Jess spoke up. I could feel Phoenix tensing with fear.
“Welcome to Tom’s Billiards. What sort of a drink can I make you all?”
The two Saints looked at her like she was springing a trap. I couldn’t even imagine how on edge Phoenix must have felt. I was just worried about violence. He was worried about his loved one.
“Give me a fucking vodka soda,” the Saint closest to her said. “On the rocks, and hurry it the fuck up.”
“Yeah, don’t make us fucking wait,” the other Saint said. “Although you are kind of cute. Maybe you can take your time if you take your time with us later.”
I extended my foot to block Phoenix from moving forward. As much as I wanted him to stand up for Jess, he had to have known how long she’d kept Brewskis under control. She would know how to handle a couple of asshole bikers like this—and if she couldn’t, we’d just shoot these guys in the back.
“While such a notion is sweet, I’d rather just take the money,” she said.
However, true to her job, she produced two vodka sodas in a matter of seconds. I couldn’t imagine the Saints were going to pay for that, but I figured that outcome was far better than them not getting their drinks.
“Why not both, sexy?” the first man said. “I could make it well worth your while.”
Jess smiled her professional-but-distanced smile.
“I’ll take it under consideration.”
A few seconds of silence passed. The tension seemed to deescalate, if only momentarily. Shit would pick back up soon enough, but if we were able to just turn down the dial from a hundred to even eighty, we might just be able to avoid death.
“By the way,” the second Saint said. “You’re a cutie, but surely, there must be more women in this bar, right?”
Lilly, don’t you dare come out. Jess…
“Nope,” she said. “This is just a local dive bar. It’s the four of you in here and me.”
“Oh, really?” the first Saint said sarcastically. “Because I heard that there were some good-looking gals here, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to lie to us about that.”
“Why would I lie?” Jess said. “I want your tip money as bad as you want a good drink. Yeah, sometimes, cute girls come through this bar. But right now? It’s just you four gentlemen.”
The Saints went quiet. With their backs turned to us, I couldn’t see their faces, but Jess was handling this situation with an aplomb most bartenders would not have.
“How long ago was there a woman in here?” the first Saint said.
“I dunno, time doesn’t really mean much when you’re—”
“Quit fucking playing stupid.”
Jess smiled, but for a glimmer of a second, I could see the façade cracking. At Brewskis, I think I’d seen her kick someone out twice, and both times, she had done so with poise. Whether because she was protecting Lilly in particular or because Brewskis had already burned down, that poise was not as steady as it had been before.
And if the poise could not stand up, Phoenix and I would have to.
“Well, if you must know, by my best guess, probably earlier today, couple hours,” Jess said. “Of course, I’m not sure why it matters at this point, seeing as how they’re probably home and—”
“There’s someone here,” the first Saint said. “Where is she?”
Jess shrugged.
“She is right here,” Jess said, pointing to herself. “But—”
“OK, you know what?” the second Saint said. “If there are no women here, then you won’t mind if I use the women’s bathroom, would you?”
“Actually, I do mind—”
“Too bad, it’s a free country!” he said as he started laughing.
