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Page 23 of Midnight’s Captive (Stroke of Midnight #2)

“Everyone good?” Taryn surveyed the bar, taking in the regulars and the other patrons. Mostly, though, she was concerned about her people.

Adrenaline and excitement still ran high. The thick tension that had filled the air when she’d entered the bar had dissipated with the pimp’s removal, replaced with a celebratory buzz. Her patrons were buying drinks and talking about what they’d seen. Dani was bartending and she and Jenna managed the chaos like the pros they were.

The story would spread, mostly through word of mouth. It might bring a bump of patrons, so she made a mental note to adjust the schedule, add an additional waitress. Maybe another bouncer in case the fight brought lookie-loos or wannabe challengers through the door.

During the fight, Rhonda had slipped behind the bar. Thank god. It would have been too easy for someone to take advantage of the chaos. They’d have to be idiotic when the Jack was in ass-kicking mode, but people were gonna people. Now she watched the door with concern on her face.

Taryn followed her gaze but didn’t see any problems.

“It’s okay, Rhonda. I don’t think he’ll be coming back.” Taryn didn’t have a solid plan yet if he did. She might have to consider more permanent solutions. She didn’t like those.

“What?” Rhonda whipped her head around. She looked like she hadn’t heard a word Taryn had said.

That wasn’t like her. Was Dani right?

“You’d let me know if something was wrong, right?”

Rhonda nodded.

Taryn let it slide for now. It had been a weird night and everyone was still on edge. “Thanks for watching the bar for me.”

“What? Oh, yeah, sure.” A customer waved for Rhonda’s attention and she returned to the floor.

Something was definitely going on with her. Taryn was about to ask if she was okay, then she saw Giselle peeking out of the employee entrance.

As Taryn skirted the bar, she smiled and nodded to patrons as she passed. A few congratulated her. It felt weird, but she thanked them. If watching her kick ass made them happy and kept them spending money at her bar, she was okay with it.

It took a few minutes, but she finally slipped into the back hallway.

Giselle pressed against the wall and looked at her, all wide eyes and terror.

“Are you okay?” The closer Taryn got, the more obvious Giselle’s shaking was. She wrapped her arms around the girl as soon as she was close enough.

“He found me. How did he find me?”

There was so much panic in her voice Taryn was afraid she’d bolt. “I don’t know.” She refused to lie to her. “But I don’t think he’s coming back.”

“He will,” Giselle whispered against her neck. “He’ll make me go back.”

Keeping her arm around Giselle, Taryn shifted so the girl could see her face. She needed her to believe her. “You don’t have to go back. I promise.”

Taryn meant it. She wouldn’t let that bastard take this sweet girl back.

“But what if he does?” Giselle was trembling so hard, she wouldn’t believe anything right now. Fear had its claws in her too deep.

“Then we’ll stop him.”

“Everything okay?” Dani approached slowly so she wouldn’t startle Giselle.

“Giselle was understandably upset about our uninvited visitor.” Taryn kept her voice low, soothing.

“Aw, sweetie.” Dani rubbed her back. “We’ll protect you. The Jack’s got your back.”

“I heard the Jack was big and mean and not someone you wanted to piss off.”

Taryn laughed.

Dani shot her a glare. “That’s all true. But she has a soft squishy side, too. One most people don’t get to see.”

Most people didn’t deserve to see it. Taryn kept her mouth shut. Dani was soothing Giselle and that was all that mattered right now.

“Did she rescue you too?” Giselle asked.

“Yeah, she did. A few years ago.” Dani answered.

“And now you have to work for her?” Fear threaded through Giselle’s voice.

That Giselle hadn’t believed her when Taryn told her that she didn’t work that way stung. But maybe hearing it from someone else would make her see the truth.

Dani laughed. “She rescued me, but she doesn’t make me work here. I do that because I like it here. I’m good at it. And...” Dani leaned close to Giselle’s ear, then whispered loud enough for Taryn to hear. “The money’s really good!”

Giselle smiled and laughed. Dani was so good with her. She’d make a great mom someday, if she wanted to.

Dani lifted her head and smiled. “Why don’t I take you back to your room. You can ask me any questions you want about how the Jack rescued me.”