I wouldn’t ask him what it was about. He’d offer if he were ever ready.
He let me be his stalking tattooed monster and I’d let him be as secretive as he needed to be.
What mattered was that we’d be together tonight when I saw Becca again. If she was willing to talk to me. My stomach was in knots. I was about ninety-eight percent sure I’d ruined everything with her. But that two percent helped me through my workout.
~Becca~
Henry, two raccoons, a cat, and I had fallen asleep together in my bed after Dick got home. He gently woke us up when the afternoon was growing long. He made us a lunch of grilled cheese and soup.
Henry’s and Dick’s moaning kisses after lunch made me aware that my presence in their house would be putting a damper on their sexy times. I knew they’d both tell me it was fine, but I hated to be in the way.
My landlord had texted that my windows had been fixed and the alarm company was coming to install a new system tomorrow.
I was thankful he was a decent guy. He was a family man who’d taken my bricks through the window incident personal because he had two college-aged girls of his own.
Feasibly, I’d be able to sleep there tomorrow evening. I had Sunday off, so it would be a good day to deal with my fear demons.
Henry and I got dressed and she drove me to my car before we both headed over to Meme’s.
We were in our grand finale costumes. Bossman had instructed us to do our makeup lightly because they would have a face-painting artist at the bar for the evening and we were to be her first clients.
Henry was in a deep red dress that had devil accessories to match. She was behind the bar and I was on the floor tonight.
My costume made me sort of smile. I had a black corset and a long drapey satin skirt. The whole thing was embroidered with little skulls. It was like I was wearing Nix’s team colors.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to come tonight. I had questions I wanted the answer to.
Even my sky-high heels had a skull encrusted with rhinestones on the front where a bow would normally go.
Henry was first in the artist chair, and I went behind the bar and started going through the stock. We’d be ready for an onslaught considering all the liquor we had shipped in special for tonight.
When Henry called out to me that it was my turn, I was shocked at her paint. The devil’s face she had now was sexy and dangerous looking. The chick was talented.
I took Henry’s spot and she took mine doing prep work.
The woman painting faces was older. Her hands were steady, but her head shook just a little.
She didn’t ask my opinion on my face paint—just looked me up and down and wrinkled her nose. “Tonight you need fierce.”
She gave off a fortune-telling vibe and I closed my eyes, curious as to what she’d give me that would convey the feeling she wanted me to have.
The paint was a little bit cold and soothing at the same time.
She finally tapped my shoulder. “You’re done. Fierce. I told you.”
I opened my eyes and she showed me my refection in her handheld mirror. I snickered. A skull was looking back at me. A very female skull—but still. I had the teeth marks, the bone trailing down my throat, the deep paint around my eyes.
If Nix came, we would match. I wondered if coincidence and fate had made a bargain.
Henry winked at me when she saw what I was dealing with. I thanked the older woman. Henry and I took pictures of our shoes for Meme’s social media. There was a line outside when I unlocked the doors. I stepped to the side and made room for the crowd. Some waited for the hostess to seat them; others went straight to the bar. The band we had tonight was pretty well-known in the state. I was going to hate my heels pretty damn soon.
I was waiting for him. I knew I was. I wanted him to show up. It wasn’t rational. I had not one lick of common sense. But the click I got when he was in the room with me was something I was craving. The zap I got when we looked into each other’s eyes was addictive.
I should definitely run if Nix came through the door of Meme’s. I heard the bells as the door swung open and shook my head. Alton was here. Dressed—thank God.
I shot a glance at Henry, but she was busy pouring beer. He found me quickly. “Wow. Hot skeleton. Thing I never thought I’d say.”
I gave him my best fuck-you stare. “Are you kidding me right now? Please do not hit on me.”
Alton cleared his throat as the band warmed up. “It was reflex. Sorry. You just look exceptionally, um…” he dropped his next words and started in with different ones, “your mom and I—we’re sorry. About today. About making you have concern.”
