Page 4 of Blast from the Past

Just as suddenly as they appeared, they are gone again. Iam planning on staying in Severn but that’s because I want to start a business, not be a bar lady. But it’ll take a month or more to get everything up and running and this could keep me busy for the time being.

“What time do you get off?” Zane asks.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him whenever he has the time, but my attention is diverted by Shane, angrily frowning behind Zane.

“Zane,” he says lowly as he leans against the bar. “I thought I made it perfectly clear you aren’t welcome here.”

“And I told you to eat shit and die.” Zane doesn’t even glance in Shane’s direction, keeping his attention focused solely on me.

“Finish your beer and get the fuck out.”

“I’m having a conversation here.” Zane gestures to me.

Shane turns his burning gaze my way. Immediately I lift my hands, palms out. There is tension, something burning between the two of them, and I don’t want to get in the middle of that.

“Just being friendly with the customers.” I chuckle, trying to alleviate the tension.

His gaze scans my face searching for any signs of deception.

“Mercy isn’t interested in your bullshit either. So, move it the fuck along.”

He grabs the half-empty beer in front of Zane, leans over the bar, and dumps it in the bin. Shane looks at me like he has more to say but turns and walks away. From the corner of my eye, I see movement.

“Shane,” I yell, hoping he can hear me before it’s too late.

Chapter Three

Shane Blake

I shouldn’t be able to hear her voice above the music, the loud conversations, and the laughter in the bar, but I do. I hear it as clearly as if she had whispered into my ear in the dead silence of the night.

It takes me a split-second to react and turn around. A fist connects with the side of my face and instead of going down like I am sure this asshole expected, all I do is flex my jaw. My vision clouds red and I charge at Zane. What the fuck is he thinking?

This is my brother’s bar. I will rip him limb from limb. I get in three good shots before Wesley and Drew pull me off him. I roar to the heavens, my blood beyond boiling. It was bad enough to see him and Mercy chatting like they have known each other forever. But to disrespect me by hitting me in my brother’s bar, a place he knew he wasn’t welcome, with a sucker punch no less. I will rip his goddamn head off.

I watch as two of the regulars help him up from where his slumped, bleeding form lays sprawled, and lead him out of the bar. My brother and his employee hold me back because I allow it. I try to calm the fuck down before I do something stupid.

But then I see Mercy standing behind the bar, breathing heavily. I can’t stand the thought of any man being near her, especially Zane. Was she interested in him? Would she let him touch, hold, kiss her? The thought of his hands on her has my anger boiling over and cruel words falling from my lips.

“This is your fucking fault,” I bellow pointing at her, blaming her for something I know is not her fault.

“What?” She looks shocked.

The band has stopped playing and everyone is watching the scene play out with rapt attention. This will be the talk of the town tomorrow.

“It’s always been this way. You do whatever the fuck you want and the rest of us have to deal with the fallout.”

She looks like I slapped her. All the color drains from her face before she squares her shoulders. I know the look in her eyes, and she isn’t going to let me get under her skin. No, she is going to make my life a living hell. We’ve done this dance before.

Bending down she scoops up her handbag and walks around the bar counter until she is right in front of me. Her gaze sweeps me from head to toe and back again, disgust clear for everyone to see, before she turns to Wesley.

“I’ll be back tomorrow morning for my shift,” she says to my older brother. “As for you, Shay. Grow the fuck up. If you can’t treat me with some fucking respect, then stay the hell away from me. I’m not your problem, your temper is. And it always has been.”

I stare at her, my chest pumping up and down as I try to get my breathing under control. “You. Don’t. Work. Here,” I say lowly. “And I told you not to call me that.”

“If I’m not missing something, Wesley is the owner, and he offered me a position. He needs the help.” She glares at me. “Severn is my home too and I’m not leaving again, so you better get used to it.”

I watch her as she walks across the dance floor toward her friend Lisa. They speak for a couple of moments before they hug, and she walks out of Blake’s. What a fuckup. The only woman I have ever loved, and we can’t fucking stand each other.

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