He could still see Hope’s face, frozen in a little smile. She’d been right behind him when he’d pulled out of the network. But not fast enough.
Fuck! Get a hold of yourself!
He leaned away from the newcomer at the bar. He was no good to Hope if he couldn’t pull his shit together and convince the Jack to help him.
Ash focused on slowing his racing pulse. His hand shook as he brought the glass to his lips and downed the last of his drink in one gulp. The glass hit the counter harder than he intended.
Raising his hand to get the Jack’s attention, he drew his neighbor’s notice.
“Busy night, huh? I’ve been trying to get her attention forever.”
“Yep.” Ash was in no mood for small talk.
“The bartender’s smokin’,” the guy said.
He couldn’t argue with that. “Yep.” Done with the conversation, he renewed his efforts to get the Jack to come back to his end of the bar.
The guy jostled Ash again and he turned to glare at him. The other man started to apologize then stared at Ash. “Hey, wait. I know you.”
Shit. Ash recognized him too. Didn’t remember his name. The guy’d been a decent hacker, but not as good as Ash. Definitely not part of the crew. “I think you’ve got the wrong guy.”
So much for another drink. Ash had to get the fuck out of here. He peeled the guy’s fingers off his shoulder and stood.
The guy refused to give up and grabbed Ash’s arm again. “No, wait. I do. You’re a hacker. Dangit, what’s your handle again?”
Ash shook him loose and looked away. No reason to give the guy a good, close look. “Sorry, you’ve got me confused with someone else.”
“Some kind of bird or shit...” The other man snapped his fingers. “Got it! Fenix! What happened, man? You were like the best of the best and then you disappeared. You and that sister of yours. Damn, she was hot!”
Ash’s vision flickered and his ears buzzed. One minute he was standing by the bar, the next, his fist was connecting with the guy’s jaw, slamming the asshole against the counter.
Goddamnfuck, that hurt.
He shook his hand out and ignored the throbbing.
Ash grabbed his opponent’s shirt. All around them, other patrons jostled to get out of the way. Their claps and cheers were barely audible over the white noise of anger in his mind.
The other hacker threw a weak-ass punch toward Ash’s middle. He sucked in his breath, bracing for the hit, and arched to the side. The guy got nothing but air.
Ash grabbed the guy’s shirt with one hand and held him in place while he punched him repeatedly. “Nobody talks about my sister that way!”
“Shit, man, I’m sorry!” He couldn’t defend against all the punches as Ash hit him in the face, side, and stomach with no apparent pattern. “I’m sorry! Okay? I’m sorry!”
The other guy started crying.
Hands wrapped around Ash’s upper arms and pulled him away from his opponent. He struggled against the restraint. “Hey, let me go!”
Ash kicked the person behind him.
“Oof!”
He kicked again, but his captor didn’t release him.
Fingers dug into his biceps. “Stand down,” a voice growled in his ear. Ash was dragged away from the other hacker.
Blood dripped down the man’s face as Ash leaned into one of the bouncers.
That would teach him.
