27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter twenty-seven
M aybe it was her, but it felt like there were a few new faces in the bar tonight. It wasn’t like Aria knew everyone by name. Mostly she did. Small town and all that. Of course there were always a few faces she didn’t recognize at all. People who drove in for a fun night from neighboring towns. People just stopping by while they passed through, that kind of thing.
But tonight there seemed to be a couple of strangers watching everything. Including her.
Maybe you’re just paranoid after talking to Nick yesterday about the criminal they were hunting. That monster should be locked up behind bars for the rest of his life.
And now she was angry all over again about what he did to Stacy and the others, the threat he posed to Nick. Mason. Her.
How did he get off threatening Nick for something his sister instigated? She had gone after Nick. If she’d just surrendered, she’d still be alive and the real person responsible for doing harm would be behind bars.
How could she work for her brother doing that?
Aria didn’t know how anyone could harm an innocent child.
Ugh! She tried to shake off the rage and focus on her job, the bar. The customers were here for a good time and usually she aimed to please.
Nick had sent a picture of Javier Lopez, so she’d recognize him if he showed up.
She’d never seen him before. Of course she hadn’t. Because she didn’t associate with human trafficking assholes. And if Javier Lopez came into her bar, she’d make damn sure he left in cuffs. And at least with a black eye for what he did to Stacy.
Tonight was one of their slow nights. Still, the bar was more than half full with regulars. She preferred it when the bar was packed and they couldn’t keep up with orders. The craziness of it, the no-time-to-think, made the hours go by quickly. Another day done. Another day closer to Nick finally moving here.
She hoped he was taking care of himself and not overdoing it. She didn’t want him to overtax his body and suffer just to get here faster.
She grabbed the full trash bag behind the bar and headed through the kitchen and out to the dumpster. She tossed the bag in the huge container and turned back to the bar, but stopped short when she spotted someone lurking on the other side of the building, watching her.
“Can I help you?” she asked across the distance, putting a hand on the knife she used to open cases of beer in her back pocket. “You’re not supposed to be back here.”
“Just having a smoke and getting some air,” he called back, turning to walk around the building back to the front parking area. No one was allowed to go through the kitchen. Safety hazard, and all that.
She shrugged it off, until she walked into the bar and spotted the guy saying something to a woman at a two-top table on the edge of the room. She was dressed in jeans and a white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up, and wearing flats.
He was in black denim, a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, too, and wearing work boots.
Something about them tripped her radar. She pulled out her phone and called Nick.
He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, sweetheart, I was just about to call you. How’s your night going?”
“Good, so far, but…I went out back to take out the trash and some guy was back there watching me. Then I came into the bar and he’s whispering to some woman. I’ve never seen them before, and you said to be careful. So, could they be part of Javier’s crew?” She really hoped not and didn’t want to cry wolf every time someone in the bar made her uneasy.
“Send me a picture of them.”
She took the pic and texted it to him.
“Don’t be mad.”
That made her back go straight. “Why?”
“They’re FBI. Your protection detail. I handpicked them.”
Well, that was sweet. If frustrating. “Then why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“I want you to be alert, but not make it obvious you know you’re being watched. And you did a damn fine job of it tonight, spotting them as suspicious. I’m even more impressed and grateful you called me to make sure everything was okay.”
She appreciated the praise and assessed the agents again. They weren’t exactly in the suits she expected of FBI agents. But their dressing down needed some work. Especially for a place like this where denim and plaid ruled.
“Please tell me this means there are agents watching your back, too. Because the way I see it, you are the target.”
Nick sighed and she felt it all the way through the line. “He wants to make me pay for what I did to his sister.”
“She tried to kill you! You defended yourself. And I hope you know that it wasn’t your fault. You had no choice.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” The short, deep, clipped words backed up what he said.
She understood it was hard for him. “Okay. It sounds like you’re having trouble sleeping because of it.” He sounded so tired.
She wished she could be with him to help him through this.
“I miss you, okay? I worry about you. A threat has been made against me and mine. Everyone is being protected. Just in case. So please, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not. I appreciate that you’re trying to keep me safe. Mason has been in a lot, too, watching out for Lyric. And me.”
“I asked him to keep an eye on you.” Sounded like Nick wanted to be the one doing it. “I miss you like crazy. Especially now that I don’t have work to distract me.”
She stepped behind the bar, caught the first customer holding up an empty beer bottle asking for another and bent to the fridge to grab one. “What have you been doing today?”
“Physical therapy before lunch, then my cousins came over and helped me pack up the last of my stuff.”
She handed her customer his beer, turned and added it to his tab, then turned back to the bar and poured another customer a whiskey straight. “Does that mean you’ll be here soon?”
“I have my interview at work about the shooting day after next and some other things to tie up here, like saying goodbye to my family.”
“I bet you’re really going to miss them.” She closed out a customer’s bar tab at the register and handed him the receipt.
“I will. But I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of my parents once Lyric and Mason have their baby. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got a place nearby out there so they can see their grandchild as often as they like.”
“That would be amazing. I love your mom and dad.”
“Well, it’s mutual.” A smile filled those words. “I talked to my mom yesterday and she told me that after the shooting I should really prioritize my life better and put you and our family first.”
She poured a glass of wine, then mixed a margarita. “Nick, I understand that your job is important to you. Things are going to change when you move and work here.”
“I’ll still need to travel sometimes.” He didn’t sound thrilled about that, but it was part of the job, given they were out in the sticks.
She tried to cheer him up. “But you’ll be coming home to me, right? That’s the plan?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I want. But I can’t come back yet.”
At least they were on the same page now. She’d just need to be patient a little longer. “I feel your frustration.”
“It’s because I want to be with you so much.” His eagerness filled every word and made her smile.
“I feel the same way. And we’re getting there.” She sent the waitress off with the two drinks. The other end of the bar was getting restless and her brother was about to go off shift. “I wish I could talk longer, but I have to get back to work.”
“I love you. I’ll be there soon. And please, pretend there aren’t agents watching you. They’re just doing their job.”
“What agents?” She grinned, even if he couldn’t see it.
“Smart-ass.”
She smirked. “You love my ass.”
“I’d like to be biting it right now.”
“Sounds dirty. I’m in.”
The lady sitting in front of her lifted her glass in salute.
Nick groaned. “You’re killing me.”
Yeah, she didn’t want to get both of them all hot and bothered and restless for the other. “I have drinks to pour.”
“I have a cold shower to take,” he teased back.
“Not for long, Nick. I’ll see you soon.” They both needed the reminder that this wasn’t forever and the day when they were together all the time was coming.
If only they didn’t have Javier Lopez and his threat hanging over their heads.