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From a dark corner of the room, came a rumble of discontentment. Vlad leaned forward into the light, illuminating his hulking figure.

“If you don’t like my appetite,” he growled with a thick Russian accent. “Don’t come crying to me when you need a warrior to fight your battles for you, pirate.”

Blackbeard flashed a charming smile—white teeth, tan skin—bracing his hands on the counter.

“You saypiratelike it’s a bad thing. I’ll win you over one day, you gigantic freak of nature.”

“Not in this lifetime,” Vlad muttered into his beer.

I rolled my eyes as I took a seat at the bar.

“Squabbling like children, as always.”

“I certainly hope you didn’t expect us to be on our best behavior, boss,” Blackbeard said. “I don't think we're capable of that. Besides, that would be boring as hell.”

I waved him off.

“Just pour me a whiskey, will you?”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Didn’t you get loaded up with meds during your stay-in-vacation at the hospital? Alcohol and drugs don’t mix well.”

“What’s your point? I’m a free man now, and I want a drink. I’m sure you heard that Hattie stopped by to pay me a visit.”

Might as well get it over with and address the elephant in the room,I thought.

Blackbeard winced.

“I’ll get you that whiskey.”

Baby Doll retrieved a beer from the bar and tossed it to Crash, who lingered by the doorway, looking unsure of himself.

“Don’t be shy,” she said. “Come in. Get settled. Most of us won’t bite.”

“Most of you?” he squeaked.

She chuckled.

“If that has you spooked, you’re hanging with the wrong crowd, buddy. We can do so much worse than a friendly little love-bite around here.”

Crash scanned the room, clutching the beer as if his life depended on it. Leaving him to fend for himself, Baby Doll slid onto the stool next to me. She propped her elbows on the bar, leaning closer like we were sharing a secret.

“So, I’ve been thinking.”

“That usually means bad news for the rest of us,” I said. “Go on.”

“Why don’t I set you up with a lady friend to keep you company? I can think of three names off the top of my head who would be perfect for you. It’s been a while since you dated, right? Might be just what you need to take your mind off Hattie.”

I’m not yours anymore, Neil. You have no claim on me. I can flirt with anyone I want to.

I closed my eyes at the memory of Hattie’s words, inhaling a breath to steady myself. More than enough time had passed. I should have put myself out there again, should have found another woman to soothe the ache of emptiness in my bed.

I just couldn’t do it. Hattie was the only one I wanted. My first long-term relationship. The first woman I hoped to share my life with, instead of spending the night together just to scratch a mutual itch and burn off some adrenaline. I never proposed to anyone else—never dreamed of it, let alone thought about it every waking moment.

I’d entertained the idea of hooking up with someone else after the divorce, of course. And with the President patch on my chest, it wasn’t particularly difficult to catch a woman’s eye.

But I couldn’t take her home. Not to the house I used to share with Hattie. It felt wrong, like a betrayal.