Red brows instantly puckered in confusion.
His glaring eyes roamed her face. “PTSD. You were thrown into our world and couldn’t handle it. Not the scary parts some fucker is throwing at us. A soldier plus traumatic events, the same traumatic events over and over, can result in post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I know what PTSD is. I don’t have that.”
Cassander’s jaw muscles flexed again. “We all knew you had it. Including God. But he was too pussy-whipped to talk to you about it when he should have. And that fucking day, the day you decided to finally fight your mental battle, was a day you shouldn’t have. And that is why I haven’t killed you for what you did. It wasn’t your fault.” He lifted a finger and thumped her forehead—not gently. “But you still need to own up to your shit. You were sick. You’re fine now, for the most part. So own how you were and quit acting like you did it to ‘help’ everyone else. Your actions were mentally selfish, your mind’s way of helping…you.”
I shut my jaw with a snap, my eyes flicking back and forth between them.
Poppy swallowed, her head even tipping back with it. Her brown eyes were unblinking as she questioned, much more quietly—hesitantly, “If that’s all true, then why do you hate me?”
He sucked in a harsh breath and turned his head, his eyes down on the glass of beer he was strangling with his fingers. Cassander hissed, “Because you’re the easy outlet. I have a job to do, and I can’t do it until I know you understand it has to be done.”
She swiveled back to face the bar in an instant, and crooked both arms, placing her forehead in her gripping hands. Poppy pulled at her hair, whispering toward the bar in anguish, “Isn’t there some other way to fix this?”
Cassander’s eyes returned to ice staring straight over my shoulder at nothing. He took a calm sip of his beer, before answering, “Not without me going dark, going insane. And you don’t want that, Ms. Carvene. This world couldn’t handle it if I went off the deep end.”
Her shoulders sagged. I barely heard her breathe. “Then don’t wait for me. Just do what you have to.” She shuddered where she sat, her entire body trembling. “Living like this…is killing me. We’re only putting off the inevitable.”
The man took another drink of his beer, his own voice quieting. “I can’t.”
“Why?” Such pain in one word.
“Because I’m not ready yet either.”
Poppy rubbed at her forehead and didn’t speak further.
When it appeared they had finished their crazy-ass personal what-the-fuck-was-going-on talk, I took a tentative step forward. I rubbed at the back of my neck and flicked angry glares at each of the other occupants who were blatantly eavesdropping on them. They gradually turned away and started their own gossiping conversations, and I returned my attention to the two in front of me.
I questioned softly, “How about a bottle of whiskey for the two of you?”
Poppy released one hand from her forehead, not bothering to look up. She raised two fingers into the air. Her tone was one of defeat. “Two bottles. It takes a lot to get us drunk. Come back in another half hour and give us two more.”
Cassander grunted and downed the rest of his beer. His voice was guttural like it was pulled through rusted barbed wire. “Put it on my tab.”
I blinked. “All right.”
I almost felt bad taking the fifty percent tip from him. Almost.
* * *
Leaning on a broom, one of the three other bartenders asked, “What the hell are we supposed to do with those two?”
“Leave them to me,” I mumbled while I dried the last of the glasses. “I know someone they both trust to take them home.”
All the customers were gone, an hour past closing time. Except for the two drunks with their heads resting against the bar—out cold from too much liquor. Cassander and Poppy hadn’t said another word to each other the entire night while I waited on other customers. The two had sat there, side-by-side and facing forward, just drinking the bottles I kept putting in front of them. A total of four bottles like Poppy had asked for.
The manager of the bar looked up from the mini-pad and the receipts he was tallying, then ordered with dryness coating his tone, “Get it done and get out of here.”
My hand paused, the rag in my hand clenched in my fist. “You’re firing me?”
He couldn’t do that. I hadn’t done anything wrong—tonight.
His eyes went skyward. “No, I’m not firing you. I meant get the high clientele out of here before someone decides to ransack the bar to kidnap them.”
