Chapter 2 #2
Grayson followed Locke to the end of the bar, while Des took the same path behind the tall counter, stopping here and there to touch base with patrons.
At the pass, Des gave them a quick rundown of the floor, handed them aprons and dish bins, then set them loose.
The next few hours were spent clearing tables and helping the two servers.
He kept his eyes peeled for Cass, but she never came back.
Isa made a couple of appearances to talk to Des before going back, presumably to be with Cass.
The first time Isa came out, she did a double take when she spotted Locke out on the floor, but that was the only look she spared the man.
The routine of working the floor was interrupted only once, when Des was busy hustling drinks and a well-lubricated guest was intent on creating a scene.
Grayson and Locke set aside their aprons to escort him from the premises and into a rideshare, then it was back to the floor.
Eventually, the door closed behind the last customer.
The two young servers settled up with Des while Locke and Grayson upended chairs on tables.
Grayson laid his apron on the bar as the door to the back swung open and Cass stepped through.
Isa was on her heels, speaking. Her voice was low, but he still caught the tail end of their conversation.
“No way you’re staying with those vultures, Cass. It’s bad enough you’re going to have to deal with their crap on your own.”
Gone was the vibrant woman from earlier, and in her place stood a wan, red-eyed, and—based on the stubborn angle of her chin—determined female.
“Not like I have a choice, Iz. We’ve got commitments to keep, like the band coming in on Thursday, and then there’s that…
” She pulled up short when her gaze hit him and Locke.
“That other thing you took on,” she finished. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said, ignoring the strange undercurrents swirling between the two women.
Locke came up beside him and dropped his apron on top of Grayson’s.
Cass watched with a small frown. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Locke got there first. “What’s going on?”
Cass looked away, and her shoulders hunched. Behind her, Isa and Des shared a look.
Des finally answered, “Cass’s grandmother passed, and she needs to get to Vegas.”
Grayson checked his watch, noting that it was closing in on midnight. “Are there flights heading out this late?”
“No, we checked,” Isa answered. “The next one leaves at five fifteen in the morning.”
Cass rubbed her forehead and, in a weary tone, gritted out, “I can drive.”
“No, you can’t,” Isa shot back. “That thing you call a car is barely functioning.”
Cass dropped her hand, folded her arms, and glared at Isa. “But it runs, and if I hit the road in the next hour, I’ll make Vegas by seven.”
Des waded into the conversation. “It’s a crapshoot if it’ll make it to the freeway. Not to mention you’re in no shape to be driving.”
Cass’s stiff shoulders slumped as pain washed through her face before she wiped it away. She ran a hand over the back of her neck, the soft clack of beads on her collection of leather bracelets joining her sigh. “Yeah, I know.”
Something about her resignation got to Grayson. “I can drive you.” The offer escaped him before he could rethink it.
The three barkeepers turned to him, each wearing an expression of surprise. “What?” Cass asked as if not sure she’d heard correctly.
He didn’t blame her. Hell, he had no idea why he’d offered, but now that he had… “I can drive you,” he repeated. “I was planning on heading back in the morning anyway. No reason I can’t leave a few hours early.”
Color rose under Cass’s skin, the flush easing the shadows in her face. “I appreciate it, but—”
“I can vouch for him.” Locke stood at Grayson’s side, his hand braced on the bar as he set a boot on the footrail. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if you need backup, he’s not the worst choice.”
“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence,” Grayson muttered.
Locke shot him a smug grin. “Just sayin’.” He turned back to Cass, his smile fading as he turned serious. “Whatever it is that you’re heading up to deal with, neither Des nor Isa is happy about it, so maybe having a friendly face, even one like his, isn’t such a bad idea.”
When Cass’s attention switched to Grayson, he realized her glasses were gone, revealing long lashes and brown and green flecks intertwined with gold. She studied him with wary interest. “You sure you don’t mind?”
He tried to ignore the way his body heated under her regard. “Not at all.”
She worried her bottom lip before finally giving in. “All right, then. Thank you.” She looked around, clearly searching for something. “I can meet you back here in about forty minutes. I just need to pack and book a room.” She looked at Isa. “Happy now?”
Isa nodded as Grayson winced.
“What?” Des demanded.
When Cass and Isa turned to Grayson, he shrugged. “Finding a room might be a problem. The annual E-Con is happening this weekend, and that typically spikes room rates and availability.”
“He’s not wrong,” Locke said. “And it’s not just them. There’s also a scheduled meeting for the heads of the western Arcane Families to discuss quarterly business plans.”
Isa snorted. “Is that what they’re calling it now?”
Locke shot her a dark look but went on. “You might have more luck with a private rental.”
“Maybe.” Cass closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ll figure something out.”
Isa’s mouth thinned. “Promise me you won’t stay with those people.”
Cass’s eyes flew open as her hand dropped to her side then curled into a fist. “Those people are my parents, Iz.” There was a hint of warning in her voice.
Isa remained unmoved. “And they’re toxic, so promise.”
“Enough.” Cass turned from Isa to Grayson. “Forty minutes?”
There was no missing the struggle between anger and tears, so he did what he could to help. “I’ll be here,” he promised.
She dipped her chin in acknowledgment, gave Des a quick hug, lifted a hand to Isa and Locke, and then went through the door to the back. Weighted silence filled the space for a long moment.
“What do I need to know?” Grayson finally asked.
When Isa and Des visibly relaxed, he figured he’d landed on the right question.
“Her parents are the epitome of assholes,” Isa said. “Her father will all but ignore her, and her mother will ride her ass into the dust. I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you stick with her until she finds someplace else to stay?”
“I can do that.” Since Grayson was between jobs, it was an easy promise to make.
“Good. Iris…” There was a depth of grief in the way Des said that name. “Was a hell of a woman and the only decent member of Cass’s family. She’s the biggest reason Cass is who she is. Otherwise, she’d have ended up like Sofia.”
“Sofia?” Locke asked.
Isa’s nose wrinkled. “Her younger sister, aka the golden child. I’m sure she’ll be there too,” she said with an edge of mockery.
“Right.” There was a story there, but considering how tricky family dynamics could be, it was probably best to get the details from Cass. Speaking of… “You mind giving me Cass’s number?”
Des rattled it off, and Grayson entered it into his phone with the fleeting thought that this was not how he’d planned on getting Cass’s number. Once done, he realized he needed to add a couple more numbers to his phone. “Why don’t we exchange numbers so I can keep you in the loop, just in case?”
“Good idea.” Des rattled off his and Isa’s numbers.
Once Grayson had sent them texts so they would have his number, he turned to Locke. “Ready to head out? I need to grab my stuff and then gas up.”
Locke pushed off the bar and straightened. “Ready.” He shot Isa a look. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Her disdainful sniff followed them out.