Page 10

10

Rye

This feels weird.

"Baby, just one more drink." A young woman that I've only seen a couple of times lays her head down on the bar, all the while she's lifting her glass up as if she's waiting for me to refill it.

"Sorry, sweetheart, I think you've had enough." I mutter and move away while her girlfriends try to persuade her to leave.

I've been running this bar for years, but this is the first time I've felt like maybe I'm not supposed to be here. Like there's something missing.

I already know what it is.

Bee.

When she told me this morning that she was going to head home, I didn't want to admit to her that I didn't want her to leave.

She had no reason to stay with me. She was through the most dangerous parts of the detoxing. She was proving to be capable of not running straight to another bar. More importantly, she's not my responsibility. Still, I wish there was a reason for me to keep her around. I like having someone to come home to. Someone to talk to besides the random customers looking to drink their emotions away.

Most of all, I love the way it felt to have her in the bed with me.

Every night that we slept together we started on opposite sides of the bed, but at some point in the night the both of us sought comfort in each other's arms. Most people look at me and just because I'm big and rough around the edges, they don't think I'm the type who likes to cuddle.

That shit is fucking awesome.

The feel of a soft woman tucked softly under my arm, her hair fanned out over my chest, her leg hooked around mine. It's perfect, at least it was with Bee.

Now, I'm alone again, and it's actually sort of depressing.

Looking around the bar, I realize that it's slow. I'm grateful for it.

Instead of worrying about who needs their drinks filled, I have the time to try to dig through my feelings for Bee. I know I shouldn't get attached, but it's hard. She's exactly my type of woman. The type that's always gotten me in trouble.

That should be enough of a warning, but of course it's not.

My mind is flooded with thoughts and images of Bee during the time she stayed with me. Even at her worst, she was absolutely breathtaking.

I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I'm not paying attention to the bar and the people inside of it. It's only when I hear the door slam that I look around and realize that there's only a handful of people left sitting at one of the tables. In front of them is the one person I absolutely don't want to see.

Evan.

The low-level henchman who has been making my life complete hell.

My muscles clench tight and I stare at the back of his head. Seconds later whatever he was telling the men in the corner make them get up and leave. I'm sure it was some sort of threat. That's the only reason Evan comes here.

To make threats.

Threats that I'm going to have to start taking serious.

About two years ago, I was in a bad fucking place. The bar was bombing and I didn't have the credit I needed to take a loan from the bank. I needed cash and quick.

So I did the only thing I could do. I borrowed from some fucked up people who did even more fucked up things. Sonny the Shark.

Thirty thousand dollars.

Fortunately, the bar hit a spike and business really starting booming.

I paid back every last dime and even seven thousand dollars in interest. I thought I was through with Sonny and all of his back alley connections. Unfortunately, it's two years later and for some reason he seems to think I'm still beholden to him.

He's nothing but a big fucking bully, and the last thing I'm going to do is let someone strong arm me. Only his threats are becoming more and more intense, and it's costing me business.

Evan is the only one so far that he's sent to talk to me.

"I've told you before, you're not welcomed here." I grit out as the last of my paying customers rushes out the door.

Evan turns in my direction and smiles at me. His teeth are rotten and cracked, but it doesn't stop him from flashing them any chance he gets. "Not welcomed. What do you mean? Where friends, aren't we? I mean, Sonny seems to think we should be very friendly."

"You can tell Sonny I don't need any more friends." I toss the rag in my hand down on the counter and cross my arms over my chest. There's no doubt that I can break every bone in Evan's face without much effort but the last thing I want is for Sonny to call anyone else in here to make a point.

"Yeah, sorry buddy, seems like you don't have much of a choice." Evan shrugs and walks closer to the bar.

His body order is so strong I have to take a step back. How the fuck does anyone let him get close to them.

"I don't owe you or Sonny shit. I've paid all my debt. I'm done with you." I keep my eyes on him. I don't know what he's got on him and I don't want to be caught off guard.

"Done with him?" Evan throws his head back and cackles, "You think you're ever going to be done with him. That man owns you. It doesn't matter what you've paid back, you asked him for a favor, and now he's going to need you to reciprocate." Evan settles his glare on me. "After all, this place wouldn't be here at all if you didn't get help from him. Don't be so difficult, just go along with the plan, and I promise you things will be smooth sailing from here on out. You're the only one who's holding out. You don't want to end up like the Greek restaurant down the street, do you? They tried to get out of the tax and things ended badly for them." Evan tilts his head, and my anger flares inside of me.

There were rumors that the fire that decimated the small restaurant was started because of Sonny, but I wasn't close enough with any of the business owners to really get the answers I needed. This wasn't a veiled threat. It felt like a full-blown attack.

If I didn't kowtow and give Sonny what he wanted, my entire way of life can be taken away from me. Yeah, I have insurance, but it wouldn't nearly cover the damages.

I could go to the cops, but they've spent years looking into Sonny and have never been able to find anything that'll stick in court. Not only would that just make things so much worse, but then I'd have to worry about the blowback from that.

"I'm going to give you one last chance to get out of my place." I keep my eyes glued on him. I see what he's about to do before he even moves his arm completely.

He reaches into his pocket obviously about to pull out a weapon, "No, I'm giving you-"

I cut him off before he has a chance to finish his sentence as I pull my 9MM out from under the bar. I'm liscensed to have it in here but if it came down to a large gun battle it's not going to do anything for me.

