Page 41 of Sinner's End

She looks me up and down before shaking her head. “You look like Emma. But not as … whorish.”

“I like that people keep saying I’m not a whore,” I sass with a chuckle. “My sister seems to have quite a reputation.”

“That’s the understatement of the year, girlie,” she says, rolling her eyes. “What are you drinking?”

“Dealer’s choice,” I say, grabbing a seat. “All I know is I want to get shit-faced.”

She chuckles before turning around to prepare whatever she is going to serve me. Rock music plays in the background butit’s not loud enough to stop me from chatting with the bar lady. Now that I’ve kicked my sister out of my life and my house, I will need a new friend. Perhaps I can convince this pretty, snarky pixie to join me tonight.

“Are you working tonight?” I ask when she places a light blue drink in front of me.

“No,” she replies with an eye roll. “I just like standing behind the bar and listening to assholes with corny pickup lines hit on me all night.”

“All right.” I chuckle, holding up my hands. “That was a stupid question.”

“No shit.” She wipes down the counter as I sip at the sweet and fruity but strong cocktail.

“Do you wanna get drunk with me?”

She gives me the side eye before replying. “I’m straight. And I need to work. I’ve got bills to pay.”

Jumping off the chair, I stride to the middle of the dance floor before staring up at Mana’s office window. I know he’s watching me. I can feel his gaze even through the pane of glass and I can see his red haze through the tinted mirror finish.

“I’m taking…” I turn back to the woman. “What’s your name?”

“Eve,” she says with a frown.

“I’m taking Eve to get drunk with me!” I shout at the window. “But she still gets paid for her hours.”

“Mana will never let that fly,” she says with a shake of her head once I take my seat again.

The words have barely left her mouth before another man steps behind the bar. He was working the bar with Kaleb the last time I was here.

“Boss says you can go,” he says to Eve.

She stares at me in shock while I clap my hands happily. That isn’t like me, is it? This fucking happiness is getting to be alittle much for me to handle.

“Get the lady a drink!” I say to the replacement barman, smiling like a crazy woman.

Eve walks around the bar until she is standing beside me. “How did you do that? Mana doesn’t give anyone time off unless they are dead or dying.”

“He likes me.” I don’t say anything else but I do slide her drink across the bar. “Do you really need to know why you have the night off, or are you going to smile while you drink for free and help me relax?”

“As long as I’m not paying, we can do whatever the fuck you want, girlie.”

It doesn’t take us long to finish the first round of drinks or the second and third as the volume on the music escalates and the sweaty, horny bodies of people start to fill the room. Everyone is dancing and laughing as I sling back tequila shots with my new friend Eve.

It’s been a few hours of drinking, dancing, and even laughing with my soon-to-be bestie when hands land on my hips, pulling me against a muscular male chest. I should be worried about who is touching me but judging by the look on Eve’s face, it can’t be anyone except the man who rarely spends time in his own damn club. He is always sitting in his office behind his big desk, glaring at everyone that dares cross his threshold.

Taking a deep breath, I enjoy the scent I have come to associate with Mana, and Mana alone. Mint, mint, and freshly brewed coffee. I smile at Eve, who has stopped dancing to stare at us along with at least ten more people, before pressing my ass against his crotch with a wiggle. A broken moan falls from his lips before he speaks.

“Kaleb is acting like an old woman,” he murmurs in my ear before placing a lingering kiss against my neck.

“Really?” I ask. Turning in his grasp I twine my arms around his neck and run my fingers through the thick hair that touches his collar. “And what is the old woman’s problem?”

“He thinks there is something wrong with you.”

I laugh loudly, my head thrown back. “There most certainly is,” I reply honestly. “But I have decided to shelve that problem for tomorrow. Tonight, all I want to do is have some fun. Can we just do that?”

---