Chapter 7
The noise levelin the bar rose, ricocheting in Kira’s head. The boisterous guffaws and chatter drowned out the sounds of the television. She really needed some serious shut-eye. Hours of it. But with Tomas missing, it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
Inhaling a tired breath, she picked up her tray from the counter and navigated the packed bar to the back table. A half hour more, and she could leave… Týr would be here. Her tummy dipped at the thought—
“Hey, sweet-cheeks?” A sweaty, rotund man slung his arm around her waist. “How about another round here? The usual, and bring your sweet smile, too.”
“Sure. Coming right up.” Kira forced asweet smilewhile peeling off the drunk’s fingers from her hips. If he touched her again, she would clobber him.
“Hey…” Someone put a hand on her back.
“What?” She spun around, ready to thump another touchy-feely idiot with her tray. And frowned. “Riley?”
“Yeah. You look a little…harassed.” Those bright green eyes searched hers in concern. “You okay?
Kira nodded, blowing a few escaped strands of hair away from her face. “Just tired. Had lots to do recently, and not enough sleep. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, I’m good. Can we talk? It’s important. Somewhere quiet would be better.”
Aw, man. She groaned.
A wry chuckle escaped him. “You forgot.”
“No, I remembered, then…yeah, I forgot. Sorry.” Kira scrunched her nose with a rueful look. “Wait, I know the perfect place. Give me a sec.” She hurried to the counter, squeezed through the customers, and set her tray down. “Brian?” she yelled. “Can I use your office for a few minutes?”
“Sure…” His gaze shifted behind her. “I trust you.”
Kira crossed her eyes in exasperation. As if she had any shenanigans planned, which, even if she did, she certainly wouldn’t tell her boss. “Come.” She smiled at Riley and made her way down the short passage to the cramped back office. Her cell buzzed. She retrieved it from her apron pocket. Not Liam or Shadow, but some darn spam message.
Riley shut the door behind him, cutting off the noise from the bar.
“So?” Kira set her phone onto the cluttered desk, dropped onto Brian’s rickety chair and arched a curious brow. “You’re all mysterious.”
After a moment, Riley gingerly lowered himself to the creaky old leather seat opposite her. Arms braced on his thighs, he leaned forward. “Did you ever wonder about your parents?”
Of all things, that was the last question she expected. Kira stared at him in confusion. “Yes, often. Not that it helps since they both died when I was one. Why?”
Riley rubbed his jaw as if in contemplation. “Your father…sent me.”
She snorted. “Yeah, sure. Look, I’ve work to do—”
“He’s not dead, Kira.”
At his solemn expression, she blinked. Wait, he was serious?
“No…” She shook her head. Old, painful memories speared her mind, the many parent-teacher meetings, the school plays, her piano recitals, and only Gran there for her. Worse, the pity she got from the other kids’ parents. That and the childhood taunts…they all spilled free from the box she’d shoved all her old hurts into.Poor orphan Kira!
“Kira—”
“No!”She lurched to her feet, sending the chair skating back. “My father is dead. It’s cruel of you to play this game.” It was something she’d yearned for so badly when she was younger. And now this. “Besides, my grandmother would have said something.”
“She doesn’t know.”
“And why wouldyou?” she demanded.
When Riley didn’t respond, an icy shiver slid down her spine. Kira wrapped her arms around her trembling body. “Why now? Why not at my high school graduation—or, hell, my twenty-first birthday?” Anger and hurt swept through her.
Riley rose to his feet. “I cannot say. I suppose he’ll explain everything when he sees you.”