He was dropping the we like he had her permission to speak about them as a couple.
“Listen. My mom hasn’t let anyone into her heart in a long damn time. If you are the one she’s picked—you’re lucky. And you better get out now if you aren’t planning on being here throughout her whole ordeal. She has cancer. You can’t dick her around.” I flipped to a fresh page on my order tablet angrily. I tore it from the corner a little.
“I’m coming about this the wrong way. I wanted to apologize, but I wanted to ask for your approval. Ask to date your mom. I know she has a rough road ahead. And I can’t speak to the rest of our lives, but for right now? She’s all I think about.” He shrugged his shoulders. It was then I noticed he was wearing a button-up black shirt with four buttons undone. Poor Mom.
“I appreciate you coming here to try to smooth this out. Most important is Mom’s comfort and contentment. You make that happen now, it’s cool.” I put my hand on his shoulder to put him at ease.
I felt him inhale. ‘Thanks so much.”
“You better be monogamous or else.” I gave him a hard look and let go of his shoulder.
“Sure thing. I mean, for real.” He bobbed his head up and down. “My dick is yours. Well, your family’s. Oh, God. I’m going to stop talking now.”
I stepped to the side, because I realized the sound of the bells on the front door had permeated my consciousness just a few minutes ago.
It was him.
It was Nix.
Black duster, dark shirt, and dark jeans. He had his chin tipped up and was staring daggers at Alton.
I mentally reviewed the conversation he overheard. About being monogamous. About Alton’s dick.
I watched as he clenched, unfolded his arms, and held his fists at his sides. White knuckles.
Animal stepped in the door behind Nix, pocketing keys. He read the scene immediately, following Nix’s death glare pinned on Alton. And then he saw me.
My movement drew Nix’s attention.
I watched as my skull face paint hit him visually, and I could almost see the reality that we matched spread throughout him.
He unclenched his fists and put both hands to his heart.
That had my name on it.
I gave him a bit of a smile and my best curtsey.
He returned it with a deep bow.
I stepped around Alton without offering an excuse.
Nix was here.
My heart warmed at the sight of him. It was like I could see where I was missing next to him. Where I was meant to be.
Was this what love at first sight, or well, third sight was? Making excuses over the shouting common sense my psyche knew?
My head knew one thing for sure. Nix wasn’t safe.
My heart knew another—Nix was mine.
I almost tripped when I thought the words. He reached a hand out—worried I might fall. I recovered.
The bass picked up in the bar. The band was starting a song. The lights dimmed, but the front sconces highlighted him.
“Bar or table?” I asked them.
“Who’s he?” Nix pointed at Alton.
I looked over my shoulder. Alton gave me finger guns and then seemed to recognize he was being singled out by Nix. Then he started to adjust his hair.
“That’s a guy.” I faced Nix. We had a lot to discuss.
“I can tell that much.” I was being a wise ass and he gave me a fiery look.
“Why were you talking to him about being monogamous?”
“He’s dating my mother. I was warning him.” I tilted my head.
I watched his shoulders relax.
“Possessive, are we?”
Animal stepped forward and offered me a kiss on the cheek. “I’m gonna let you guys play your games. I’ll be over there listening to the band.”
I patted Animal’s massive bicep. Nix shuffled his feet.
“I’ll take the bar.” He finally answered one of my questions.
I walked him over to a stool. He didn’t sit, but waited next to me.
“You okay?” He almost put his hand on my forearm.
“I’m better now that you’re here.” It was the truth.
“Same.” He stepped closer.
The shadows he’d inked in his face so he wouldn’t look anything but terrifying made me want to tear up.
He offered his hand, palm up. It was unmarked. Instead of putting my hand in his, I placed mine under it and lifted it to my lips. I placed a kiss in the center of his palm. A black lip print was left behind. Then I met his eyes.
The feelings between us were a conversation without words.
He was saying he was sorry. That everything I knew was the truth. He knew where I lived. My name was on his chest.
