CRANE
Never mind Sierra being all red and breathless—I need an award for being able to go through that without fucking up.
Her skin—man, her skin—was so soft and smooth. It was almost porcelain, practically translucent, revealing her veins. Every time I’d looked at her, I’d caught her watching me, then she’d moved my hair from my eyes, and I was done for.
She’s just Sierra.
Yet there’s no such thing.
The very idea of her working in Potion makes me feel violently sick. Knowing how she behaves around guys only makes it worse.
Maybe I should tell Kai.
Yeah, tell him about the ink too; see how that goes down.
So she’s got an interview—it doesn’t mean she’s going to take it, right?
She’s fine.
But I still find myself standing at the bar an hour later, scanning the room for any sign of the girl with the secret tattoo.
Although it’s beaming sunshine outside, it’s dull and dark in here. Tacky chandeliers hang from the ceiling with a miserable yellow glow, highlighting the dirty tables and broken stools.
There are so many people in here it’s hard to move, but I’ve wedged myself in between a man with a thick golden chain and a belly filled with takeout and beer and a woman who’s eyeing him up over my head.
Well, through the one eye that’s focusing on him, anyway.
The other moves around the room.
Christ.
This is the place for misfits.
Criminals.
The lowest end of society, with zero fucks left to give.
Even the police don’t come here.
My dad would be perfectly at home.
“Whiskey, rocks.”
“Vodka, no ice.”
The orders fly around me, and I stare at the ceiling, wondering if Sierra knows what she’s getting herself into.
Where is she?
I’m already getting suspicious looks, because it’s clear I’m not a regular. Not giving a fuck, I turn and order a large whiskey, neat.
The girl behind the bar looks exhausted, but when she reaches up for the Jameson, I’m treated to a view of her ass cheeks and the thong between them.
Not a bad view, truth be told, but I can’t imagine these fuckers checking out Sierra like that.
“Hey, I haven't seen you here before,” purrs a pretty girl in hot pants and a bra. She’s checking me out, and under normal circumstances, I’d have been interested. But now I just want to find Sierra.
“Yeah, not my usual haunt to be honest.” I sip my whiskey, wincing at the cheap brand. I’m not fussy either, but this tastes like gasoline. “But my…friend has an interview here today.”
