Page 9 of Run Little Killer
LENNON
The TV options were severely limited at Briarwood, and of all the mundane choices, this one quickly became my favorite.
By the way I can’t stop watching, it's safe to say it'll probably remain one of my guilty pleasures when I get home.
That is, if I even make it home. I haven't given a single thought to what happens after I get my pound of flesh, I just know I can't get caught before I have a chance to get what I'm fucking owed.
"Shoulda bought the one overlooking the lake," Nix murmurs, and I swivel my head in his direction.
He twists the neck of the whiskey bottle between his fingers, my eyes following the intricate patterns of ink from his fingers, up his corded forearms as it morphs and spreads across his hard body on full display.
I thought he was hot with his clothes on , but damn seeing him stripped down to his boxer briefs has me wanting to take a ride.
And not on his bike.
"Surprised you didn't like the one with the massive garage," I mumble, taking a sip of my coke.
The whiskey bottle comes to a rest on the table beside him as he cocks a dark brow at me. "Oh yeah? Why's that?"
"Ya know," I say, motioning towards the door. "Motorcycles and all."
His sculpted abs dip as he scoffs. "If I cared about a garage that much and had the kind of money they do, I'd just build one. But that view looking out over the lake and mountains?" He pauses, clicking his tongue. "Money can't build that."
Well shit, I didn't see that coming. Part of me hates that I find that endearing.
That it somehow makes him more appealing.
I really shouldn't even be attracted to him past the surface level considering the fact he's a total asshole.
An asshole that, not twenty minutes ago, was coming all over my chest after he'd tied me to the bed.
That alone should make me loathe his existence, but instead it leaves me curious. And wet.
God. Does it make me fucked up for liking it?
"Fair," I nod, raising the flimsy plastic cup to my mouth.
The carbonation tickles my tongue as I finish my Coke, and I can't help but hum in sated bliss. Caffeinated beverages were a hard limit at Briarwood. If a soda has me moaning, then I might full on orgasm when I get coffee.
"That's the best thing I've heard come from your mouth all night," Nix smirks, stretching his arms above his head as he pushes to his feet.
I roll my eyes– hard– and shift my attention back to the TV while Nix rounds the bed. His thumbs hook into the waistband of his underwear as he passes in front of the screen, and in one swift motion, he shoves them down his hips, catching them after a kick and tossing them towards his bag.
Jesus. I swallow thickly at the sight of him naked because he's huge . As I struggle to avert my gaze from the weapon hanging heavily between his thighs, the bathroom door snicks open.
"Why is it that every time I come back in here, your dick’s out, Hawthorne?" Rhett questions, combing his fingers through his damp hair.
Nix chuckles as he pulls back the floral quilt on the neighboring bed. "Don't act like you haven't seen it a million times, old man."
"Doesn't make it any less jarring."
"Jealous, Lambert?" he fires back, crawling into the bed and folding an arm behind his head.
"Hardly," Rhett snorts as he strides across the room in nothing but a pair of low-hanging grey sweats. "I don't just got inches on you in height, son."
"Fuck off," Nix mumbles.
Consider my curiosity piqued.
I watch as Rhett moves effortlessly across the room to flip the deadbolt, his muscular back flexing with the movement.
A large skull tattoo covers the broad expanse of skin, and I can’t look away from the dark, hollow eyes watching me while his back’s turned.
He moves over to the light switch next, turning just enough as he reaches for it that I catch a glimpse of what he’s packing in his sweats.
Whether he’s indeed longer than Nix, I can't say, but I can confirm he’s well endowed.
I wonder how different each of them would feel.. .
My cheeks heat at the thought as he flips the light off, leaving only the glow of the TV.
I shouldn't be thinking about their dicks– I should be focusing on making my plan.
As much fun as I could have with these two, fucking them won't secure my vengeance.
Justice failed me, karma turned a blind eye, and they locked me away in hopes to silence me.
They claimed I was a snake in the grass, so I'll show them just how deadly I can be when I strike back.
"C'mon darlin'," Rhett drawls, pointing the remote at the TV and the room descends into darkness as it turns off and he tugs on the blankets beneath me. "Time for bed."
I shuffle around, lifting the covers as I stifle a yawn. He slips in bed behind me, the heat of his body at my back oddly comforting. As wild of a day as it's been, the adrenaline has faded, exhaustion quickly taking over and pulling me into a deep sleep.
"Lennon, get over here!" my boss shouts from behind the bar, beckoning me with a grin.
I abandon the cleaning spray and rag on my last table and make my way back to the front of the house. The rest of my coworkers have already gathered around Shawn as he pours vodka into a line of six shot glasses.
"I know it wasn't an easy night," he starts, handing a shot to each of us. "But even down a few people, you guys were nothing short of amazing."
I can’t contain the smile that creeps across my lips as I clutch the chilled glass in my fingers.
Working at Easy Jay’s Street Tavern is nothing like I expected– or maybe I just watched Coyote Ugly too many times.
I’m constantly getting hit on by balding men who peaked in college or the handsy fucks that are actually still in college.
I love not coming in until the evening, but the late nights suck, especially when I have an Econ class at eight the next day.
But even if my feet always ache after a shift, having a boss like Shawn makes all the bad stuff bearable.
Well, that, and the money. I definitely need the money.
He’s been really great to work for, always making his staff feel appreciated.
I’d applied at three other places before I wandered in here, and Shawn didn’t care that I didn’t have much experience. He hired me on the spot.
He raises his shot, the rest of us mirroring his action as he toasts. "To a good night, a great staff, and some drinks on me."
Everyone cheers in excitement as we clink our glasses together and swallow down the liquor. My skin pebbles with goosebumps as the vodka blazes a path to my belly, warming me from the inside out.
"I needed that," I sigh, setting the empty glass down on the mat.
"I meant what I said," Shawn remarks, slinging an arm across my shoulders and giving me a squeeze. "Drinks on me, you all earned it after that rush."
None of us are shy about taking him up on the offer, calling out our drink orders as he goes around to the other side, grabs bottles off the rail, and starts pouring.
Shawn never hesitates to offer up free drinks to his staff, but his wife Natalie tends to lean towards a pat on the back for a job well done.
Luckily, she handles the administrative side, so she’s only here a few days a month.
That’s probably why all of us like working with him.
He’s a bit over the top sometimes, flirting hard with us girls or buddying up with the guys, but what’s the harm if it makes the job enjoyable?
I slide onto a stool at the bar alongside my co-workers. Kevin has tugged Holly down onto his lap and is shamelessly shooting his shot. Meanwhile, I pull my phone from my pocket to scroll my socials.
Swiping open my DMs, there’s a message request waiting, and when I click on it, it's a fucking dick pic. Why do guys think this is hot? As if seeing this will make me hop in my car and hunt them down? Hard pass. Nine times out of ten, I just laugh and send screenshots to my friends.
"I'm not keeping you from a night of fun, am I?" Shawn asks, cocking his head playfully as he slides my gin and tonic across the counter with a grin.
Shit.
"Sorry," I hiss, quickly clicking off my screen and setting my phone on the bar, face down. I really hope he didn’t just see that picture…
My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I reach for the drink and take a greedy gulp to avoid looking at him or talking about it, grimacing as I swallow it down.
Gin and tonics are usually my go-to, but this drink is strong as fuck.
I pluck the lime off the rim of the glass, giving it a squeeze and dropping it in before taking another big sip.
"Don't be sorry," Shawn laughs, leaning in over the bar top with a wink. "Just relax and enjoy your drink."