One missed call, but it’s not from Josie. Si called twenty minutes ago. I hit the redial button and wait for him to pick up.
“Vik,” his annoyed answer sparks an idea in my head.
“Your wife home?” I ask.
“No,” he growls, probably feeling about the same as I do right now.
“She leave you a note?”
“No.”
Oh boy. This should be good.
“You know where they’re at?”
“They’re at Duke’s. Blaze’s got eyes on them. But I’m headed over there now. I suggest you do the same. He said they’re on their second round of doubles.”
“I’ll be there in ten.” I slam the phone down, leaving it on the charger, while I get dressed.
The heavy wood door slams shut behind me, and the noise of the place hits like a right hook. It’s overwhelming, enough to stun for a second. I scan the crowded bar looking for the jet black hair and curvy body I could outline within a millimeter with my eyes closed.
“Hey, boss, over here,” Blaze calls out, grabbing my attention.
His back’s against the wall, boot kicked up with his arms crossed against his chest. He casually watches the entire room like it’s a war zone overseas and not a dive bar in our small town.
Si’s backed into the corner, shadows hiding his large frame, eyes locked on one thing across the room. I follow his stare and find the girls seated in a rounded booth, laughing at the top of their lungs.
God, she’s beautiful. A carefree smile plasters across her face as she tips her head back with another full-body laugh at something Harlow says animatedly. Her cheeks are tinged pink from the alcohol coursing through her system, if the collection of empty shot glasses is anything to go by. I don’t know what their plan was for getting home, if they’re all keeping up with my wife, but hopefully, they had a better one than calling a random car for a ride.
“How long have they been here?” I ask Blaze, grabbing a beer from the bucket on the table in front of Si.
“About an hour. That’s their third round, it’s kind of impressive.” He lets out a shocked scoff.
His eyes darken, narrowing brows pinching with concern. I swing my gaze back to the girls, and immediately clock what the reaction’s for. I’d intended to let them enjoy their night. Shit, if anyone needs one, it’s Josie. That’s right, until some young buck with his polo shirt sidles up to their table.
Chairs scrape against the hardwoods as Si and I both jump to our feet, ready to haul ass across the packed bar. The girls still, their laughter immediately drying up, as the kid with a fucking death wish leans in closer to Harlow.
“Oh, shit,” Silas whispers, knowing damn well his woman is seconds away from being hauled into the jail cell we just managed to vacate.
“Time to go, boys.”
Halfway through beating back the crowd to get across the dance floor, a whisp of dark hair catches my eye between a couple two-stepping. When we make it to the other side, Harlow’s got the guy bent over the table, his arm pulled behind his back at a very awkward angle, and she’s tipping a half-full pitcher above his head. His buddies are starting to take an interest now that she’s shown her hand.
Letting Si deal with her, I scan around the table, but all I find is a flushed Charlie egging Harlow on. Before we’re kicked out and I lose Josie completely, I turn on my heels and beeline for the only other place she could be right now.
The narrow hall is just wide enough for a single person, and the lack of lights, aside from the glow of the exit sign at the end, confirms that no one else is waiting back here.
Just my luck.
The woman’s bathroom has double stalls, but only one is closed. Flipping the lock on the door so no one interrupts, I wait for Josie to finish, leaning against the sink with my boot kicked out in front of me.
She stumbles out, hip-checking the door, eyes cast to the floor. She’s had more than enough liquor if she’s this far gone. Another round and she’d been face down on the table.
The skin over my knuckles stretches against my fist. I want to haul her over my knee and redden her ass for putting herself in this state. It’s one thing at the club, where the last thing I have to worry about is her safety, but here around these fucking wanna be cowboys and rich pricks slumming it on our side of town… I can’t even finish the thought.
“Celebrating your newfound freedom already, wife?”
She startles, a little yelp escaping her lips as her eyes finally fly up from the floor.