I stared. “Damn. I didn’t even think of that.”
He snorted. “Ms. Carvene didn’t come with guards looking like that. If anything, it looks like she snuck out a damn window or some shit to get here. The last thing I need is Mr. King suing my business if his precious girlfriend goes missing.”
I set the glass and rag down and headed to the back room for privacy. “I only need to make a call. Then we’ll be gone.”
“Tell whoever is picking you up to make it quick,” he grouched, his eyes traveling back down to the mini-pad. “And don’t forget to get your tips first. They’re… excessive… tonight.”
I smirked as the door shut behind me. Then I tapped on my silver bracelet, ordering, “Call: Rune Mason.”
It vibrated against my wrist as he purred, “Hello, beautiful. Miss me already?”
My grin increased, but I focused on the matter at hand. “Hey, stud. This isn’t a booty call.”
The intimacy vanished from his tone. “Is something wrong?”
“Eh, not with me. But I do need you to come to the bar. I’ve got two drunks who are passed out that need a ride home.”
“You’ll need to clarify that a bit more. Why would I be taking them to their home?”
“It’s Cassander and Poppy.”
He didn’t respond.
I glanced at my bracelet, asking, “Did I lose you?”
He grunted. “No. I’m here.”
“Are you coming to get them?” I asked, my brows furrowing.
“Of course. Alaric and I are at God’s house right now, so I’m a little confused.”
My lips began twitching. “She snuck out of her own home?”
“Yep. Apparently, she’s not as lethargic as we thought.”
My boss had been right. “How long until you’re here?”
“About ten minutes.”
“All right. See you then.”
“Wait. Do you need a ride?” he asked casually.
I chuckled with soft humor. “Real smooth there, stud.”
His own snicker flittered into my ears. “The offer still stands, though.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, I’ll take it. See you in ten.”
“Bye, beautiful.” The call ended.
I had to collect myself so I wasn’t smiling like a fool before I entered the bar proper again. My co-workers would definitely wonder what the hell was going on if I skipped into the bar like a kid with her first lollipop. I cleared my throat, plastered a bored expression on my features, and went to claim my tips.
CHAPTER FIVE
My boss was even gawking as Rune Mason and Mr. Alaric Wood knocked on the locked front door. But he recovered himself quickly enough, casting a questioning glance in my direction at the “acquaintances” I had, as he rushed to the door to unlock it with a handprint scanner. The red light ran down his hand, then a blue light ran back up it in acceptance. The door unlatched, and he opened it wide, gesturing for them to come inside.
My libido kicked into overdrive again at the mere sight of Rune. He was back in his usual suits that fit him perfectly in all the right places to accentuate his flawless body. Mr. Wood was just as gorgeous in his own way, but he didn’t hold my attention the way Rune did.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, so I didn’t start fanning my flushed face. I took a few steps forward as Rune headed straight in my direction. But
I froze in surprise when he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my lips in greeting—right in front of my ogling co-workers.
Was this acceptable behavior?
I had no flipping idea.
“Hey,” I mumbled as he straightened. A blush had fully formed on my cheeks, but I ignored it. Instead, I tipped my head in the direction of the drunkards. “They’re out pretty hard.”
Mr. Wood’s eyes evaluated me in a professional manner before he glanced at his sleeping friends. He shook his head and sighed, murmuring under his breath, “Two broken souls.”
Rune took a step closer to my body, pressing his side against mine while assessing the situation. “I’ll take Cass. You can take Poppy.”
Mr. Wood nodded in agreement, rubbing at his jaw. “How long do you think this shit is going to last, man?”
“Who the hell knows with those two.” Rune shook his head then peered down at me. “You ready to go, beautiful?”
My cheeks flushed again, and I peeked at my co-workers from the corner of my eye. One of them was even using the wall to prop herself up, appearing faint. Wonderful. “Yeah, let’s go. I already received my tips.”
Mr. Wood flicked a finger at the sleeping duo. “Did you serve them?”
