Chapter 6
SKYLAR
A beer, two whiskey neat’s, a martini with extra olives, and four shots of patron. I line up the man’s order in front of him at the bar as he starts handing out the drinks to his friends behind him.
“Thanks again, Sky! You’re the best!” Chance calls to me as he slaps me two one-hundred-dollar bills before turning to his friends and continuing with his night.
It’s busy tonight, but I’m not complaining—the tips have been phenomenal.
I continue down the bar, grabbing beers, shots, and a few mixed drinks here and there, allowing the hustle and chaos to keep me focused.
I love being a bartender. The people, the company, and the constant movement block my brain from wandering and thinking of anything else but the task at hand.
As introverted as I am, I love being around people when the darkness becomes too much.
The past likes to find its way to the forefront of my brain and fuck up my days.
So being behind the bar prevents that from happening.
I don’t like lingering in the past. The memories that molded me into the deranged woman I am always seem to be the ones that want the spotlight.
Like my mother constantly belittling me and telling me I’m no better than the dirt beneath her stilettos.
She never hid the fact that she hated me and Seven; no, she almost felt joy in letting us know her hatred was strong.
She never wanted us, but my father needed an heir, and unluckily for her, she got pregnant with twins.
I push those thoughts away and get back to work.
“What’s your name, gorgeous?” A blond-haired man calls to me over the loud music. It’s EDM night, and the music is blaring and beating through my body. It’s hard to hear my own voice at times.
“What was that?” I yell back at him, his smile growing wider as I try to lean in closer to hear him.
“I said, what’s your name, gorgeous?” I pull back from his face.
As I’m about to give him my name, a brute of a man slides between the guy and the bar, settling right in front of me.
I look over at the blond man, who is starting to give the intruder a look before he realizes who it is.
With that, he tips his beer in my direction, and I give him an apologetic smile.
“What do you want, Saxon?” I yell at him over the music.
He gives me his usual devilish grin before lifting his hand, splaying his fingers out, indicating he wants five beers.
I catch a glimpse over his shoulder and see all five of his goonies huddled together at the table I just saw his sister and her friends at.
Poor girl can’t get away from her brother and his crew of miscreants for one night.
I’m starting to feel her pain when it comes to her obnoxious brother, who’s now made himself comfortable leaning against my bar.
Perfect.
I grab his five beers, and he slides me his card. I start a tab for him and give him my best fake smile as he gives me a quick once over.
“Like what you see?” I yell. He cups his ear at me like he can’t hear me, so I repeat myself.
Again, he turns his head, cupping his ear, exaggerating the motion.
This fucking man. I lean over the bar, getting closer to yell my question for a third time, when he snakes his hand around my neck, grabbing me by my nape.
His face is so close to me I can smell his scent as it invades my nose.
Bergamot and musk, which are fast becoming my new favorite scents.
I fucking hate how my body betrays me whenever he’s around.
She rapidly turns into a Disney princess, summoning her suitor for her happily ever after. It’s repulsive.
“Watch your mouth, Sky. I’m starting to think you like me.” Letting me go, he gives my neck a slight push, his touch a hot iron pressing against my sensitive skin. He then grabs his order and turns his back on me, heading towards his crew. This fucking egotistical prick.
“Might want to close your mouth, girl. You’re starting to drool!
” Chastity yells at me from my side. I quickly close my mouth, not realizing I had it open, and turn to look at her.
See what I’m saying? My body is a full on traitor, and I hate when she takes over.
“Don’t make it too obvious!” She elbows me, giving me her gorgeous smile, and goes back to taking orders.
I snap myself out of the fuck storm of a cloud Saxon put me in and do the same.
I’m starting to brew inside, thinking about his comment.
I’m starting to think you like me.
The fucking nerve of this man, seriously. I do my best not to look in his direction, but it’s hard when I can feel a pair of black eyes burning into the side of my face as I continue working my way down the bar.
An hour later, the bar is starting to dissipate.
Not entirely but definitely not as busy as before.
I’m able to grab my glass of water and chug half the contents.
Grabbing my hair tie off my wrist, I start twisting my hair into a messy bun, getting it off the back of my neck.
