“Boss, stop!”
I pull off a glove, reaching into my boot for my blade, when Antonio’s hand on my shoulder brings my attention back to the bloody pulp on the ground.
“Is he dead?” one of his friends half demands, his voice full of panic.
“Why?” I growl, my chest heaving. “You wanna be next?” Antonio offers me his hand, and I stagger upright. “Fucking lowlife.”
He groans as I boot him in the thigh.
“You two, fuck off,” I growl, sliding my knife away.
“Drugs are very bad for your health, boys.” Antonio waggles an admonishing finger. “Same for if we find you still in Gib tomorrow.”
“What about…?” Wide-eyed and terrified, they hesitate. Prevaricate. Should they stay, or should they go?
“He’s not dead.” I swipe my wrist over my mouth. “But he won’t be using his boyish good looks to attract any more girls. Call an ambulance,” I address Antonio with a jerk of my chin. “I’m going back inside.”
Gravel crunches as the assholes take off. The man on the ground groans. In the darkness, I notice how the gloves shine wet and dark.
Were they chestnut or burgundy before?
“Looks like I owe him a new pair.” Throwing them Antonio’s way, I begin to walk away when he clears his throat.
“What?” I ask, spinning back.
His eyes on mine, he points at the placket of his own shirt.
I look down and curse. My once white shirt is now a very different color. “Give me yours,” I demand, already slipping off my jacket.
“Boss?”
“Hurry the fuck up.”
“There he is!”
Lavender throws out her arms, and Leo stands as I approach the table.
“He promised you hadn’t bailed,” she says, pointing at Leo.
“And she didn’t believe me,” he mutters, stepping back to allow me to take my seat.
“Where’d you go?”
“Everything okay?” I murmur.
Leo nods. “She seems fine. Maybe a little buzzed.” He shrugs uncomfortably.
“Hey, don’t talk about me like I’m not here.”
I turn back to find Lavender’s arms folded across her chest, a scowl on her face. “Where were you? I came back from the ladies, excited to bust a few more shapes, but you weren’t here?” She leans in, her gaze narrowed. “Neither was my previous dance partner. Funny, that.”
“He had to leave.”
Her eyes dip to my shirt. “Did he still have all his teeth?”
“What do you take me for?”
“That I’m not sure of yet.”
