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CHAPTER NINETEEN

MUSIC THUMPED HARD enough to shake the walls. Laughter bounced off the ceiling, fake and forced. I sat in the corner booth, legs stretched out, bottle in one hand, smoke in the other.

The women in the corner were whispering as they looked at me. I wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t new.

They looked at me like I’d bite if they got too close, then flinched if my gaze swept past them. They huddled near Thunder and Wrath, all giggles and glossy lips. Not one of them would ever meet my eyes.

Probably scared I’d call one over.

I wouldn’t.

“Place is alive tonight,” Chain muttered, dropping into the chair beside me, sliding me a new bottle without asking. “You look like you’d rather be gettin’ a root canal.”

“Least that comes with painkillers.”

He smirked. “You're good at clearing space.”

I didn’t respond. Just watched the brunette continue to whisper something into her friend’s ear and scurry past me, clutching her drink like it was a shield.

Chain leaned back, tilting his bottle toward me. “Maybe you should smile more. Show ‘em you’re not a mean son of a bitch.”

“I don’t give a fuck what they think.”

He snorted, giving me a knowing look. “Yeah, I know. Just keep that attitude for every bitch that fucks with you.”

I took a slow drag from my cigarette and blew the smoke toward the ceiling.

“Something botherin’ you?” Chain asked after a pause, more serious this time.

“Always.”

“You know what I mean.”

I didn’t answer.

He sighed. “You keep sittin’ in the room, actin’ like it’s your job, and when you’re not in that room, you’re thinkin’ of bein’ in that room.”

A beat of silence passed between us. Then I said, low and dry, “So what?”

Chain’s jaw tightened. “Don’t play dumb.”

“Let it go.”

“Fine, but man, you’d better be ready.”

Laughter cut sharp across the room. High-pitched. Cruel.

“God, he’s just sitting there again,” the woman said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Like some freakin’ gargoyle. No wonder no one wants to go near him.”

Her friend elbowed her, but it was too late. The words hit loud.

I didn’t move.

Didn’t flinch.

Just took another drag and stared straight ahead.

Chain’s head snapped in her direction. “You say that again, sweetheart, and you’ll be scrubbin’ bike chains with your damn teeth.”

The girl’s face paled, but she held her ground, lips twitching like she was about to say more, until the friend caught her arm and yanked her away.

“Club girls ain’t supposed to run their fuckin’ mouths,” Chain muttered, watching her scurry away. “I’m gonna have her banned.”

I finally spoke. “Don’t waste your breath, Chain.”

He looked at me sideways. “I’m not. A waste of breath would be lettin’ her keep talkin’.”

I exhaled, slow and steady, “I know you’re lookin’ out for me, but I don’t give a fuck about that bitch.”

Chain didn’t answer but I knew he’d do what he wanted anyway. “I need some air,” I said, standing and walking out of the room.

What did Zeynep see when she looked at me? God knows whatever it was she was the only one that saw it.