When I reach the bar, I lean across and say to her, “You look like you could do with a hand. You want me to help?”
Relief fills her face as she nods. “Yes girl, get your ass back here. We’ve got a birthday celebration going on that I didn’t know about in time to call reinforcements in.”
I grin at her. I don’t know Kree as well as Mum does—they’re super close—but I love hanging out with her. She’s witty, sarcastic, and fun, and I especially like the way she doesn’t put up with shit from anyone.
“You take that end,” she says when I make my way around the bar to join her.
I move quickly because there are a lot of guys waiting to be served, and we get through the first wave in just under twenty minutes. I know there’s another wave coming because more guys have entered the bar, plus the ones we already served are going to want another drink soon.
I’m catching my breath for a minute when Knuckles, a club member who I’ve spoken to many times, leans across the bar and says, “You gonna be working the bar from now on, gorgeous?”
Before I can answer him, one of the other members, Texas, says, “Fuck, brother, you got a death wish? King’ll be here any minute now; he catches you sweet-talking his daughter, there’s gonna be hell to pay.”
“Fuck off,” Knuckles says. “I’m just doing what all you assholes wanna do.”
“Yeah, but all us assholes are smart motherfuckers.” Texas shrugs. “Your life, man, but fuck, I’d be choosing to live it differently if I were you.”
“Guys,” I say, cutting in before their conversation goes sideways. “Who wants a drink? And no, Knuckles, I’m not gonna be working the bar from now on. I’m just helping Kree out today.” I’m not bothered by him. He’s harmless and just having some fun. Plus, I’ve always felt safe with these guys because they live by the code of not fucking with their Storm family.
Knuckles grins sloppily at me. “Maybe Kree would let you help out a little more often. Hell knows you’d be a welcome sight at the end of a long day.”
I’m about to put an end to this—because I don’t want to encourage him—when I catch sight of Fury who’s come to stand between Knuckles and Texas. He’s not happy. In fact, I’ve never seen such a dark, filthy expression on his face as he looks at me and says, “Get out from behind the bar.” He then turns his attention to Knuckles and says, “And you get the fuck out of here. If I ever hear you speak to her that way again, hell fucking help you.”
Whoa.
What is going on here?
It’s like he’s breathing fire and I have no idea why.
Knuckles attempts to argue, but Texas pulls him away, saying something about it not being worth going up against Fury. I’m hardly listening, though, because my gaze is fixed firmly on the man standing in front of me looking at Knuckles like he wants to kill him.
“What the hell, Fury?” I demand.
He turns his furious gaze on me. “I want you out from behind that bar now.” It’s a command; not one I intend on obeying.
“No. I’m helping Kree.”
“Fuck, Zara.” Those words practically roar out of him. The next minute, he stalks behind the bar, grips my bicep, and drags me out of the room.
“Fury! Fucking hell. Let me go!” I try to fight him off, but my attempts are futile. He’s far too determined for me to have any chance at stopping him.
Before I know what’s happening, he’s pulled me down the hall and into one of the member’s rooms. I’m so bewildered by everything happening I don’t stop to look around; I’m focussed only on Fury.
He slams the door behind us. “Next time I tell you to do something, you’ll do it! Am I understood?”
“Oh my God, no! You don’t get to tell me to do anything!”
“When every fucking club member’s eyes are all over you like they just were, I do get to tell you to do something. There’s no fucking way King wants you behind that bar.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. It was just Knuckles and Texas.”
He comes closer, backing me up against the wall. “I guarantee you it wasn’t just those two with eyes on you.”
My breaths come hard and fast as I stare at him. “That’s why you’re angry, isn’t it? You didn’t like them looking at me.”
His nostrils flare. “What I didn’t like was you being in that kind of situation.”
I smack my hand against his chest. “You are so full of shit! You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me. That’s what this is about!”