Page 41 of Fletch

“I didn’t run, and we don’t need to go over it again. I already apologised for being a prick. You’ve forgiven me anyway, remember?”

She smirks. “I don’t remember forgiving you.”

“Tell me about your job.”

She takes another chunk of bread and pulls it apart, placing smaller pieces into her mouth. “Now you wanna talk about my job?” She grins.

“What made you join up?”

“I wanted to prove myself.”

“To your father?”

She nods. “I wanted him to see I wasn’t a fuck-up, but it didn’t matter in the end. He still thinks I am, and I’ve done more than enough to prove him wrong, but he doesn’t want to see it.”

“You were so secretive back when you were a teenager, and you always seemed terrified of him.”

Gemma

I stare down into my drink. I’d love to open up and tell Fletch all about my father and everything he’s ever done to break my heart, but then I’d have to be honest about Ruby, and that’s something I’ll never tell him.

I knock my drink back, enjoying the buzz I feel as the warmth hits me. “Refill?” I ask, standing.

He shakes his head, and I go over to the bar. The alcohol is running through my veins, and I feel braver as I place my empty on the bar top. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t little Miss Raider,” Grizz drawls, grabbing the whiskey bottle.

“That’s it?” I ask with a laugh. “That’s all you could come up with?”

“I got plenty of names, sweetheart, but all of them seem too good for you.”

“What is it you hate so much, Grizz? My job, or the fact your Enforcer is fucking me?”

“Why would I give a shit if he’s fucking you?” he snaps, topping up my glass.

I smile. “Aw, that’s right, cos if he’s fucking me, it means he isn’t lusting after your old lady, right?”

His eyes narrow. “What’s that s’posed to mean?”

“Can I get that?” I glance to my left at the biker who’s almost pressed to my side and arch a brow. “Nyx,” he introduces, winking.

“I can pay for my own drink,” I say cooly.

“I didn’t ask if you could afford it,” he tells me, placing a bank note on the bar and sliding it to Grizz, who snatches it and rings it through. I look back over my shoulder to find the table where I left Fletch empty. “He asked me to keep you company,” Nyx tells me, “He had to take a call.”

“I can look after myself,” I mutter, taking my drink.

Nyx slides his arm around my waist. “Look, ignore the VP, he’s a dick sometimes,” he almost whispers, glancing to Grizz to make sure he doesn’t overhear. “But Fletch is a good judge of character, and if he likes you, so I do.” I relax slightly and half smile. Nyx pulls out the stool beside him. “Take a seat. Watch me drink myself into oblivion.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask, sliding onto the stool. “What are you drinking to?”

He leans over the bar and grabs a bottle of sours and two shot glasses. “Fuck knows. Maybe you can come up with a reason.”

I watch as he pours two shots and slides one to me. “Oh, I don’t really want?—”

“You can’t let me drink alone. Besides, stolen shots are the best.” I smirk and knock it back, wincing at the sweet taste. “That was to new friendships,” Nyx announces, topping both glasses up again. He picks one up and nods at me to do the same. He gently knocks my glass with his and asks, “Now, what are we drinking to?”

I think before replying, “Dumping cheating exes.”

“Hell yeah.”

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