Finishing my water, I place the glass in the sink and turn back to the bar, ready to take more orders.
“What can I—” I stop mid-sentence when none other than the bane of my existence stares back at me with his signature scowl. I go to ignore him but think better of it.
“Yes, Saxon?” I say to him, sarcasm dripping past my lips.
Pulling out a bar stool, he settles in and places his forearms on the bar top, making a fist with his hands.
I wait for his response. I refuse to let him see how much his scowl intimidates me.
He’s unflinching and never is the first to break eye contact.
It’s unsettling at times. I put my hand on my hip, pushing it out to the side and giving him my best bored face as I continue to wait.
We can play this game all night, big boy.
“I found your boy.” He continues to stare at me as he pulls his beer to his lips and takes a long swig. Is he referring to Damien? Last time I spoke with Saxon was when he asked me if I knew who Damien was. It has to be who he’s talking about.
“My boy?” I try to keep my voice even and steady, but the heat that erupts beneath my skin is probably showing him just how much that man affects me, and not in a good way.
Red. Damien makes me see nothing but red.
Raising an eyebrow, he glances to his side as Saint takes up the chair beside him, spreading his legs out and pinning me with a glare of his own.
“Yeah, you know. Mr. Devonte?” I swallow the lump in my throat and stand to my full height.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I go to turn around, but a strong hand wraps around my bicep, yanking me towards the bar once again.
“Oh, I think you do, Sky.” I look down at my bicep, expecting it to be Saxon squeezing me, but it’s Saint.
His silvery, animalistic eyes pin me where I stand.
There’s nothing I hate more than a man who thinks he can use his strength and size against me.
My father did it all my life, and I’ll be damned if I let another animal bend me until I break.
“Make this easy on yourself, tesoro. Tell me how you know him, or we do this my way.” Saxon’s voice drops deeper than usual.
His expression is wiped of any sarcasm, replaced with pure rage and determination.
I yank my arm from Saint’s lethal grip, and glare at Saxon with my own signature scowl.
If he thinks I’m scared of him, he clearly doesn’t know I’ve already faced the devil and laughed in his face many times.
This man is no different from the devil’s goblins that have plagued me my whole life—the devil being my father.
“Fuck off, Saxon, and take your dog with you.” My eyes catch the gleam of a man’s watch, the light bouncing off the face and shining in my eyes for a split second.
My eyes instinctively go to the interruption, and if I didn’t have the bar to hold me up, I would have surely collapsed.
Dirt-brown eyes narrow on me, while the man clutches his phone between his hands.
Ever so slowly, a grin begins to pull across his lips, and I have to force myself to swallow the bile that’s rapidly rising up my throat.
Although I’ve been looking for this man, this is not how I planned on seeing him.
“Sky?” I can hear someone calling my name, but the hold his eyes have on me keeps me frozen in place.
My throat constricts, not allowing me to speak.
I hold his glare, too afraid if I look away, he’ll disappear.
I continue watching him as he leans down, whispers something to his friend, then leaves.
Just like that. I watch his back until he disappears down the spiral staircase.
Air surges back into my lungs the moment I lose sight of him, as if I was holding my breath.
“Sky!” I hear my name yelled again, but I ignore it.
My legs move on their own as I head into the back supply closest, shutting the door behind me.
I can’t catch my breath. He saw me here.
He’s going to tell my father where I am, if he hasn’t already.
He’ll come for me; I know it. This is not what I had planned.
I was supposed to find him, torture him, and fucking kill him.
The only thing left would be his name on my list with a thick, bold red line across his name.
The sound of the door bursting open has me spinning around in shock as Saxon enters the small closet with me. I exhale a deep breath. I’m on edge, and I’m pissed at myself for allowing that man to get this reaction from me. When Saxon looks at me, I can’t help rolling my eyes.
“Saxon, go away. You shouldn’t be in here.” He doesn’t move, not that I actually thought he would. Instead, he closes the space between us, his body vibrating with energy I can feel almost immediately.
“Saxon, what are you doing?”
“What the fuck was that, Sky?”