Page 76 of When Darkness Calls

With a quick scan around the large open space, my apprehension grows. There is no reason I should feel like this. No one’s watching me, well aside from the older man by the door, but he’s watching everyone, even if his stare lingers on me a little bit longer and I can see the confusion etched across his rugged face. But his glare doesn’t heighten the chill or add weight to the lead bowing in the pit of my stomach.

Our gaze locks and recognition finally sparks in my mind.

I think…I think that’s Bruiser’s brother?

I don’t know which one though. I’ve only met the old biker once and it was years ago. His presence in my life has been purely from Cade and the guys recounting their misadventures at the man’s gym.

But would his brother know who I am?

Fuck, I hope no—

“Here you go,” Ethan cuts off my thought, holding out a plastic cup. The straw colored liquid bubbles lightly, a thin layer of foam covering the top and my lip curls.

I give him a tight smile, covering my grimace. “I’m sorry. I’m not really a fan of beer.”

A muscle along his cheek twitches and he waves the drink in front of him. “It’s not so bad. I got you a light one so it’s not as strong of a taste.”

Red flag number five.

“No, no. Really. Thank you and I’m sorry, but no. I’ll just go get my own. You can have that one after you finish your—” I stop, noticing he doesn’t have his own drink.

My brows furrow and I tilt my head in question.

Ethan looks down at the cup in his hand, then back to me, lifting one shoulder in a quick shrug. “I already drank mine while I was waiting for yours.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t really want it. Go ahead, I’ll be right back.”

Behind the little bar, a woman stands, bustling around the counter filling cups with ice and mixes, grabbing bottles from a large trough filled with ice. She’s probably around the guys’ ages, maybe a year or two older with large round eyes ringed in black shimmery eyeshadow. The half-moon bar through her eyebrow is tipped with little silver stars.

She throws me a bright grin showing the deep dimple in her cheek and lifts a finger as she turns to the group of people at the end of the bar. After passing them a couple of bottles, she turns back to me.

“Can I just say that I’m in love with your eyebrow ring, and now I need to get it done so I can have one too?” I burst, leaning on the counter so she can hear me better.

She laughs, and the sound is deep, jovial. “Why, thank you, honey! And I say, hell, yeah, go for it. You’d look so cute! Now what can I get you, girl?”

I tug the folded cash out of my pocket looking around at the bottles of liquor lining the back wall, the large buckets of ice filled with bottles and cans of drinks from beers to spiked lemonades and even pops and waters.

“Um, can I get a Dr. Pepper, please? And a double shot of bourbon?”

Her eyes glitter. “Sure, thing. I like the way you think. Any specific one?” Her thumb juts over her shoulder at the overfilled shelves.

I shake my head, laying the bill on the counter. “Nah. I ain’t drinking it for the taste.”

I want to see if it can stop me feeling like I did a cannon ball into Lake Morgrave in the middle of January with a stadium full of onlookers judging every minute detail.

The woman bends, grabbing the can of pop, sliding it across the counter top, then makes quick work pouring the shot into a smaller plastic cup than the one the beer was in. She sets it down carefully, but my hand shoots out, and I down it in one breath.

It burns, thick, sliding down the back of my throat, heating me inside and out. The heat doesn’t stay though.

She watches me gingerly, and says, “You weren’t lying, huh?”

I pop the top of the can, take a long drink then shake my head.

“Is everything okay?” The woman presses, leaning closer.

I nodded, dismissing her question. “I’m good. Thank you. Keep the change!” And I leave.

Ethan is standing where I had left him, almost like he hadn’t moved since I walked away. The beer still in his hand, full, the foam gone.