I squeezed his hand. "You have no idea."
Vivienne watched us go, her smile fixed, her gaze trailing after us all the way to the checkout.
I got through the line fast, paid with cash, and hustled Bryce to the car before she could find us again.
He buckled in and said, "Can we get burgers for lunch?"
I ruffled his hair. "Best idea you’ve had all day."
We pulled out of the lot, and only after the stoplight did the tension drain out of my shoulders.
Chapter 15
Zaden
I leaned on the bar,swirling a rag inside a pint glass. The speakers pumped a playlist of outlaw country and ‘90s alt-rock. The place was as clean as it ever got.
I was mid-polish when the sound of tires on gravel made me look up. A battered Silverado eased to the curb. The guy behind the wheel was a wolf. I'd seen him around. Broad-shouldered, military cut, the kind of gait of an enforcer. He hustled around to the passenger side and coaxed a kid out.
The kid followed, shoes kicking up dust. The man led him straight to the bar, bypassing the tables. He stopped in front of me on the other side of the bar. "Krystal here?"
I jerked my chin at the kitchen doors. "She’s cutting limes. She’ll be out in a sec."
The man eyed me for a moment. "You with the Beck Clan?"
"I am. Zaden Roberts." I held out my hand.
He shook my hand. "Jack Griffen, wolf pack enforcer." He placed a hand on the kid’s head. "This is Krystal's son, Bryce. I tried tocall her to let her know my son caught a stomach bug. Nathan's not home. Elle is helping Erin at the Inn. Sorry I had to bring him here."
"No problem. Bryce is safe here. Like I said, Krystal is in the kitchen."
Jack nodded, then turned to Bryce. "You’ll be fine, yeah?"
The kid rolled his eyes. "Yes. I’m good."
The man ruffled his hair, then made a hasty exit.
I let the moment sit, then slid a ginger ale across the bar. "On the house. With a cherry."
Bryce eyed the glass, then me. "Aren’t you supposed to ID me first?"
I smirked. "Only if you’re ordering the good stuff. Besides, you look like a man who can handle his soda."
He cracked a smile, took a tentative sip. The way he held the glass, left hand, fingers splayed, never letting it rest on the bar, reminded me of someone. Took me a second to realize it was me. When I drank, I did the same thing. Never trusted the surface not to get sticky or slide out from under me.
The dragon in my chest purred, pleased at the parallel. I ignored it.
"You want to hang out back, or here at the bar?" I asked, keeping it casual.
Bryce shrugged again. "I’ll stay here, if that’s okay. I got a book."
He dug a paperback from his backpack, battered and taped at the spine. I peeked at the title. Some fantasy epic, all dragonsand castles and airbrushed warriors on the cover. I almost laughed.
"You like that stuff?" I asked.
He nodded, flipping to his place. "It’s better than reality most days."
"Depends on the day," I said.
