I watched him slap something against the dresser before he poked his head in.
“You know, in case you actually want to eat there as well instead of starving on our watch.”
I looked at the wad of cash he had left behind, almost like he had read my mind. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he grumbled as his boot steps faded down the hallway.
I waited until I couldn’t hear him. I waited until I thought he was down the steps for good, then I raced over to the tray. I scooped up the money and unfolded it, trying to organize it into some semblance of understanding. And as I counted it out, my eyes widened.
Jesus fuck, the man had given me three hundred bucks.
“This is such a bad idea,” I murmured to myself.
You know, before I stashed the money in my bra.
A smile overtook my face as I raced out of the room. I held the book tightly, making my way into the basement to try and scrounge an outfit together. Over the past few days, Dutch and Trooper had brought me some things. A pair of sweatpants. Some t-shirts. Troop brought a summer dress he thought I’d like, even though it fit me horribly. Still, they tried, and I picked through the few straggling things before I found that a comfortable set of leggings and a fresh t-shirt was perfect for a relaxing day in the corner booth of a bar.
I was going to make it a day of drinks and snacks while I read a book. A day for me. A day for myself that I hadn’t taken in so long. A day off where I didn’t have someone to entertain, or someone’s friends to put on a face for, or a father to take care of that needed a care facility more than he did a loving, doting daughter. I slipped into the soft leggings and pulled the shirt over my head. It was baggy as hell, but I didn’t care. It gave my body room to breathe, which was something it hadn’t had lately, and it made me step outside with a smile on my face.
It made me hopeful for the first time in… years.
“Now,” I said as I threw open the front door, “which one of you is Bury?”
Six men shot to their feet and practically barricaded me inside.
“Ranger told me someone named Bury could take me to some bar up the road for a drink?” I asked.
The man in the middle folded his arms over his chest. “Did he now?”
The dingy looking man with dirt on his face attempted to pin me with a look, but I was much too immune to that. Every single one of these guys had a stare that could have killed, but the problem was that I didn’t care.
At the end of the day, they were just boys.
And boys didn’t frighten me one bit.
“Yeah, he did,” I said as I took a step toward him, “so, are we heading out? Or, do I need to ask someone else to take me?”
The guys all turned their stares toward Bury, who raked his gaze up and down my body.
“Well?” I asked.
He sighed as he stepped off to the side. “Get in the car. I’ll drive.”
I smiled politely. “Thank you, Bury.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he murmured.
I sauntered toward the car, knowing damn good and well those guys were staring at me. Men were so easy. A little sway of the hips. A little flutter of the eyelashes. A little hair flip before a nice “thank you,” and they were putty in your hands. These guys were no different. They enjoyed salivating over a woman just like the next guy did.
So, I decided to give them a show.
A show that never made them question who really had control.
I busied myself with my book as the car lurched forward. I swear, it sank closer to the road whenever Bury shifted himself, and I wondered if we’d even get there before the engine started scraping against the black asphalt. It was humorous, honestly. Like a clown car stuffed to the brim with giants from the top of the beanstalk.
Still, when we pulled up to the bar, a giddy sort of excitement flushed its way through my veins.
“I’ll be outside when you’re ready to head back,” Bury said as he parked the car.
