Page 48 of The Club

“I’m not in the mood.”

“You’re in a shit mood. Taste it. If it’s right, you give me a hundred bucks. If it’s not, I give you a hundred bucks.”

“And I get to decide if it’s right?” I ask, perking up.

She shrugs, her shoulder brushing a pink pigtail that somehow makes her badass bitch leathers even more badass. “I trust you.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“Somepeople shouldn’t. I can.”

“Why?”

“Just taste the fucking margarita.”

I grin wickedly. “If it’s not right, you’re fired.”

“If itisright, you give me a raise.”

I lean on the bar. This is getting interesting. “You’re that sure?”

She leans on the bar from the other side. Her nose ring winks in the light. Her eyes are steely.

“You have more to lose than I do with these stakes.”

I raise an eyebrow. She’s not wrong, but at least this is fun now. I taste the margarita. It’s bright with the subtle complexity of a splash of beer. It’s perfect.

“Finally learned about the internet, huh?” I say by way of concession.

“You’re a pain in the ass.”

“You’re the second person to tell me that today.”

“Must be true.”

I huff. Some of the levity fades. Where is he?

I pull out my phone and check it pointlessly. Of course, it still shows only my last text from two hours ago.

Who’s playing games now?

Nyx gets pulled away to make other drinks, but I see her looking at me from the corner of her eye. When she has a chance, she comes back and takes away the empty margarita glass.

“So you owe me a raise.”

“Yes, I guess people who can perform simple internet searches for cocktail recipes deserve raises.”

“Ooh, sarcasm. You are in a bad mood.”

“I’m going to bed.”

She checks her phone for the time. It’s just after midnight. “Okay, now I’m worried.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

***

I’m dead asleep when someone pins me to the bed. I thrash against the big, muscled body behind mine. Powerful arms are clamped around me, but I manage to get an elbow into my attacker’s side. He grunts.

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