The anger dissolved and a lump formed in my throat. Inexplicably, tears stung the backs of my eyes.
Don’t cry, don’t cry.
I looked down and ran my fingers over the smooth lines of my ring, breathing deeply. Willing the emotion away. “Do what you need to do then. Because if one of my friends is in trouble, I’m not leaving them.”
Friendsfelt like a massive stretch. Karson was right—I barely knew them—but something inside me could never walk past as others suffered.
His jaw twitched. He explored my eyes for a long moment. He had a way of looking at me as if he was seeing beyond the outline of my face, seeking the unspoken words that lay written inside my mind.
He didn’t know my anguish was over Tom, but he could see I was battling tears. He thrust a hand through his hair and retreated. “Are you hurt?”
I drew in a shuddering breath. “No. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure you aren’t injured?” Now, he seemed oddly fixed on that, like I was a delicate creature perched on the edge of crumbling.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so close to the truth.
“I said, I’m fine,” I repeated, exasperated.
Shelley placed a box of rubber gloves on the table. “Amy, can you give me a hand cleaning up the mess, please?”
I turned away from Karson, glad for the distraction. I collected a dustpan and broom, glancing back as Karson strode out the door.
We finished cleaning up as best we could half an hour or so later, but the bar was going to need a few new tables, a pool cue, and a ton of glasses.
“Drink, Amy?” Grace asked, holding a scotch out.
I hated scotch, but it would help calm my nerves. I accepted the drink and took a sip, screwing up my face as the liquid burned down my throat.
BJ sat at the bar with Georgie and Jodie, looking much better now that his face was wiped clean of blood. I sat next to him and set my glass down; even the stress of the night couldn’t override the taste.
“Are you okay? Are you sure your nose isn’t broken?” I peered at it closely. It was swollen but appeared straight.
He grimaced and sighed. “No, I don’t think so. I’m okay. I’m really sorry about what happened.”
Jodie placed her hand on his arm. “It’s not your fault, BJ. He groped me. You were very brave.”
BJ didn’t look pleased with her compliment; he looked despondent.
I leaned across and nudged him lightheartedly with my shoulder. “Next time you pick a fight, can you choose someone more your own size?”
“Next time you pick a fight, Benjamin, I’m going to let you get your ass kicked,” Ethan’s irate voice sung out from the end of the bar. “And don’t even get me started onyouractions, Amy.”
He gave me such an angry look that I had to avert my gaze. I peered back as he gulped down the rest of his drink and strode out.
I took a deep breath and collected myself. “Come on, Rocky,” I said to BJ. “Let me take you and the girls home.”
Georgie hooked her arm through mine. “I’m still picking you up on Monday, and we’re going shopping.”
After all this, she was still determined to get me in a dress. I groaned, but a smile edged my lips.
Chapter 21
Black Death
She found the place she was looking for in an alley, in a seedy part of town. It was discreet, with black windows bordered by black brickwork.
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside. The sound of buzzing filled the small store. A goth-looking girl, covered in more tattoos than bare skin, sketched on the arm of a young man.
