Chapter Thirteen
Mackenzie
Feels like I'm drowning
I'm screaming for air
Louder I'm crying
And you don't even care
I'm heavily broken
And I don't know what to do
Can't you see that I'm choking
And I can't even move
‘Heavily Broken’ - The Veronicas
I look at myself in the dressing room mirror, and for a second, I almost do not recognize the woman staring back. She looks bolder, sharper, more dangerous than the one who walked in here a few hours ago.
My hair is loose tonight, falling in soft waves that frame my face and cascade down my back.
Every movement makes them shift and catch the light, and I know the effect is deliberate.
My eyes are outlined in a thick sweep of black liner, the smoky edges making the hazel stand out, pulling focus exactly where I want it.
My lips are painted a deep red, lined so precisely they look fuller than they ever have.
There is nothing accidental about any of this.
I am not here to blend in.
I am here to be unforgettable.
Because I know for a fact that Logan will be in tonight. He is scheduled to drop something off for Allison and pick up a deposit for the bank. Which means he will have to look at me. And when he does, he will see exactly what he walked away from.
I am going to make Logan Pearce regret the day he decided to fuck with me.
The night starts out the way most do. The music pulses low in my bones, a steady beat that vibrates through the floor. The scent of liquor and perfume drifts through the air, mixing with the faint burn of cigarette smoke that always clings to certain customers.
I can already tell my extra effort is paying off. More heads are turning when I pass. The men are leaning in closer when they talk to me, their smiles wider, their tips heavier than usual. I can feel the weight of their eyes and I let it linger on my skin like a slow burn.
I carry a tray over to the bar, and Shaina’s eyes lock on me instantly.
“Girl, you are looking hot enough I’m considering switching teams.”
Her comment makes me laugh, the sound a little sharper than I intend, and I grab the drinks, letting the condensation from the glasses cool my fingers before I turn to deliver them.
I do not see him at first.
I feel him.
The air changes when Logan walks into a room. It is not something I can explain, but my body reacts before my brain does. My shoulders tense. My skin prickles. My pulse stutters. It is showtime.
I can feel his gaze on me without turning around, like heat pressing into my back.
I lean forward over the table I’m serving, my hair slipping over my shoulder as I laugh at something one of the men says.
Their jokes are ridiculous, but I play along, resting my arm casually along the back of one’s chair.
When his fingers trail lightly down my arm, I don’t pull away.
I don’t call for security. I simply smile, sweet and slow, before moving on to the next table.
It is not about the man touching me.
It is about knowing Logan saw it.
On my way past the bar, I catch him in my peripheral vision. He is in his usual spot, a glass of soda in front of him, his expression unreadable but his attention unmistakably locked on me. I give him a small smile and an almost playful wave before weaving my way toward another group of tables.
By the time I return to the bar with a few more orders, Shaina is grinning like she has been waiting for this exact moment. “Mac, have you seen my brother? He hasn’t looked away from you yet. If this was a damn cartoon his jaw would be on the floor with steam coming out of his ears.”
I laugh again, and this time a few of the guys at the bar glance over at me.
“I need to run to the back for a minute, can you cover the bar?”
“Sure. Can you drop these at table twelve for me?” I ask, passing her the tray.
“Gotcha, girl!” she calls over the music, heading toward the tables with the same confidence I wish I actually felt.
I start at one end of the bar, checking on customers, topping off drinks, and making small talk where it is wanted. My movements are smooth and deliberate, but every step brings me closer to where I know he is.
Eventually, I reach him.
Mr. Personality himself.
“Can I get you anything else?” My hand rests lightly on my hip, my expression polite but impersonal.
His eyes lock on mine, and for a split second I want to flinch at the intensity there. I want to remember what that look felt like when it wasn’t laced with anger. But I bury the thought.
“The fuck are you trying to prove, Kenzie?” His voice is low, rough, like he is forcing himself not to raise it.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. And I told you my name is not Kenzie anymore.” My tone is even, but my pulse is thundering in my ears. I turn to walk away, but his hand closes around my arm.
The contact is like a spark hot, unwelcome, and impossible to ignore.
“No touching the workers. Or have you forgotten your own rule?” I say, my voice carrying just enough to get attention.
He doesn’t let go.
My eyes find Hank. “Hey, this customer needs a reminder not to touch the girls,” I call, nodding toward Logan while my forearm is still caught in his grasp.
Hank’s eyes widen, panic flashing across his face. “I… uh… Mr. Pearce—” He stammers like a man who has just realized he stepped in something he can’t get out of.
It is almost funny. Almost.
Shaina reappears, her brows drawn together as she approaches. “We good?”
“Not really,” I say, still looking at Logan. “This customer won’t let me go, and Hank is refusing to step in.”
Logan’s eyes cut to her. “Stay the fuck out of this, Shay.”
For a moment, she walks away and my stomach sinks. I thought she would have my back. I am on the edge of telling Logan exactly where he can shove his attitude when I hear footsteps behind him.
Shaina does the last thing I expect.
She grabs her brother by the ear, literally, and starts dragging him toward the back office like he is nothing more than a stubborn kid who refused to eat his vegetables.
His shoulders tense as he tries to shake her off, but she must have a hell of a grip because he is definitely moving in the direction she wants.
The sight makes my lips curve. I look at Hank, who is still rooted to the spot. “Thanks for your help,” I say, letting the sarcasm drip before I wink and walk away.
I have seen a lot in my time working here. But watching Shaina drag Logan Pearce to the back like that? That is something I will not be forgetting anytime soon.