Chapter Twelve #2
Turning, I look at Robert and see he’s serious. What the hell?
“I’m fine. I think I can throw a dart.”
He shrugs. “Alright, let’s play then.”
We grab the darts and set our drinks on a high top table. Katie goes first, and I watch Tyler stand close to her, whispering in her ear and giving her pointers. She does as he says and throws a bull’s-eye on the first try.
Her arms go up, and Tyler gives her a high-five. I go next and line up my shot with Robert on my right and Tyler on my left. Either the alcohol is hitting me harder or I’m imagining things, but the air is so tense I can almost feel the tension pressing against me as I throw the dart.
I don’t hit the center, but I don’t miss either, so I call that a win. I throw two more, then move so Tyler can take his turn. As we pass, his arm brushes mine. When he’s in place, he glances at me, smirking.
Tyler narrows in on the target and hits the inner circle perfectly with his second dart. Katie squeals, and they give each other a hug. As he prepares to throw his third, Robert clears his throat and steps closer. “So Tyler. What’d you do to get yourself five years in prison?”
My head nearly explodes at his bluntness. I snap my attention to him and glare. “Robert!” I hiss, wishing he’d stop.
Tyler acts unfazed and continues playing, hitting the ring outside the center.
“Nah, it’s okay. I figured he’d ask eventually since we work together every day, all day.” The corner of Tyler’s lips tilts up in a smug, cocky grin.
Robert continues drinking, then scoops the darts off the table and gets ready to play.
“I got caught up with a mafia family,” Tyler says as Robert puffs his chest out and flicks his wrist forward. The dart lands on the edge of the board.
Robert faces Tyler, who acts unaffected, but I’m dying inside. Without context, this story sounds worse than it is.
“The official charges were for having illegal guns and tons of drugs.”
Tyler lets him gnaw on that piece of information for a minute. Katie and I exchange looks, and I can tell she’s just as uncomfortable as I am.
“I was set up by the mob boss’s daughter for betraying her. After my friend put a gun to her boyfriend’s head, she decided to cough up some cash and pay the judge to give me a lesser sentence.” Tyler glowers.
Robert looks at me incredulously. I lower my gaze, knowing he’ll say something to me later.
“You’re lucky your sister talked Jerry into hiring you. If it were up to me, a criminal wouldn’t be anywhere near that garage.” Robert’s crass words have my heart racing. What the fuck?
“Well, fortunately that’s not up to you,” Tyler retorts, staring at Robert while taking a swig of beer.
“He’s not a criminal. He was framed.”
Robert glares at me with disapproval in his expression as if he’s my goddamn father. “Did you not hear the part where he worked for a mafia family? He’s far from innocent.”
I swallow hard, the tension nearly smothering me. “Well, you don’t know the whole story,” I say.
“Why are you defending him? He’s probably murdered people and robbed people.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks as his words fuel my anger. “What? Don’t be insane! You’re making him sound like a monster when you don’t even know him.”
“Gemma.” Tyler’s voice is gentle, and there’s too much rage burning inside me as I stare at Robert “It’s okay. You don’t have to argue on my behalf.”
His eyes soften, and I feel awful about all of this.
Katie sucks in a deep breath as Tyler turns back to Robert.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I was undercover to help out my friend. When his girlfriend was kidnapped, I infiltrated the mob and got hired as a bodyguard so I could help her escape. The mafia princess got even with me for betraying her. And I don’t fucking regret it.”
I smile but then quickly suppress it so Robert doesn’t catch me. He’ll never admit he was wrong for jumping to conclusions because in Robert’s world, he’s always right.
He doesn’t say another word as he slams the darts on the table, then walks to the bar. I’m so infuriated and humiliated, but I can’t even hide it because my face is red hot.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Tyler and Katie. “He doesn’t usually drink this much and—”
Tyler wraps an arm around Katie but keeps his eyes locked on me. “Nothing I can’t handle. Been dealing with assholes like him for most of my life.”
A small part of me hoped they’d get along.
“He’s not usually an asshole,” I say. “The stress from work is getting to him.”
By the way his jaw clenches, I know Tyler doesn’t believe me. I’m making excuses for Robert when he should be the one apologizing to everyone.
“Well, anyway…” I wipe my palms down my dress. “You two have fun. We’re gonna head out.”
I give Katie a hug, and she squeezes me tight. Her demeanor changes, and she becomes more upbeat than she was just moments ago. I smile in return and whisper in her ear, “Hope you guys hit it off.”
“Thank you.”
I pull away from her. “Good night, Tyler.”
“Night, Gemma.”
My throat tightens, and I force away tears as I walk over to Robert and tell him I want to go. He roughly grabs my hand and jerks me out of the pub.
I’m at a complete loss. I don’t know how to deal with the conflicting feelings in my head.
Tyler blew back into my life like a tornado, and now everything is a fucking mess.
A part of me wishes things would go back to how they were before he arrived, but another part of me knows that’s a fucking lie.