Watched her move confidently between tables.
Watched her handle a rude customer with a calm voice and a steady hand.
Watched her tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear when she thought no one was looking.
She hadn't seen him yet.
And he wasn't sure if he wanted her to.
He wasn't here to interfere.He wasn't there to drag her back into his world.All he wanted to do was see if she was okay.
That she was safe.
That she was building something that didn't involve Sonny or Cusclan or fear.
While Kodiak hadn't forced him to drill Lydia about what she knew regarding the deal Royalla had struck with Cusclan, he was aware that she had to know.She was brought to two meetings.Even if she couldn't hear every little detail, she knew too much.
That was enough to get men killed and the whole club thrown into prison.It only took one rat to go to the police to destroy everyone's life and destroy Royalla.
Patty slid two menus onto the table."You boys eating or ogling my employees?"
"Coffee," Baddy said.
"Burger and fries," Duke added."You hire the prettiest girls around Vancouver."
"Of course, I do."Patty patted Duke's cheek."That's the difference between a smart business owner and one that goes bankrupt."
Duke chuckled, and Patty walked off.Baddy leaned back in the booth, arms crossed, eyes drifting back to Lydia.
Yeah.
She was doing fine.
His mood settled.He'd done something good.His lifestyle was hard and unforgiving.There wasn't much chance to help others when all his energy was spent trying to keep his ass out of prison.
A moment later, Lydia approached with a coffee pot in hand.She didn't see him at first as she was focused on the table, on the cups, on not spilling.When she finally looked up, her breath hitched slightly.
"Coffee?"she asked.
"Yeah," he said, voice low.
She leaned in front of him as she poured.Her hand trembled.
"How are you doing?"he asked.
She kept her eyes on the cup."Good.The job's working out well."
Her voice was steady, but her fingers weren't.
His gaze went to the front of her shirt.It was scooped, showing a lot of cleavage."And your room?"
"It's fine."
Short answers.Too short.Like she'd practiced them, or she was lying.
Before he could push, someone at a booth called her name.She flinched and turned toward the sound.
"I'll be right back," she said, already moving.
