“You’re a piece ofshit, Dennis.” She pushed both shoulders this time, her voice raising.
“Okay, that’s gonna have to stop.”He caught her hand when she tried to throw a punch.
“What’re you gonna do about it, huh? Fight me, you piece of shit.” She pushed him again, rougher this time.
I could tell he was getting mad, but I knew for a fact he wouldn’t touch her. She was right; he was a better man than Kiro. I glanced at Sean.
“Go ahead,” he said.
I went around the bar and weaved through nosy onlookers to push my way between Melissa and my bind.
“Why the fuck areyouhere?”she demanded.
“Why do you think? He might not be willing to do anything, but I sure as hell am. Back the fuck up.”I pushed her a step back and away from Dennis.
“Or what?”
“I’ll kill you,” I said calmly. “Did you forget I’m a vampire now? Trust me when I say I willfuckyou up. Don’t test me.”
“You won’t do shit. You’re too scared to go to jail. No one here knows you yet. You won’t get special treatment like I do.”
“You think I’m scared of being locked up?” I laughed at her naïvety. “I’ve been to jail multiple times. They can lock me up again for all I care, I don’t give a fuck. I’ll find you the second I’m out and beat your ass again.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Oh no?”I paused long enough for her to double down.“I’m off work in a couple hours, if you wanna wait around and see. Or you can touch him again and see right now.”I stepped aside, leaving a clear path to Dennis. She didn’t move. “The choice is yours, hun. I’m good either way.”
“Fuck this. I don’t need to deal with either of you.”Shegrunted and stalked off, shoving her way past patrons and out the back door.
I turned to Dennis.“There you go, all gone. If you want me to deal with her later just say the word and it’s done.”I waited for a response but none came. “Okay?” I waited a few more seconds, but still nothing. “Well,I’m gonna go back to work now.”
“Thanks,”his response finally came.
“Anytime.”I patted his chest before going back to the bar.
“I’ve missed that Emy so much,” Arisaid affectionately.
“It’s what I do best.”I flipped my hair over a shoulder and went back to my customer.“Sorry about that,”I said, grabbing a glass to start his drink. “I’ll be fast, I promise.”
“No problem. I take it that’s your boyfriend?” he asked. I scrunched my nose and shook my head.“You must be bound, then.”
“Yup, that’s it.”I finished making his drink and dropped a straw in.
“Have you really been to jail?”He took a sip, watching me curiously.
“Oh, you heard that?”I asked distractedly;there was another customer trying to get my attention even though Sean and Nate were both nearby and had already offered to help him. Whatever. He could wait if he was being picky.
“I think most of the bar did.”The man laughed.
“Oopsie. Yeah, I’ve been a couple times.”
“Where’d you grow up? And what’s your name?”
“I’ve lived a few places but I’m from Newark, New Jersey. And I’m Mina.”
“Nice.”The guy nodded beforethe rest of hisgrouploudly beckoned him over.“I’ll be back for more in a bit.”He winked at me and walked away.
By the time I finished with the next couple customers, Ari was talking to Sean, Nate was helping the only remaining person, and Dennis was playing pool with two guys I’d never seen before.