Evan's eyes go wide. He wasn't expecting me to fight back. Wasn't expecting me to pull a weapon on him. From what I heard everyone else just goes along with the plan so they don't end up on the wrong side of Sonny. I refuse to do that. I've worked way too hard to get what I have to have someone pulling it away from me.

Not for nothing.

At that very moment, the door opens and I want to curse the gods for having this happen in what should be the middle of my work day. Nothing says this isn't a bar you want to be at then the bartender holding a gun toward someone's head.

"You dumb fuck." Evan mutters, his face much paler than it was a few seconds ago.

My eyes dart to the door when I hear a gasp. I only have to look for a second to know it's basically the worst possible scenario.

Instead of it being a regular customer that may or may not come back after this display, in walks Bee.

I wanted to see her so bad today but I don't want her here now. Not when there's a chance that she might get hurt. I say a silent prayer that she'll have a normal reaction and turn around to run out of here but when she takes another step forward I know I'm not going to have any luck in that department either.

"No." I growl in her direction, though I'm not taking my eyes off Evan again. I know he's armed, and all it'll take is for him to catch me not paying attention one time before he'll have the upper hand.

"No, my ass. I don't know what's going on in here, but I'm not going to leave you here on your own." Bee snaps back at me, her eyes focused on Evan's position.

"Don't get this little bar bitch killed." Evan raises his eyebrow and starts to turn her head in Bee's direction, but I'm not going to allow that. I'm not going to allow anyone to disrespect her.

Using my free hand, I lunge forward and grab hold of his neck, yanking him down, so his face is pressed against the bar top. I move so fast, he barely has enough time to pull his weapon out of his pocket. Fortunately, Bee moves faster.

She's already right behind him while I keep him subdued on the bar top. She grabs the small 22 he has in his pocket and takes it from him. Now at least I don't have to worry about bullets flying around. Still, I need to make sure that Sonny knows under no circumstance will I be just another one of his whipping boys. I'm just not made like that.

"I'm going to tell you this one last time Evan. I don't owe Sonny anything and I'm not going to go along with his plan. The next time you or anyone else from that little group comes into my place there will be no talking. Bullets will fly and we'll see who comes out on top." I snarl at the man and press down hard on his head before I grab his collar and shove him backward.

He stumbles and shakes his head looking between me and Bee.

"That's the worst decision you've ever made." He sighs before he turns around and walks out the door. He doesn't even bother to take the gun back from Bee. I guess he's got more where he came from.

I hear his words as he leaves my place but all I can do is focus on the fact that Bee is safe. At least for now.

Shutting my eyes tight for a second I drop my weapon back behind the bar and make sure it's safely stowed away.

When I look up again, Bee is still standing there. The 22 is on the bar top and her arms are crossed over her ample chest.

"What?" I ask.

"What the hell do you mean what? Are you just going to gloss over the fact that you just had some man at gun point or maybe, you think, that deserve a few moments of conversation." She bites out sarcastically.

I shake my head and try to walk away from her. Of course I should've known that she wasn't going to go for that. In a flash she jumps over the bar top and stands in front of me.

"Bee, this doesn't have anything to do with you."

"I never said it did but I know it has something to do with you. I'm invested now. We about to be Jack and Rose from Titanic. You jump, I jump." She parrots the iconic line and I groan. When I told her that I would do anything to help her I never once thought that she'd take the same approach to me.

"No, this isn't for you." I push by her, my shoulder barely bumping hers.

"Why? Is it because I'm not part of the dick committee?" She hisses at me and I turn my head in her direction.

"Don't be silly, this has nothing to do with the fact that you're a woman." I'm not sexist in the least. There's plenty of things I'm sure she's better at than I am but the thought of her risking her safety for me isn't something I'm going to be able to live with.

"Than what is it? It's clear you're into some shit that is going to get you hurt. Why won't you let me help you."

"Because you have to be safe." I snap back at her. I don't think she understands how vital her safety is to me.

Her mouth drops open for a second before she snaps it closed again and huffs a breath through her nose.

"So do you, Rye. I'm not going to let anyone my favorite bear." She smirks at me and I'm disarmed. I know I should fight harder but right now I'm just glad we're in no immediate danger.

With a sigh I lean forward on the bar top and just stare at her for a second before I squint my eyes, "Wait a minute, what are you doing here anyway." I've been around people who've just stopped drinking the last place that the need to be is in a bar.

She blinks a few times and looks around like she's forgotten where she is, "Oh, funny enough, I didn't come here for a drink I came here because I was bored and lonely. Missed ya." She tacks on to the end before giving me a smile.

It makes me feel good even if she's only playing around.

"Besides your the only person I know who can be my chaperone, keep me from drinking and still let me have a good time. So what do you say, can I hang around with you for a while? Maybe help out?"

Now it's my turn to blink in confusion. "You want a job?"

She tilts her head and her eyebrows go up, "Hmm, I never thought about it like that but I guess that's what I'm going after. What do you say?"

I don't really have a need for anyone else to work with me right now but it might be good for me to hire someone. It'll also be good for me to hire Bee so I can keep an eye on her, not that I'm accepting responsibility or anything.

"Yeah, I guess you can help clean up and stuff. I'll do all the pouring." I shrug and she claps her hands.

"Awesome! Great to be here boss." She juts her hand out and I laugh as I shake it.

"You're absolutely out of your mind."

Just in that moment the door flies open and four of my regulars come in. It's clear they've just come from work.

"Well let's get started." Bee tries to pull her hand away from me but I hold onto it a second longer.

Something tells me having her work here is going to be more trouble than anything Evan or Sonny can bring my way.