34 COREY
I can't take my eyes off her. Not that I would anway, with all the shit that has happened over the past few days, and the sabotage this morning.
But the way she moves behind the bar, confident and sure, mixing drinks with a natural grace that wasn't there weeks ago. It’s fascinating. My chest tightens every time she smiles at a customer.
Every time she glances my way, that spark of recognition hits me like a physical blow.
"You're staring again," Julian mutters, sliding up next to me at my usual corner spot.
"I'm watching the floor."
"Right. The floor just happens to be exactly where she's standing."
I ignore him, scanning the growing crowd. The tension in the air feels different tonight. Wrong. Maybe it's the vandalism outside putting everyone on edge, or maybe it's just me projecting my own anxieties.
"I fucked up," I admit quietly.
"Because you slept with her?" He asks with a grin.
“What, how do you know I slept with her?”
“Come on Corey, we’ve been friends for how long now? Give me a little more credit.” "Fine. But I fucked up because I want to do it again. And again."
My fingers drum against the polished wood.
“She does have that effect on people,” he says with a sigh.
I look at him, his eyes swimming with conflict.
“You say that like you know from experience.” He shuffles his feet, a nervous habit of his. “I do, but fuck man, I’m sorry if I knew you…” A crash of breaking glass cuts through the din of conversation.
My head snaps up just as two guys near the pool tables start shoving each other.
"Hey!" Rhea's voice rings out clear and sharp. "Take it outside!
Tobias"
One of them turns, face twisted in a snarl. "Mind your own business, bitch."
Julian and I are already moving. I’m not sure if it’s in an attempt to subdue the bullshit, or because we want to beat the shit out of these dudes for calling our girl a bitch.
The initial scuffle explodes into chaos as bodies collide like dominoes. A chair scrapes across the floor, tables overturn, and drinks splash everywhere. Julian's moving through the crowd, trying to find the original guys to no avail - it's just a mass of shoving, cursing bodies.
"Tobi!" I shout over the noise, but my voice is drowned out by the sound of shattering glass. Someone's thrown a bottle.
"Break it up!" Julian's voice cuts through the chaos. He's got someone in a headlock, but three more are squaring up against him.
The crack of gunfire splits the air. Once. Twice. Three times.
Screams erupt. Bodies surge toward the exits in blind panic. I drop and roll behind an overturned table, scanning frantically for Rhea.
She's behind the bar, pressed against the shelving. Even from here, I can see her chest heaving with rapid breaths, her green eyes wide with fear. Our gazes lock across the room.
"Stay down!" I mouth the words, holding her gaze. She gives a slight nod, but I can see her hands trembling.
Another shot rings out. The mirror behind the bar explodes in a shower of glass. Rhea flinches, covering her head as shards rain down around her. My muscles coil, every instinct screaming to get to her, but moving now would make us both targets.
"Corey!" Julian's voice, urgent and low, comes from somewhere to my left. "Back door's clear."
I keep my eyes fixed on Rhea, willing her to stay put until we can figure out where the shots are coming from. Her fingers grip the edge of the bar so tight her knuckles have gone white. A trickle of blood runs down her arm - probably from the falling glass - and my jaw clenches at the sight.
I press my earpiece, keeping my voice low and steady despite the chaos around me. "Tobi, south entrance. Get Rhea out. Now."
"Copy." His response is immediate, clipped.
Through the settling dust and panic, I spot his massive frame moving like a shadow along the wall. Another shot rings out, and I catch the muzzle flash from the upper level near the office.
"Julian, shooter's upstairs." I tap my earpiece again.
Rhea's still crouched behind the bar, glass glittering in her dark hair. Her eyes meet mine again, and I give her a subtle nod toward Tobias's approaching figure. She starts inching that direction, staying low.
"On my mark," I murmur into the comm. "Three... two..."
I grab a fallen chair and hurl it through the nearest window. The crash provides the distraction we need. Tobias lunges forward, wrapping one arm around Rhea's waist and practically lifting her off her feet as he pulls her toward the exit.
"Move, move, move!" I shout, providing cover fire toward the balcony. The shooter ducks back, buying precious seconds.
"Got her," Tobias confirms through the comm. "Clear of the building."
My shoulders relax fractionally, but I keep my weapon trained upward. "Get her somewhere safe. We'll handle this."
"Like hell you will," Rhea's voice crackles through unexpectedly - she must have grabbed Tobias's spare earpiece. "I'm not leaving you both in there."
"This isn't a debate, Rhea. Go."
"But-"
"Now." I inject every ounce of authority I possess into that single word. The line goes quiet, and I pray she listens for once in her stubborn life.