I’m numb. I can’t feel anything. Grabbing a crystal tumbler, I quickly pour a double shot of the whiskey my brother always drinks, and I swallow it in one long gulp. The burn causes me to choke. Coughing and spluttering, I race for the tap and fill the glass with water. The cool liquid eases the burn in my throat and I fill it once more.
“Hey, Raina.” Giulia’s excitable tone comes from behind the sleek silver bar. She’s the loud, overly confident girl out of all our staff, always dressed in designer jeans and exquisite blouses. Now that I take her in, though, it seems she’s either become less concerned with the expensive clothes and more about functionality, or there’s another reason for her dressed as if she’d just rolled out of bed.
“You look…”
“Yeah, don’t ask. Asshole of a boyfriend dumped me out of the apartment, so I’ve been sleeping on a friend’s sofa.” She huffs, stalking by me and into the staff room behind the bar.
I take in the bar, leaving her to change, and notice it’s slowly filling up with after work clients. Men in expensive tailor-made suits and briefcases that could probably hold a lot of money or weapons. Knowing the normal caliber of clientele, I’d say both apply.
When Giulia reappears, I take in her appearance now. I can’t help noticing she’s dressed in the tightest damn tank top I’ve ever seen, shimmery and silver. She looks like she’s going out clubbing instead of serving high-end liquor to men old enough to be our father.
“What the hell are you wearing?” I hiss as she nears me.
“A top. One that will earn me a lot of tips.” She smirks, winking with that cheekiness that always gets her into trouble. Shaking my head, I head to the small staff room and drop my purse in the safe. When I enter the main bar area again I grab the tray of glasses, setting them on the countertop, ready for the shift. “You should try it some time. Maybe you’ll find a rich man to fuck that uptight ass of yours.”
“Do you have to be a bitch?” I bite out my response. Her eyes widen in shock. We’ve always joked around, but today is not the day for it. “I’m sorry. I’ve just gotten some devastating news.”
“Are you okay?” she murmurs, holding my arms, attempting to meet my watery gaze.
Nodding, I sniffle. “My dad,” is all I get out before I finally break. My body is wracked with sobs. She pulls me into her arms, keeping me close while I cry. And cry I do. The pain finally searing through everything and I’m lost to it. I can’t let Andrea see me like this. He’ll lose his shit.
I pull away, attempting to calm myself. Sobs still wrack my body and Giulia offers me a solemn smile.
“Why don’t you freshen up.” Her gaze darts to the office door and I know she’s as worried about Andrea hearing us or seeing me in this state.
I leave her behind the bar. The ladies’ room is quiet when I step inside, and I splash my face with water, attempting to calm the puffiness from crying. “I miss you, Daddy.”
Shaking my head, I straighten my spine, remembering what he would always tell me.
Strength comes from within. Not a name. Not a family. But from your soul. Nobody has the same one. Some are dark. Some light. But you, my sweet girl, you’re my star in the night.
Even though it’s getting busier in the bar when I make my way back to work, I take my place behind the counter, my white apron tied around my slim hips.
I pour drinks. I ignore the jibes from drunk assholes.
“You okay?” Giulia questions an hour later.
I nod.
I swallow.
I turn away.
“You need a night of debauchery.” She smiles, her whisper clearly loud enough to bring attention to us from one gentleman who’s sitting at the bar. His cool gaze drinks her in and his lips lift into a smirk.
“I’m sure I could oblige you, sweet thing,” he purrs, a deep, seductive tone that has me rolling my eyes. Men like this are bad news. They’re old enough to be my father. The thought chokes me.
“Why don’t you leave me a tip, and we’ll see.” She giggles, trying to bring attention to herself instead of me. The girl who’s about to break down.
Even though she’s right, I’d love to experience having a normal life. Being able to go out, get drunk, dance the night away, but I’m not normal. I never will be. Also, I’m not that type of girl. Lucio had ensured I was safe, never out of my home or his sight. When I was with him, I was in a type of prison. But I grew up in one, so I never knew the difference.
“What about you, Poppet?” he murmurs at me as he lifts his chin in a gesture, but before I can respond, an accented voice that’s as smoky as the most expensive Scotch whisky and as deep as a baritone rumbles behind me.
“She’s busy tonight.” The words sound around me, as if they’re caressing me, stroking me in places I ache to be touched. When I turn to regard my savior, my voice is stolen along with my body.
He’s beautiful. Handsome.
With day-old stubble that covers his square jawline, sharp features, and piercing black eyes he holds me hostage with a stare that’s hot enough to disintegrate my panties.