Chapter Ten
“She’s gonna murder me, Kill.”
He continued to stack glasses, not the least bit concerned with her impending death. “Did you look everywhere?”
Keely furrowed her brows. “No, Kill, I didn’t look anywhere.
I’m just going to put my life in the Lord’s hands.
If He thinks I should live, then it will magically show up!
” She tossed the rag on the bar. “Of course I looked for it. I checked everywhere, and it’s gone.
” Keely gasped at her next thought and leaned over the bar, staring in horror at her brother. “Do you think someone stole it?”
Killian snorted. “Well, if they did, they’ll be easy to track since it leaves a green ring around your wrist every time you wear it. I mean seriously, Keel, it barely fits you. Not sure why you still wear it.”
True. Her grandmother had given her the bracelet when she was six.
It had an expandable band, but by the time she reached adulthood, it no longer fit comfortably.
It wasn’t expensive or even beautiful. It was actually a gawdy piece of costume jewelry.
It was more sentimental than anything else.
It was strange how people took so many things for granted.
Keely hadn’t been obsessed with the bracelet until it was the only keepsake she had left of her grandmother.
And she wasn’t the only one. Her mother had been reluctant to give Keely the bracelet for safekeeping. Even as an adult. And here’s why!
“Welcome back!”
Keely spun around and smiled as Dahlia approached. The reason I’m here. Keely rushed forward but slowed her steps at the sight of the dark cloud following close behind her friend.
The bane of my existence.
Dahlia pulled her in for a hug, distracting Keely from Noelle. She ignored the woman staring back at her and focused on her friend. When she pulled away from the embrace, Keely strategically put her back to Noelle.
“Miss me?”
Dahlia laughed, “Yes. The Bowery isn’t quite as much fun when you’re not here.”
At least there’s that.
“Well.” She rested her hands on her hips. “If we want to keep the fun going, I should probably get to work at bar two.” Keely only made it a few steps when Killian called her name.
“You’re at three.”
Dammit! She looked over at the smallest bar tucked in the back corner. It had the least visibility and the slowest traffic, which in turn meant the lowest tips. I’ve officially been demoted. It was like starting from the very bottom eighteen months later.
Keely forced a smile. “Bar three. Got it.”
Killian shared a look with Dahlia, who seemed equally sympathetic. However, her position was beyond their control. That came from a higher power. The highest at the Bowery. Asshole.
Keely set up and prepped bar three. She may have been brought back, but she was still being punished. She glanced over to the lead bartender.
“Anything else?”
Mira lifted her chin to the back corner. “Can you take out the trash?”
The trash. So fitting.
Keely sighed heavily, reached down, and fisted the bag. “Why not!”
She was halfway to the dumpster when the sleek SUV pulled around the corner of the building. It could have been Trey or Rogue. They had a similar fleet. She lifted the dumpster lid, tossed the bag, and turned to see three men exiting the vehicle.
“Shit!” she mumbled, dropping her gaze to the ground and increasing the pace of her strides as she headed to the back door.
She couldn’t be sure if Caine, Ridge, and Cyrus had seen her.
But she wasn’t taking any chances. She grabbed the handle of the door to the employee entrance and cursed under her breath.
Her keycard was still in her locker. Of all the times to forget to grab it, this was the worst. Keeping her eyes locked on the metal door, she reached to the right, pressing the button.
As the seconds trickled by, the pounding in her chest grew erratic. Her anxiety increased when she heard the crunching gravel under heavy boots. As they approached, she tightened her grip on the handle and rang the bell twice.
For fucks sake, open the damn door!
Keely tapped her foot nervously, focusing all her attention on the door. But she could feel their presence ten feet away at the private entrance. She refused to look, even when a chill washed over her skin. One of them was looking at her; she could feel it.
The door opened. Unfortunately, not hers.
“Jared is upstairs in his office.”
She recognized Aaron’s voice and inched closer to the door. The last thing she needed was to be called out in front of Caine.
The footsteps changed when they entered the building, shifting to a tapping. When Keely was sure they’d all entered, she slowly angled her head.
A second too soon.
Caine’s harsh stare was aimed directly at her. Keely quickly spun around, giving him her back and pulling on the door. At that exact moment, it swung open, sending her stumbling back a few steps.
Noelle smirked, shaking her head. “Where’s your key?”
