Page 17 of Vengeance of Childhood Proportions (Till Death Do Us Part #7)

Chapter Seven

Holly

“One Dirty Shirley for the pretty lady.” Joey, the bartender, was such a flirt, but I’d never follow through with someone like him. He was too sweet for my tastes.

“Thanks, Joey.” There was no money exchanged when I accepted the red drink with extra cherries.

To keep members from carrying cash on them, either to tip employees or each other, all members had to keep an active credit card on file.

When food, beverages, or private rooms were ordered, your credit card was charged.

When I danced, Valentino or Jason always made sure I had water bottles on stage with me.

I’d never paid for them, nor had I ever asked if they were complimentary.

This was the first time I’d ever drunk anything but water here.

I’d watched Joey very carefully as he’d prepared it.

I would never go as far as to say I trusted Joey, because there really was only one person I trusted in this world.

My experiences told me that trust was for fools.

As I accepted my drink, I sat back on a stool. I wasn’t entirely comfortable having my back to the main room. I’d felt someone walk up a minute ago and I knew they’d seated themselves to my left. Even in the mental haze I’d come in with, I’d grabbed my weapons.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joey walk up to them from the other side of the bar. My right hand itched to go to the small of my back, but I forced myself to relax.

I pulled my drink and coaster closer. The sweetness of the grenadine was strong enough that I could smell it from my upright position.

Joey had added extra maraschino cherries as well as a little decorative umbrella for me.

I took the white tip of the umbrella and stirred the contents of the glass cup, making the ice tink against the sides.

As I was lowering my mouth to the straw, a deep voice said, “I’d rethink drinking that if I were you, Little Owl.

” My back stiffened as I straightened on the stool.

I felt heat immediately surround me as two arms placed themselves on the bar on either side of me.

Jason would beat me black and blue if he knew I’d dropped my guard enough to let someone walk up behind me unnoticed.

Shivers flowed through my entire being when I felt his lips on the shell of my ear.

“I won’t fuck you if that straw touches your lips. ”