A little guilty, I only nodded my head, keeping the smile from springing forth.
He chuckled and shook his head of brown hair. “Must have been a good night for you.”
My chin quivered in an attempt to keep from laughing. “Yes, it was.”
Rune clapped his hands together. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
I held the door open while Mr. Wood carried Poppy outside with gentle care. Rune wasn’t as careful with Cassander. He merely flopped the deadly man over his shoulder with ease and walked out with an exasperated expression livening his features. I waved at my co-workers, chirping, “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Like a mute group, they lifted limp hands and waved, their jaws still hanging open.
I snorted and shut the door, following the men up the iron stairs into Wood Corporation’s private train, reserved only for Mr. Wood. The stairs retracted, and the door shut behind us, closing us in on one of the finest trains I had ever ridden in. Plush beige leather with the Wood Corporation’s bear emblem stitched into the seats, real hardwood floors and dark paneling, the roof decked out in red buttoned silk. The only other comparable train I’d ever been in was Baker Corporation’s train, the day Mr. Baker had interrogated me about the kidnapping.
I swallowed on a dry throat, afraid to walk any further. I had no clue what was on the bottom of my sneakers, but they squeaked and stuck to the floor in the bar. I bent down and started untying them as the clean blue energy lifted the train into the air seamlessly, the destination typed in on the main panel by Mr. Wood. He didn’t even seem hindered by the load he carried in his arms.
Rune glanced back at me as he dropped Cassander into a chair in the back. His black brows snapped together, while he straightened to his full height. “What are you doing, Megan?”
“Taking off my dirty shoes.” I grunted with the effort, my wide eyes still taking in the train cabin.
He shook his head and chuckled, taking a seat directly in front of the sleeping man. “You can stop. Trains like these have self-cleaning technology thanks to Wolfe. By morning, it’ll be as shiny as it always is.”
“Oh.” I stopped hopping on one leg and lowered my right foot back to the ground. I brushed my hands onto the back of my pants. “I didn’t know that.”
I was an uncouth idiot. A poor girl in a rich world.
He patted the seat next to him. “Come sit down and get off your feet for the few minutes we have.”
My blue eyes lingered on Mr. Wood as he placed Poppy on the chair directly next to Cassander’s form. He pressed two buttons on the chairs and both seats reclined, so they weren’t slumped in the chairs. My head cocked as their heads, like dead drunken weight, fell to the side so their foreheads were pressed together. Mr. Wood even stopped for a second to look at them, his head cocking in surprise.
Rune glanced over the back of his chair to see what I was watching. His brows shot high on his forehead, and he muttered, “You better move them a little bit. They’ll freak out if they wake up like that.”
Mr. Wood sniggered and leaned over, grabbing both of their chins to tilt their heads away from one another. He lifted and crossed his arms, studying them. His head nodded in satisfaction. “That’s better.”
I merely rolled my eyes and sat down. I pressed the same button on my own chair, a contented sigh escaping my lips as my seat reclined. “Good fuck, I’m tired tonight. Double shifts suck.”
Rune leaned his own seat back and then tipped his head to eye my profile. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m too tired to eat.” I yawned, showing all of my teeth, not bothering to cover my mouth. “Where are we headed first?”
Mr. Wood sat down on the seat across the aisle from us, that chair made for his size—I had noticed it was larger than the others. The man had muscles bulging on every nook on his body. He grumbled, “God’s house first. We’ll drop both of them there.”
I blinked in surprise. “Cassander lives there too?”
“No, he stays with Finn, but for the past month, he’s been sleeping at God’s house too.” His mouth snapped shut, and his eyes caught mine. “Keep that to yourself. Poppy doesn’t know he’s there.”
I lifted my black brows. “Weird. But I’ll keep quiet.”
His eyes roamed my features, apparently looking for the truth. When he appeared to find it, he nodded and held out his massive paw. “I’m Alaric, by the way.”