Of all the people to answer the door…fuck! Keely righted herself, brushing her hands over her thighs.
“You’re supposed to have it on you at all times.”
No shit, bitch!
Keely snorted, feigning a smile. “Well, thank God you’re here to share your knowledge, Noelle.”
The other woman narrowed her gaze. “You’re one fuck up away from being jobless.”
“And you’re one word away from having to file a police report.”
Threatening another worker probably wasn’t the best way to start back after coming off a suspension. Especially being on probation. She wouldn’t put it past Noelle to report her.
“Problem?”
Keely whipped her head to the right, and heat immediately shot from her chest to her face when she saw Caine still standing next to Aaron.
“I’ll ask again, is there a problem?” Aaron asked, but his glare was directed at Noelle. It seemed he shared Keely’s distaste.
“No.” Noelle smiled, widening the door. “Just reminding Keely the importance of being prepared at work. But she’s young and maturity comes with age.”
Oh, you fucking bitch!
Everyone in the vicinity had at least five years on her. Noelle was proving a point and trying to embarrass her in the process. And it’s fucking working.
She walked past Noelle and straight down the hall to the floor.
It’s going to be a long fucking night.
Her only hope was that she wouldn’t run into Caine again.
Or ever!
****
Caine’s only focus should’ve been on the meeting.
Ridge had taken the lead, explaining the small changes Ace had shared.
He was only half listening, consumed by the altercation between Keely and Noelle.
It wasn’t the first time he’d witnessed the two going head-to-head.
Caine didn’t know the catalyst behind it, but there was something there.
“Anything else?” Trey asked.
“No,” Caine said. “Nash is going to set up a meeting for us with Anders. He’s insisting.” Caine looked over at Jared. He hadn’t said a word since they’d arrived, but Caine had felt his stare the entire time. “It’s mandatory.”
Jared’s jaw squared, scowling.
“Jay will be there next time,” Trey said.
Caine was ready to leave, but Cyrus had taken an interest in the surveillance cameras. He’d been inspecting them since they’d arrived.
“Your system needs an upgrade,” Cyrus said, and Caine glanced over his shoulder, taking in the wall of screens.
Trey moved closer but remained silent.
“We installed a new one a few months ago. The picture is pristine.”
With everyone’s focus on the screens, Caine took advantage of the opportunity and moved closer.
There were so many bodies it should’ve been impossible to pick her out of the crowd.
It only took a minute. Keely was leaning with her back to the end of the bar and her hands tucked behind her.
She shook her head, drawing her long wild hair past her shoulders.
Seconds later, the female bartender leaned closer, and Keely nodded, pushed off the bar, and started through the room.
Caine followed her every step as she made her way down the employee hallway, ducking into the last door on the right.
The layout for the main floor was similar to the X-Lounge.
If Caine had to guess, she went to the stockroom.
He was scanning the other monitors looking for confirmation when Ridge grabbed his shoulder.
“You ready to go?” Ridge looked up at the screens.
Caine straightened, nodded at Trey, and walked out the door. He didn’t bother acknowledging Jared. His suspicions were on high alert, and Caine wouldn’t add to it.
Ridge and Cyrus followed close behind. They made their way down the stairs and were clear from earshot when Ridge sidled up next to him.
“You seemed pretty invested in the cameras. You see something?”
Caine squared his jaw and jerked his chin.
They were coming up to the solid door separating the offices and the club.
He stared at it on approach. He’d seen Keely, which had been his plan.
But now the urge to talk to her was incredibly strong.
He’d be taking a risk of someone seeing them. He waited a few seconds. Fuck it!
He abruptly stopped in front of the door. “I’ll meet you outside.”
“Alright, man,” Cyrus said, not slowing his steps, passing by Caine, and heading to the exit.
Ridge was another story. He glanced over at the door, and the corner of his mouth spiked.
Of both men, Caine was a little tighter with Ridge.
He never shared anything too personal, but they’d worked together for a decade.
Ridge had a way of reading Caine. His particular interest in Keely hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Fuck!
Ridge lifted his hand and started toward the exit. “Take your time.”
Caine ignored the taunting and opened the door, entering the club’s hallway. He walked down and turned right, stopping a few feet inside. Keely was on her toes trying to reach the top shelf. She was six inches too short and would need a step stool if she had any hope of retrieving the box.