Page 44 of Unchained

“Maybe one day,” I say quietly.

I pretend I can walk in a straight line to the bar, but when I glance back, Harper is half carrying Lola to the ladies' room. Tate’s huge friend is right on their tail.

“Can I help you, miss?” the bartender asks.

“An espresso martini and four waters, please,” I order, handing him my black Amex.

He nods and gets busy making my drinks, just as a cowboy takes a seat right next to me. I keep my face forward, aimlessly staring at the drinks on the wall.

“You seem a little lost there, darlin’,” the guy mutters beside me.

I ignore him.

“I said⁠—”

I snap my face to his, holding up a finger. “I heard what you said the first time, and I chose to ignore it. Take the hint.”

He holds up his hands with a shit-eating grin. “A fiery one.”

I grit my teeth. Do not bite, Gianna. Take a deep breath.

“Are you lookin’ for someone to keep you company tonight?” he asks, leaning in close enough I can smell the cheap whiskey on his breath.

Visions play in my head where I lean over the bar, grab a bottle, and smash it over his dumb head. And then I’d kick him off his bar stool and stomp on his throat.

The bartender passes me my drink, and I take a sip, letting the buzz go straight into my veins. I’ve not been drunk in a long time.

As I place my hand down on the bar, the cowboy rests his over mine. My blood runs cold.

“I’ll be waitin’ for you, gorgeous,” he drawls out, almost like a threat.

“I wouldn’t.” I warn.

Taking the drinks over to the table, I laugh to myself as I pull out my phone.

Harper sits opposite me, and I slide Lola her water.

“Feel better?” I ask.

She hiccups, drinks the water like a fish. “Yep. Good enough for a vodka.”

“That’a girl.”

She stumbles off to the bar. I keep my eyes on her, because that jackass cowboy would probably try it with her. And I don’t get the impression Lola is the girl who will kill him. Her husband will, though. I need to prove myself to the Sterlings, whether I like it or not.

So, nothing will happen to Lola or Harper when they’re with me.

“You’ve got that menacing sparkle in your eyes, Gianna,” Harper says.

“Who? Me? Never.”

My brain ticks. I was coming up blank on revenge plans for Colten. I think I got an idea, a drunk one, so it must be revolutionary.

“Can I have my husband's number?”

“You don’t have it?” Harper looks shocked.

I arch an eyebrow. “No. Harper. I do not. But I think it’s about time he started performing husband duties for me.”