“With pleasure.” Cole smirks.
He grabs the guy by the neck and hauls him toward the door, his protests fading as they disappear outside.
“You okay, baby girl?” Hunter asks, searching my face. “Wanna head home early?”
“I’m fine, handsome.” I force a breath, adrenaline buzzing under my skin. “Nothing I couldn’t have handled on my own.”
Around us, the bar keeps moving. Girls shout with laughter, pool balls crack against felt, nineties music thumps through the jukebox. I look around. It’s packed tonight—bodies pressed close, the air thick with sweat, fried food, and alcohol. My heart races, loud and fast.
Yeah, I’ve missed this.
“You guys good?” Asher asks, stepping up behind Hunter, a rack of empty glasses balanced in his hand.
“Yeah, man.” Hunter claps him on the shoulder.
Moments later, Cole strolls back inside. He slides onto the stool in front of me, knuckles tapping on the bar in a slow rhythm, and gives Hunter a sharp nod.
“You want some ice for them?” Hunter asks.
His knuckles are red, cracked, and swollen. I gasp,reaching into the ice bin. Scooping up a handful, I wrap it in a towel and hand it over to him along with a beer.
“Thanks,” he grunts, voice rough, as he lifts the towel to his hands. He doesn’t offer more, and I guess he doesn’t need to.
“You wanna tell me what you’re doing here?” Hunter asks, eyes narrowing. “Heard the boys passed through while I was gone.”
Cole leans back with a lazy smirk that doesn’t reach his dark eyes. “We’re looking for someone. The guys were told not to stop in this town. Sorry about that.” His words are curt, clipped.
“Alright. Don’t make a habit of it,” Hunter replies.
“Just passing through. Appreciate your hospitality,” Cole says.
He throws back the rest of his beer, taps his knuckles against the bar once more, and stands. Without another word, he walks out.
I stare after him, curiosity prickling at the back of my neck. Who the hell was that? Why have I never seen him before? I raise a brow at Hunter. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to the side.
“Cole’s from Ashfalls,” he says, his voice low, so only I can hear. “Someone you don’t want on your bad side. He came through years ago, on one of your nights off. Struck up an understanding with Asher and me.”
Odd, but okay. I trust Hunter and Asher and know they’d do anything to keep this bar—and this town—safe. I rise onto my toes and press a kiss to Hunter’s lips.
“Hey, Queen.”
Connor’s voice cuts through the moment, and I spin, spotting him at the far end of the bar, towel slung over hisshoulder as he pours a beer. He tilts his head toward a booth, and my jaw drops. My pulse quickens.Could this be…
I nudge Hunter, grinning, and point to where my attention has been taken.
“Well, would you look at that? Hank actually took your hints after all,” he says.
I bite back a laugh, trying not to get too excited. My fingers curl around Hunter’s arm as I watch my mom say something, and Hank’s eyes light up, his head tipping back as he laughs. Oh, I can’t wait to grill her with all the questions.
Mom has been in my corner every step of the way, and seeing her finally doing something for herself, and watching Hank smile across from her instead of sitting in front of me with grief shadowing his eyes… is everything I hoped for.
Two girls flag me down, and I slip back into work mode. A few orders later, I pour a wine and a beer and carry them over to Mom and Hank.
“Hand it over,” Mom says, smirking as she holds her hand out.
“Damn, Madison.” Hank chuckles, shaking his head. “You could have waited ten more minutes.”
I set the drinks down, glancing between them. “I’m afraid to ask.”
