Page 3 of Vex

“Do you bartend elsewhere when you’re not here? You seem to know what you’re doing.”

“Yeah, I work part-time at Zero. Suki and I worked there together before she came here.”

“So that’s where you know her from?”

“No, we went to school together and then had a few college courses together as well. We’ve known each other since tenth grade. Best friends ever since,” Taja says softly. She’s speaking so quietly that I can barely hear her over the music thumping in the background.

“Suki‘s good people. She’s well-liked here. She does a great job. Has Freddy approached you about working here full-time? We’re short on staff if you’re interested. I’m sure he’d consider you for more hours.”

“Yeah, we spoke earlier about a permanent job here for me. I’ll give it some thought and get back with him on it. I need to talk it over with my sister before I make a decision. It would leave her home alone at night a lot more than she is now. But I’m definitely thinking about it,” Taja replies.

“How old is she?” I ask.

“Fifteen going on forty,” Taja answers with a small smile.

“Are you going to get me a fucking drink or just stand around flirting with the pretty biker?” barks a man a few stools down from where I’m sitting.

Taja moves to stand in front of the dick-splat and waits silently for his order. When he gives it, she turns immediately to make his girlie-ass drink, while I glare daggers at him. He smirks and I know right now he’s going to be a problem tonight.

“You want a drink in here, Mister, you ask nice or you get the fuck out. Nobody treats our staff like shit. Got it?” I spit back at him while walking to stand next to his stool.

“Yeah, biker, I got it,” he says without conviction.

Yep, he’s going to be a problem. Taja sets his drink in front of him and moves away to work on a large order from one of the waitresses. I move back to my stool and wait for what I know is coming.

It’s only a few minutes before the man finishes his drink and slams the glass onto the bar. Taja’s in front of him with another drink before he can even open his big mouth.

“I see I have you trained now, little girl. How come your ass isn’t up on that stage? You’d make more money being the pretty little thing you are than behind the bar slinging drinks. How much will it cost me to get a lap dance from you?” the man slurs.

“I sell drinks, not myself,” Taja responds evenly.

“Everyone and everything’s for sale. Name your price. I’d like to see you without so many clothes on,” he says.

“Not me. Not going to happen.”

Before Taja can move away, the jerk grabs her wrist and drags her toward him over the bar. I’m on my feet, hand wrapped around his wrist and squeezing hard, before he sees me coming. Taja jerks out of his grasp and steps back while my other hand grabs the back of his shirt, and I hoist him off the stool. Bending his arm behind his back, I head for the exit.

“What the fuck, man? Let go of me!” he bellows.

“Rule number one here is no touching the ladies. You’re out. Don’t come back,” I inform him as we reach the door.

“What fucking ladies? They’re all whores and get what they deserve for working here!”

Ash opens the door and smiles wide as I shove the man through it and follow him outside. Ash lets the door close behind us as he gets in close to watch this particular shit storm. He genuinely loves to watch a good brawl, but he’ll be disappointed tonight. This guy isn’t the type to fight. Not a man, anyway.

I give the man a shove away from me and drop my hands to my hips and wait for his mouth to say more stupid shit. I don’t have to wait long.

“You biker boys take good care of your whores, don’t you? You must make good money off of them. Keep the pretty ones for yourselves and pimp out the rest. Is that how it works? Is she your own personal cocksucker?”

“Get gone, douchbag. Don’t come back,” I calmly tell him. I know his type well. They have to save face so they run their mouths so they can tell themselves they’re badass.

“Fuck you, bik…”

As soon as I hear his voice again, I start toward him. Doesn’t take him long to decide to leave the premises and to do that shit in a hurry. I stand there until his car pulls out of the lot, and then I turn around to head back inside.

“They never learn, do they?” laughs Ash.

“Nope. Stupid and drunk is a bad combination. But it keeps you and I employed,” I answer.

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