ONE
Shane Foti tookanother drink of what looked like whiskey on the rocks and studied the room reflected in the mirror behind the bar. Cocks and Strippers was jumping tonight, just like any other Saturday after nine. He nodded at the bartender who pointed at his glass and raised his eyebrows with a look that askedanother? Then Shane went back to sweeping the room. Typical crowd—women dressed for clubbing, guys sizing them up, gauging their chances at taking one home after a dance or two.
The bartender, Jimmy, walked over, but instead of setting another drink in front of Shane told him, “You’re cut off, friend.”
Finally.
Jimmy did a chin lift over Shane’s right shoulder. Shane watched the reflection of a man approaching a table where a lone woman sat nursing a Cosmo. She looked up at the guy’s charming smile and visibly relaxed as he presumably introduced himself, then sat down across from her. He pointed at the half-empty Cosmo and the woman smiled and nodded, then lifted the glass and finished off her drink in anticipation of the next one as the guy stood and walked to the bar.
If all went well—and Shane was sure it would—she’d never have the chance to taste it.
Jimmy turned his attention to the man now standing to Shane’s left. “What can I get you?”
“A Cosmo and a pint of that.” He pointed at the non-alcoholic option on tap at the other end of the bar. Jimmy nodded and started on the Cosmo. As Shane pulled out his phone, he spared a glance at the woman who was still waiting patiently at the table. Then he glared at the bartender’s back. Jimmy turned and set the Cosmo down in front of the man, then grabbed a pint glass and started toward the end of the bar. The man watched Jimmy’s retreating back as he passed his hand over the top of the Cosmo. Jimmy took his sweet time pouring the beer, pausing to talk to a huge guy with intelligent eyes who’d been watching the whole scene.
As soon as Jimmy returned, beer in hand, Shane downed the last of his drink and slammed the glass on the bar top. “Said I wanted another,” he slurred.
Jimmy hoisted the non-alcoholic beer. “Happy to get you one of these, friend.”
Shane snorted. “You think I’m in high school?” He pointed at his empty rocks glass. “Another one,now.”
“I’d like my beer, please,” the guy said. His voice was all charm but his eyes had gone as cold as a couple of ice chips.
Jimmy hesitated as he glanced at Shane.
Come on, man,he silently willed.
Then the guy next to him picked up the cocktail glass.
Perfect.
“Can you believe this asshole?” Shane asked, as he slammed his shoulder against the other man’s. Half the Cosmo sloshed over the rim and splashed onto the bar.
“Fuck!” the guy snarled.
Shane held up his hands. “My bad, my bad. I’ll buy your woman a new one.” Shane turned to Jimmy. “Set ’im up.”
Jimmy nodded and grabbed a new glass.
The guy’s mood abruptly shifted and he chuckled. “Hey, no need to dirty another glass. Just pour it into this one.”
Jimmy shook his head as he mixed the new drink. “That’s against the health code.”
A very tall waitress appeared as if by magic. “I’ll take it over to her,” she said.
“No, I got it,” The man said. “Don’t trouble yourself.”
Jimmy was already setting a fresh Cosmo on her tray. “No need.”
The man’s mood shifted again and his eyes blazed. “I said I’ve got it.” He grabbed for the Cosmo just as the waitress lifted the tray above her head and stepped back in one fluid movement. He turned to pick up the spilled Cosmo but Shane had already picked up the glass with a gloved hand and set it aside.
“What the hell is going on here?” He whipped his head back and forth, not sure where to direct his anger—at Shane, the waitress, or Jimmy.
He realized he was wrong on all counts the moment a huge hand dropped onto his shoulder.
“I think we need to take a walk outside,” growled the big man from down the bar.
“Take your hands off me,” the guy said as he half-turned. His face paled as he looked up—and up, and up—into Ben’s face.
