Victor eyed the closest painting. “What a dump. This place needs some work.”
My hand tightened on the glass as I fought back my need to defend Jack’s bar.
“Was what your man said true?” Victor asked. “Has he never made you come?”
The question shocked me. Silence stretched between us. I blinked, realizing I was staring at the bar’s logo on a black shirt in front of me. Jack was standing there, his face still as he stared back at me. He cleared his throat, rubbing a hand against his neck.
“Uh, can I get you anything else?” he asked.
Victor’s arm tightened around me. “I think we’re ready to—”
“Another drink!” I blurted out.
Jack nodded, eyeing Victor as he moved away.
Victor’s arm slid away. “Be careful, Hailey. A little alcohol helps you loosen up, but too much and you can get too tired to play.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, not willing to admit to him I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol that night.
Victor stiffened next to me. “Look at me,” he snapped.
My eyes met his as if pulled by a string.
“I understand you’re nervous, but I’ll only let you delay for so long.”
His expression looked like it had when he’d called his girlfriend a bitch. My heart thundered louder in my ears.
“I’m going to close out our tabs once that bartender returns. It’s time to go.” His beard tickled my cheek as he drew closer. “It’s time to let me do all sorts of nasty things to you.”
His words sounded more like a threat than a promise. I stared over his shoulder, seeing Sean in the doorway, his arms folded, a scowl on his face as he looked back at me.
“N-no,” I whispered.
Victor pulled away, letting me breathe again, even though his eyes had narrowed in a chilling way. “What do you mean, ‘no’? Neil told me this would be a sure thing.”
Some of the ice inside me melted with the flare of anger at his words. I swallowed, leaning away from him. “I decide who I sleep with, and I’m saying no.” The words wobbled at the end, but I lifted my chin anyway.
“You bitch,” Victor spat, leaning toward me and making my heart hammer.
An arm moved between us from the other side of the bar, slapping a receipt down. “Your tab is closed. Go ahead and leave,” Jack said.
The painful thudding inside my chest didn’t slow at all, even when Victor leaned back. He snatched the pen, marking a big, bold zero where the tip line was and signing his name. I couldn’t seem to breathe when he stood, hovering over me.
“No wonder your man wanted to fuck someone else. Your legs are sewn shut.” Victor turned around and stalked out.
When I finally took a breath, it seemed to heave and shudder. A hand landed over mine on the bar, squeezing gently.
“Hey, you’re okay.”
I lifted my gaze to see Jack staring back at me, his brows pulled together in concern.
“You’re okay,” he repeated.
“Dodged a bullet with that one,” Sean rumbled as he settled onto the barstool beside me. His large hand rubbed my back, softer than I would have expected it to feel. It didn’t give me the urge to jerk away from him. “I was worried you were going to leave with that guy.”
I swallowed, still shaking. “Me too,” I mumbled.
“I was surprised those were the ones you were meeting.” Sean pulled his arm away when I stiffened. “No judgment, honey. I just didn’t think you were the type.”
