I eye the empty bottles before my gaze scans the space.
The bar seems even more packed than usual as the live band plays in the corner. Some people are dancing in the middle of the room where the tables were cleared to create space for a dance floor, but there is no waitress in sight.
I lean toward Jessica, my lips brushing against her ear. “I’m going to the bar to order another round.”
“You’re going to miss all the fun.” She giggles softly.
I glance at our best friends. “I’m not too worried. Try to prevent them from killing each other?”
Jessica shakes her head. “I’m not making any promises.”
A snort escapes me. Leaning down, I press my lips against her forehead before getting to my feet. I move through the crowd toward the bar, noticing a few familiar faces. Some people nod in my direction, recognition and approval evident in their eyes. I return the gesture as I slide to the bar and wait for Mickto finish on the other side, my gaze darting back to our table where Jessica is biting her lip while Mae and Nico continue their discussion.
She catches my gaze from across the room, and even from here, I can see the amusement dancing in her irises.
“What can I getcha?” I turn to Mick and place our order, asking him to send it to our table. I’m just about to push off when I overhear a familiar, petulant voice behind me.
“He can have her for all I care,” Damien grumbles, his words slurring. The guy is drunk again.
My fingers curl and uncurl by my sides as I grind my teeth.
He’s not worth?—
“I already stretched that pussy reeeal good. Did I tell you she was a virgin?”
His words make me freeze in my spot, his cackles echoing in my ears.
“I thought I could mold her to what I wanted, but the frigid bitch only gets hot at the idea of work.”
Red.
I see fucking red.
I spin on my heel before I can think it through, my fingers wrapping around the collar of the asshole’s shirt and pulling him to his feet.
“Say that again.”
His eyes are wide when they meet mine, his throat bobbing as he swallows.
“Let’s hear it.” I shake him a little. “Not so brave now, are we? Huh? You have the guts to talk shit with your buddies over there, but not in front of me?”
“Let. Me. Go,” he pants, trying to struggle out of my hold, but it’s useless. His cheeks are beet red. “I’m going to?—”
“What?”
I drop him suddenly, and he trips over his own feet, barely managing to stay upright. He’s bent forward, hands pressed against his knees as he tries to catch his breath.
“What will you do, asshole?”
He looks up, his pupils are blown, swallowing his irises as he glares at me. “Fuck you.”
He stands upright, and I move toward him, using the few inches I have on him to my advantage. “Say it again to my face.”
The corner of his mouth twitches upward. “You want to hear it?”
I take another step toward him, but it’s like the guy doesn’t possess a drop of self-preservation.
Good.