I wanted him to know I was ready to put aside all the things a girl should do to keep herself safe to be with him.
He looked from the lip print to my mouth. “Please.”
He mouthed it, but I knew what he’d asked.
I stepped next to him and went on my tiptoes, gaining just a small fraction on my tall heels.
I breathed the same request. “Please.”
He looked away and closed his eyes. He exhaled in a silent whistle before turning his head toward me. I felt his wrist at my lower back. He put pressure there so my body was flush with his side.
I let the suspicion slide from my expression, leaving only the lust I felt for him there.
He leaned closer so our lips were almost touching. “Rebecca.”
I felt the ends of my lips turning up. Then I ended the suspense, putting my mouth on his lightly. He adjusted his grip and turned to face me. Our bodies were pressed against each other and I should’ve breathed, but there was only his kiss.
It was like having metal armor surround me. His affection felt like a safety net under the tallest tightrope.
I was covered in goose bumps and the hair at the back of my neck was tingling. His mouth tasted like mint and him. His lips were heaven.
Henry slapped the bar and placed two beer glasses full to the brim as near as she could get to me.
I backed up and apologized, “Sorry, H. I was just…”
“I know what you’re doing. And I hate to interrupt, but we’re getting slammed. If you hadn’t noticed.” Henry waved at Nix. “Hey, cutie! Welcome. What can I get you?”
I took the order to table number nine as Henry started in on Nix with small talk.
I felt him watching me. His energy in this room called to me. It was a triumph.
I found Animal and took his order of drinks for the two women he was with. He wanted a soda for himself.
The two girls were friends I recognized. They were enamored with him. I didn’t blame them. Animal was a sensual guy. When I put the orders in with Henry, I made a point to slide next to Nix. I felt his hand on my hip.
“Seeing you like this, like me—it’s hypnotic.”
I looked down at his face. There was so much want and need in his expression. I wanted to heal him. I leaned down and kissed his forehead. Henry made Animal’s order and I waited to give it to him, which was excessive. I should have been trolling the floor, checking on empties. But Nix was here so…
“You can work. I know you’re supposed to.” He patted my hip. I grabbed a tray for Animal’s and his friends’ drinks. I had to weave through the crowd to get to him. The sheer amount of people here tonight would start to tip our legal allowed limits. Soon I’d have to switch from trays to just holding the drinks in my hands. There wouldn’t be room to maneuver any other way.
Most of the customers coming through the door were for the bar or the dancing. The tables mostly had spillover from there. Not nearly as many appetizer orders as I expected. But the music was hot. This band was killing it. They had the crowd participating and singing along.
Afterward, I served the band another pitcher of water on the stage. The bassist grabbed my hand. I tried to pull back, but he insisted. The patrons that knew my name started chanting it.
I reluctantly allowed myself to be led to the side stairs. The singer was hitting the growly part of his song. The seduction part. The bassist passed my hand to his friend and resumed the rhythm he was keeping. The singer went to his knees and started telling the tale of a sexy night between him and the girl in the song.
I couldn’t help myself. I looked toward Nix. His jaw was tense. He wasn’t happy. I knew I had every right to be up there—hell, being seen as fun sure helped with tips. I couldn’t do it to him.
I wanted to respect this feeling I had for him, and certainly this brand new devotion I was getting from him. I smiled wide and pulled my hand away. I scurried as fast as my heels could take me.
Luckily, it worked for the song because the singer was lamenting that he’d lost the girl. He still sang his song to me as I flitted from table to table collecting empties and it wound up being pretty hilarious.
My customers were either telling me to dump the singer or to take him back. I’d give them pretend insidious gossip—like the guy was actually my cousin.
By the time I got back to Nix, he looked more at ease. I waited for Henry to refill the drinks and jotted down who was getting what while using the excuse of writing to lean against him.
He ran his hand across my back and made me forget what the hell I was doing. I gave him a side-glance.
“What?” He held up both of his hands.
