Page 10 of Saving Chains

“Times change; people change. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I sound much more confident than I actually am, “I have an opening night to prepare for.”

He holds up his hands and steps away while I slip into my car. Dragging the belt across my body, I clip it into place.

“I’ll see you around, Lu.”

My body stiffens, and I try to swallow, feeling like a boulder obstructs my throat, but I don’t think he notices. I keep my expression neutral as I grasp the handle of the door. “My name is Luna. You know, like the moon?”

“Yeah, I do. And to think, I always thought you hung the moon.” He leans forward and grasps the still open door, “and in the darkest of nights you still shine bright.”

What the hell do I say to that? My jaw clenches as I attempt to swallow again, but my throat is dry, the saliva gets stuck halfway down and almost chokes me. I start the engine and tug the door closed as he steps back slightly, and as I pull away, I glance into my rear-view mirror and see him still standing there.

I’ll never forget the first time I met Levi. He’s a far cry from the fifteen-year-old rummaging for food and hiding behind the trash inside the clubhouse grounds. The distant and scared look in his eyes will stay with me for the rest of my life. Tears prick at my eyes and begin to cloud my vision. I’m glad when I have to stop at a red light, I use the time I have to swipe my arm across my eyes, “In the darkest of nights it still shines bright.” He used to tell me I was his light. I helped him escape his shitty life.

A horn sounds from behind, and startles me. I look up to see the green light, press my foot down on the gas, and head off to try to get the past out of my mind. I wait until I reach the bar to clear my face of tears and pretend that I haven’t had a moment of weakness for the man I swore I’d never get involved with again.

Luna’s Hangout sits back off the main highway. I bought this place with my inheritance from my mom. This is my bar, my baby, but I’m not stupid or naive enough to know that if Brothers of Sin have their name connected to the place, no fucker will mess with me. A little protection never hurt anyone.

I leave my car, point the key fob at my SUV and press the lock button before I pull the keys from my purse and open the door to my bar. My eyes scan the place as I step over the threshold, a thudding noise comes from my heels as I walk across the wooden flooring. It’s almost ready for opening tomorrow night. All the optics are filled. I’ve got every different whiskey you can think of. As soon as I saw this place, I knew I had to have it. I loved the Coyote Ugly feel it had. I felt it as soon as I walked in to view it. I was in awe of the high bars, the low lighting and the pedestal tables. I’m so excited and can’t wait to open. I drag my hand across the length of the bar, when I turn my hand over, I see dust on my fingers. Brushing my hands off, I grab the cleaning spray and a cloth, ready to give the bar a once over and begin to wipe down the tables and get to work.

I believe we’re ready, I think to myself an hour later as I scan the bar then lock up and leave. I’m already fraught after seeing Levi, and then the conversation we had. I need a shower, a glass of wine and a Netflix marathon with my best friend.

“So, what do you want to watch?” Neve asks from the other couch. She’s lying along the length of it, her head propped up on some throw cushions while I search through the T.V. I’ve gone through Netflix already, and Prime and nothing is taking my fancy, and at this present moment, I’m going through Disney+.

Shrugging, I scroll down the categories. “I want something with a bit of action, but not something where the woman is in distress and needing to be rescued. I want some badass bitch movie, where the men are a little intimidated.” I smile wickedly across at Neve.

“Okay well, there’s Wonder Woman. Gal Gadot is a bad bitch.” My mouth twists up as I consider it. “Or how about Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson, she’s definitely a bad bitch. And we all know you prefer Marvel to DC.” I smirk, she knows me so well. I go to the Marvel category, find Black Widow, click on it, and then hit play. While the credits are coming on, I go into the kitchen and grab soda and popcorn for us both, pass Neve a Coca-Cola and drop a bag of popcorn onto her and take mine back to the other couch and settle in for the movie.

“You seem a little tense, honey. Are you okay?” I turn to Neve. Her words are tentative, she doesn’t need to be, but I appreciate the gesture. I’m about to relax and forget that I spoke with Levi and felt some of the old feelings churning up. Right now, it’s about me and my bestie.

“I’m good.” I turn my gaze back to the sixty-inch screen in front and wait for it to start.

“You know I’m here to listen.”

“Nothing to talk about. Now, let me concentrate on the movie.” I hear her sigh from across the room, I know this conversation is going to come up again but if I can swerve away from it for now, I will. I want to watch the movie and be able to go to bed feeling less tense, I don’t want anything to go wrong tomorrow night. That’s probably going to be wishful thinking expecting a bunch of bikers to behave, but if they don’t, I’ll go all bad bitch on their asses.

Pulling open the bag of popcorn, I stretch my legs along the couch and focus on the movie.

“I always thought you hung the moon…” Those are the first words that come to me as I wake the next morning, my eyes flickering open as Levi’s words hit me like a thunderbolt. “Asshole.” I grumble to myself. Why did he have to say that? I’d like to say watching T.V. had helped to soothe me, and it did while the movie was on, but then I came to bed, and Levi popped back into my head. I couldn’t get over how good he looked, even after spending the last seven years locked up. I chew on my lip for a few minutes and with a renewed determination I jump out of bed and pad furiously to the kitchen. I need some coffee; the stronger, the better. I have a busy day ahead. I need to make sure I have banners for inside the bar and make sure the external banner is done to tell punters it’s open. I need to generate some business. Neve is helping me today, and I have a couple of the guys to come and hang the banner for me.

“You’re early.” Neve exclaims from behind me.

“You want coffee?”

“I sure do. Thanks babe.” I pour her some from the pot and slide it across the counter.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Neve pushes. I turn and press my back to the edge of the counter, cupping my coffee in my hands while I sip on the hot nectar. As I swallow, my head shakes.

“I just woke up and couldn’t go back.” I won’t let her in on the fact that thoughts of Levi hass woke me up. I still haven’t told her I spoke to him yesterday. The less I tell her, the less I have of believing he’s back here.

“So, who’s going to be there tonight?”

A small, unbelieving smile tugs at my mouth at her question. Since my father is the president of an MC, it’s a pointless question, I know she’s just trying to make conversation, so I’ll indulge her a little.

“Well, the MC most certainly, and anyone else who likes the look of the place. We’ve put plenty of flyers around town about it opening and scattered them along the road it’s on, so hopefully that will pull in some custom. I just don’t want anything to go wrong.”

“It’ll be great. I’m sure.”

“Hm…” I ponder on how great it will be with egotistical asshole bikers. All I can hope is that they behave themselves, just for tonight.

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