Page 27 of Dark Love

“I can’t. Seems there’s someone at the bar looking for you.”

“Well, I’m not in the mood. Get ridof them.”

“Will do.” He moves to the door. “Drey thought this woman was strange.”

“Woman?” It can’t be. She wouldn’t dare come back here after I threw her out.

“There’s always a woman trying to hook up with you. Drey knows better than to bother you.”

She does. “What woman?”

Payne turns around, raising a pierced eyebrow at me.

“Answer me.” Before I stab you for real.

“Drey said she’s an odd one. Doesn’t even know how she got in. Are we expecting an audit or something? The woman was wearing a cardigan.”

It’s her. She’s here. I dash over to the window, trying to find her in the crowd. “She looks like a sexy librarian?”

“That wasn’t how Drey described her. More like a nerdy accountant. That tips really well.”

Accountants don’t tip. Where is she? There are too many people here tonight. “Did you stash her at my table?”

“No. You wanted me to kick her out a second ago.” Payne moves over to stand next to me. “What’s going on? Wait, is this about the woman from last week? Is she why you’ve been a nightmare to deal with?”

“I have not.”

“You whapped the new bus boy upside the head so hard I had to send him to the doctors.”

“That kid is an idiot.” Where is she? She can’t be that hard to find. She sticks out like a sore thumb in this place.

“He is, but aren’t all kids dumb?”

“We weren’t. Where was she at the bar?”

“True enough. Don’t know. You know how Drey works. She’s all over the place.”

“Not helping.”

“I can get the guys to find her.”

Do I want that? Yes. No. I should just let her go. She shouldn’t be here. A woman like her doesn’t belong in my world.

Where is she?

“I’ll have someone find her.”

“No. I’ll go do it myself.” And when I’m done with her, she’ll never come back again.

The panic button goes off, alerting us to a problem in the west women’s restroom. Women’s… I dash towards the door.

“Security will take care of it?”

“It’s her. I know it’s her.” If there’s a problem in my club, it’s her.

Payne follows behind me.

I practically tear my door off the hinges and fly down the stairs. The people that don’t move out of my way get moved.

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