Speaking of my Daddy, of course, I track his every movement. He's busy tonight, and I wonder whether he'll still be up for our date.
I sigh deeply.
"Not your night?" Conrad asks.
"I'm good," I answer automatically.
I hope he doesn't keep talking. I hate chit-chat when I'm not in the mood.
Just when I'm about to take a new order, commotion erupts to the right. Everything happens too fast even for me.
A guy swings and hits Daddy's jaw. Daddy stumbles, but regains his footing and slams his fist into the guy's stomach.
This guy is dead.
The hollowness I felt evaporates, replaced with burning rage. No one touches my Daddy.
No one.
I vault over the bar in a single move. All I need is to get to the guy, and I'll slice his neck. No, that would be mercy. I'll make it slow. Painful. Until all I can hear are his screams.
A hand clamps around my arm, stopping me. I whip my head, ready to strike, but hear, "Stop. This is not the place nor the time. Do it for Ezrah."
Do it for Ezrah.
The words pierce through the murderous fog. I glance at Ethan, then nod. He lets go of my arm.
I can't believe I almost lost control in front of so many people.
But someone hit Daddy.
I turn back and see him swipe blood from his split lip. Rage surges again. I'll drain this guy dry for spilling even a single drop of Daddy's blood.
Security swarms in, grabbing the guy and escorting him out, banning him too. The ban won't matter. He won't see the sunrise.
Daddy looks at me, then Ethan, and heads our way. Before he can speak, I ask, "Are you okay?"
I reach out, my fingers brushing the edge of his split lip. The only thing keeping me rooted here, not already plunging my knife into the other guy, is Daddy.
"I'm fine. Just a little blood, a split lip. Nothing major."
Maybe not in his book. In mine, it's the greatest crime of all.
He pulls back, and I twist my hands behind my back, physically restraining myself from touching him again.
Daddy turns to Ethan and says, "I saw the guy touch one of the servers. When I told him to leave and that he's banned, he swung at me."
Ethan nods. "You did good. Take the rest of the night off."
Daddy shakes his head quickly. "No. It was nothing. I'm not leaving."
Aww. Is it because of me?
I want to ask, but even I know it's not the right time.
"I'm the boss," Ethan says flatly, "and I'm telling you. Take the rest of the night off." He walks away, his word final.
"Can we reschedule our plans for tomorrow?" I ask, hopeful.