“I’m Megan.” I shook his hand.
A soft feminine moan flittered from behind us.
All three of us froze solid.
Until Mr. Wood glanced back, and his expression softened upon what he saw. “Hey there. You’re fine. Don’t worry.”
A grouchy answer—and slurred, “How the hell did I get here?”
Alaric pointed in my direction. “Megan’s in front of you with Rune. She called us when you and Cass passed out.”
“Damn,” Poppy murmured. Burped. “I think I drank too much.”
My lips trembled, and I slapped a hand over my mouth. I was extremely happy she couldn’t see the way my shoulders bounced with hilarity. I somehow doubted the headstrong Poppy Carvene would appreciate me laughing at her in her time of distress. Because anyone who drinks like that is dealing with some heavy shit.
I glanced over at Rune, and he wasn’t faring any better. He was biting his fist, his face turning an awful shade of red, and his eyes were watering as he tried not to laugh out loud. This was a man I could really get along with, even outside of sexy times.
A masculine groan vibrated in the air behind us, and then a shuffling creaked the seat.
“Cass,” Poppy suddenly whined. “Cass, get your arm off me. You’re going to make me puke.”
“What the…,” Cassander shouted. Then a crunch sounded, the noise remarkably like a body slamming against the side of the train. “Shit! What the fuck?”
Another feminine moan, then I held my breath at the unmistakable sound of puking.
I pinched my nose when I ran out of air and peered back and forth between my sober traveling companions, speaking with my nose plugged. “Thank fuck for self-cleaning trains, right?”
Rune lost it then, his laughter tickling my ears like an angel’s song.
CHAPTER SIX
“I want her to help me.” Poppy pointed a finger at me, wavering on her feet. Then her finger swung in Alaric’s direction. “Not you. Sorry.”
I snickered quietly. I liked Poppy like this. She was much more pleasant.
Aside from the puke pooled next to her feet.
My humor died a quick death when Alaric turned a glare on me.
He argued with her, “If you fall, she can’t hold you, Poppy.”
Cassander was leaning against the train wall, trapped betw
een the seats thanks to Poppy not moving. His head was tipped back, and his eyes were closed as he slurred, “She won’t fall. I’m sure.”
Alaric sighed and threw his hands up in the air. “Fine.”
The big man stormed out of his own train, leaving the four of us behind.
Rune cleared his throat, asking politely, “Cass, do you need help—”
One silver eye peeked open.
Rune snorted and shook his head. “Don’t get pissy. I had to ask.”
I held my right hand out to the drunken woman. “You’re gonna have to come to me. I’m not going anywhere near your spewed chunks.”
And what the fuck had Poppy been eating lately? A healthy diet of candy? ‘Cause that was what it looked like. Freaking gross.
I barely contained a disgusted shiver as she wobbled toward me, barely missing stepping in her own vomit. “That’s it. Almost there.” I caught her left arm and hefted it over my shoulder, holding her steady. “Rune, go down the steps in front of us in case Cassander is wrong.”
And please. Trusting the guess of one man?
Give me a break.
Rune was already on it, heading down the stairs. “Come on, beautiful. I won’t let you fall.”
A small grin edged my lips as I hauled Poppy toward the door, staring down at him. “Promise?”
He winked, his golden eyes staring up at me in the darkness. “Cross my heart.”
Poppy and I were slow moving. Each step down was a chore of balance and strength as she leaned this way and that. I grunted, holding tight around her waist. “Poppy, you need to lay off the sweets. I think you’ve gained some weight.”
“Or you’ve lost muscle mass.” She hiccupped and tilted her head—which tilted her whole body, keeping me on my toes. “You look thinner than the last time I saw you.”
I sighed. Even drunk she noticed. “Yeah. I’ve been on a poor person’s diet.”
Brown eyes blinked. “What does that consist of?”
“Not a whole lot,” I grumbled, but I smirked as we stepped onto solid ground. “We made it.”
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