Page 28

“What do you want, Benson?”

His cold brown eyes watch me as I pull free of him.

“You haven’t paid up yet.”

I let out a hiss. “I’ll have the money tonight.”

He nods and lets me go. I hate everything about him. He’s the worst kind of asshole. The kind that preys on the weak and needy. But one who has no principles, who isso fucking dangerous. He’s the kind of alpha who will rob a starving widow and beat a disabled child.

He’s pure evil.

But he’s charismatic, so he’s got a nice little following. People who claim to see the bigger picture and don’t care about their souls on the way there.

His thugs’ eyes rove over my body, not even trying to hide their vile appreciation. It makes me want to be sick.

I catch movement at the door and see Bailey walk in without a care in the world.

Tension rockets up my spine. The fear that Bailey and Benson will meet is crippling. The worry of what would happen and how hurt Bailey would get makes me feel nauseous.

I ignore him and go to the bar, resuming my normal jobs while I wait. I’m barely functioning as I watch the two of them eye each other like rabid animals.

Benson stands up. He’s got a bald and oiled head, with tatts all over his face. I’ve met some incredible people with face tatts, but, this guy, he’s the one that gives them all a bad name.

He heads towards Bailey, who sits back and watches him come.

“Who are you?”

I discreetly reach below the bar, my hand on the emergency button that will spray neutralizing pheromones into the air that will stun them enough to distract and delay a confrontation. Beside it is a gun. We’re not supposed to have it, we don’t have a license for it, but the first thing Kent did was take me out and show me how to fire it.

“Passing through.”

“Uh-uh,” Benson leans over Bailey’s table. “Make sure this is your last visit, ey?”

Bailey smirks, not at all cowed. “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready, friend.”

“I aintcha friend, you ugly fucker!”

Benson stabs a knife down into the tabletop. I move my hand to the gun.

“Fine. Let’s go back to having drinks,” Bailey says without a care in the world, and I remember how easily he killed Lester. Maybe Bailey can hold his own?

My gaze finds Benson’s friends. No, he can’t.

I can see Benson wants to continue giving Bailey hell, but he’s got nothing that he canattack. Bailey, for once, is being completely calm and neutral.

I’m not sure why, but I appreciate it all the same. I watch as Benson and his guys leave. He pauses in the doorway and looks at me, a knowing, ugly look, and I can predict what’s coming before he even speaks.

“Until tonight, Selene.”

I feel dirty, the way he basically claims me in front of all these people. I can’t even say anything back because he’s gone before I can stop him.

Not that I would stop him.

I want him gone.

I just don’t want Bailey thinking I’m going to fuck him later. Hold on, that’s right, I don’t give a fuck.

With a growl, I wipe down the bar, serving everyone who comes up, and deliberately refusing to look at Bailey as he sits in the back shadows and watches me.