CHAPTER THIRTY
Heather—
Two nights later, I’m at Lucky’s working. I stand at the end of the bar with a tray, waiting for my drink order.
Jackie, a dark-haired beauty, is bartending at this end.
“What do you need, honey?” she asks, barely looking up from the ice she’s putting in a cocktail glass.
“Three Coronas, a margarita on the rocks, and one Cosmo.”
She rolls her eyes at that. “Is Carrie Bradshaw here?”
Her reference to Sex and the City makes me smile. “Hey, I loved that show, especially the clothes. But Mr. Big was a jerk.”
“I know, right? My favorite was Samantha Jones. She was a badass bitch who knew what she wanted in life.”
I chuckle. “Definitely.”
While Jackie makes my drinks, I watch Ray bartending at the other end of the bar. He serves a drink, then takes the money off the bar and moves to the cash register. He hits a button and the drawer pops open, but he doesn’t put the bill in the drawer; instead, he slips it into his pocket.
When he turns, his eyes hit mine, and I quickly look away. Oh, fuck. It’s him. He is stealing. I study Jackie, wondering if she and the rest of the bartenders are doing the same thing.
The rest of the night, I watch Jackie but never see her do what Ray did.
Since he saw me observe his theft, he’s left the bar to her and another bartender, but neither of them steals a dime.
Finally, it’s last call, and I’m cashing out my tips. I don’t see Ray anywhere, which is a relief, because I just want to get out of here.
Cody is supposed to meet me here, but I haven’t heard from him. I shoot him a text.
ME: Will you be here soon?
He doesn’t reply, and I clock out and head upstairs. The assistant managers are still closing, so that makes me feel better. I never saw Ray again and wonder if he left the bar earlier.
The moment I step inside the apartment door, I know something isn’t right. A cool breeze with the scent of the night air travels over me.
I flip the light on and stand motionless.
The gentle sway of the kitchen blinds catches my eye. I never leave a window open. It’s then I see the broken glass and realize the back door is ajar.
Terror overwhelms me, and all I can think of is that Snake has found me. I reach blindly for the doorknob, my entire body shaking.
Before I can get it open, a man in black presses against me. He’s wearing gloves and a ski mask. I know by his shape, this is not Snake.
And somehow, that makes me even more terrified.
His gloved hand presses tight over my mouth, and the scent of a man’s cologne or body wash hits me. I swear I recognize it.
Ray.
His other hand moves to my throat, and he grips it tightly, squeezing.
“You know how easily I could end you?” he sneers, and there’s a coldness in his eyes that wasn’t there before.
It’s like he’s a different person—a man with no soul beyond those dark eyes, and I suddenly wonder if he’s capable of so much more than stealing from the till.
Breaking and entering, perhaps rape or murder?
I twist my weight and drop, throwing him off balance, then shove him away and knee him in the groin. He doubles over, cursing.
It has to be Ray, but I don’t dare say his name, and I don’t waste a second; I dash out the door and almost fall down the stairs in my hurry to get to the bar.
Jackie looks up from wiping down the top, and her face changes when she sees me, my hand to my throat, gasping.
“My God, are you all right?”
I stand there, trembling and shake my head. “Someone broke into the apartment. He grabbed me, but I got away.”
The other two assistants look at each other, and Jackie points at the stairs. “Well, don’t just stand there, go up there.”
They look at each other, then one grabs a baseball bat from under the bar, and they slowly go up the stairs.
A minute later, they return.
“There’s no one up there, but the back door was wide open, and the fire escape was lowered.
“He got away,” I whisper and meet Jackie’s eyes. “Where’s Ray?”
“He left a couple of hours ago. Said he had something to take care of. Why?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
Aaron starts to pick up the phone. “I’m calling the cops.”
“No,” I bark, and the three of them look at me. I lift a brow. “The MC. No cops. They’ll deal with it.”
Aaron rolls his eyes and puts the phone down. “Have it your way.”
“It’s not my way,” I snap. “It’s their way. You don’t like it, find another job.”
“You’re pretty mouthy for a girl who’s only here temporarily. Least that’s what Ray said.”
“Go to hell, Aaron,” I snap.
He points at the stairs. “Look, kid. I just went up there with a baseball bat to defend you, so watch your mouth.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just really upset.”
He drags a hand through his hair. “I get it. Since the club bought this place, Ray’s been a dick, and now this bullshit. This place just ain’t the same.” With that, he throws his apron down and stalks out.
“Is he quitting?” I ask Jackie.
“Aaron quits about once a month. Don’t worry about it. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
A motorcycle rolls onto the lot, and I turn and see Cody.
“Well, there’s the club. You gonna tell him?”
“Yeah.”
When Cody walks through the door, I meet him just inside. “I don’t want you to freak out. I’m okay.”
“What happened?” His expression is instantly concerned.
“Someone broke into the apartment,” Jackie tells him for me, and his eyes flick to her, then back to me.
“When?” He’s already striding for the stairs, and I follow him as he takes the steps two at a time.
He sees the broken glass and open door, lifts the blinds, then drops them with a clatter. “He came up the fire escape. Son-of-a-bitch. Was he here when you came in the door?” I nod, and Cody looks like he wants to murder someone. “Did he touch you? Did you see who it was?”
“It wasn’t Snake. He was shorter and stockier, dressed in black with a ski mask and gloves. He pushed me against the wall and covered my mouth.” And then I drop the bomb. “I think it was Ray.”
“Ray?” Cody’s brow shoots up. “The fucking manager, Ray?”
“Yes. I caught him stealing tonight. He took money for a drink, pretended to ring it up and then shoved it in his pocket instead. He caught me watching him. He knows I know. The man wore the same cologne, and he said, ‘Do you know how easily I could end you?’”
“And you’re sure it was him?”
“I’m pretty sure. I mean, I didn’t see his face, but it sounded like him.”
“He’s a dead man,” Cody says in a voice I’ve never heard before.
“You’re frightening me.”
“Nothing to be frightened of, babe. Grab your stuff. We’re staying at the clubhouse tonight.”