“I can’t concentrate when you touch me.” I gave his hands a dirty look.
He bit his lip. “Sorry. It’s pretty impossible to not touch you.”
I ignored him the best I could, but I knew my tally was subpar.
He offered to help me carry the huge orders I had to deliver, the glasses being much harder to manage. I was the jealous one as I watched the ladies in the bar look Nix over like he was made of free solid gold.
Three more waitresses coming from the back room, all dressed and painted, distracted me.
I gave Henry a look—she’d noticed just as I had. Bossman must’ve scheduled them at the last minute. So weird. I mean, on one hand, it was appreciated because it was a hustle tonight, but on the other hand, we’d have to share our tips.
I watched Henry shake her head and disappear with the tip jar from under the bar into the back room.
Nix had started talking to Animal and his gaggle of women—which now numbered three. I excused myself and went through the crowd and behind the bar. After pushing the door open, I found Henry with a fresh tip jar.
“Screw them. We can start the pool starting now.” Henry handed me the empty plastic container to put under the bar.
We both started making drinks and let the new girls deliver them. I put my Crocs on and Henry and I toasted the tips of our rubber shoes.
“Praise be to the comfy shoes!” I laughed as I made four elaborate flaming drinks for a table.
Nix was back on his stool and I gave him a beer. I was lost in his spectacular eyes for a few seconds. I leaned across the bar and put my lips on his. His groan made me pull myself even closer.
The bells on the front door jangled me out of my stupor. Bossman was standing there. He never came into the bar. Ever. It was email and texts only. I recognized him from the random FaceTime conferences he had with us employees.
I watched Nix side-eye the group. Bossman and a group of men came to the bar.
“Boss, it’s good to see you. Can I get you a table?” I scrambled for a few menus near the cash register.
Nix looked at his feet and seemed like he wanted to melt away. I hoped he understood why I had to stop kissing him.
Instead of talking to me, Bossman looked to the man at his left. “Feybi, what do you want to do?”
The man called Feybi ignored Bossman and instead addressed Nix, “Mercy, I thought I might find you here.”
23
PROUDER
Fenix
Bat Feybi. Of all fucking people. Right now. Here. Instead of responding to the name he knew me by, I found Animal in the club. He was still surround by his three women. It was like he heard the trouble in the air. His head snapped up. I hated that Feybi was near Becca. I had to lure him away from her. I stood and walked away.
I listened as her boss told her they didn’t need a table. How did Feybi know I was here? I was desperate to check on Christina and Ember. I pulled out my phone and sat at an empty booth in the corner. The music was getting louder, like the band was testing out how much volume they were allowed to pump. I checked my cameras quickly and then scrolled furiously through a few automatic screenshots I programmed the system to take.
I stopped on a shot of Christina. She looked tired. She was cuddling a stuffed animal. No, wait—not an animal. It was a stuffed skeleton. A shadow came over my table and I pocketed my phone. Feybi was acting like we knew each other.
“Mercy? Can I grab a seat? Thanks. I’m pretty sure I’ll own the place soon enough. Technically, you should be asking me for permission to sit here.” Feybi sat across from me. He waved Becca’s boss away like a gnat. The man seemed insulted but forced a smile before walking to the bar. Feybi’s security formed a human wall in front of the booth. I knew Animal would be watching for any trouble. And watching Becca and Henry.
I folded my hands on the table and leveled a stare at him. I wasn’t giving him anything. He had to show his intentions.
“You ignoring my messages?” Feybi pulled out a cigar and elaborately lit it. He blew the smoke at me. I didn’t blink. “You ignoring me now? ’Cause you looked pretty friendly with the bartender there.”
“It was a dare.” I had to try to throw him off her scent. In my head I was reviewing the security footage from the last two nights. He wouldn’t buy that lie for long, if at all. And he’d ask to see the security cameras. Bad Guy 101. Maybe I could wipe it if I got the chance.
Mercy Page 16