath.
His friend, who smelled just as bad and looked even worse, leered my way. "She looks lonely, don't she?"
Behind them, the music switched to something heavier.
Brown beard staggered a step and grabbed onto the open door.
Both blocked the opening.
Was I going to let them scare me?
No. I'd dealt with worse.
"Excuse me." I clenched my fists. "Please," I added through clenched teeth.
"Woohoo. Little Miss has attitude." The man's beard sparkled with liquid drops.
"Good," said his friend in a gruff voice. "I like it when they have fight."
Each man stood at least a foot taller than me and staggered closer.
Even though an urge to flee hammered in my heart, I fought it and stood my ground.
Brown beard stuck out a hand to clench my shoulder, but I took advantage of the movement and ducked, showing myself between their bodies and stumbling inside the building.
A bald guy with beefy arms caught me as I stumbled into the safety of the bar. "Those two giving you trouble?" He jerked his chin toward the door.
I hastily scrambled out of his grasp. "Yeah."
He leaned out the door, but they were nowhere in sight. "Sorry about that." He shut the door. "Got some ID?"
Nodding, I pulled the state ID from my crossbody purse and handed it to him. "How much for the cover fee?"
He took the card, squinted, then handed it back. "Don't worry about it. You had to deal with Harvey and Burt. That seems like payment enough. Rest assured; they won't be welcome back. Let me know if you need anything else."
"Thanks." I smiled through the nerves twisting in my stomach. "Do you know where Bridget is?'
