Page 26 of Bee

I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I'm not paying attention to the bar and the people inside of it. It's only when I hear the door slam that I look around and realize that there's only a handful of people left sitting at one of the tables. In front of them is the one person I absolutely don't want to see.

Evan.

The low-level henchman who has been making my life complete hell.

My muscles clench tight and I stare at the back of his head. Seconds later whatever he was telling the men in the corner make them get up and leave. I'm sure it was some sort of threat. That's the only reason Evan comes here.

To make threats.

Threats that I'm going to have to start taking serious.

About two years ago, I was in a bad fucking place. The bar was bombing and I didn't have the credit I needed to take a loan from the bank. I needed cash and quick.

So I did the only thing I could do. I borrowed from some fucked up people who did even more fucked up things. Sonny the Shark.

Thirty thousand dollars.

Fortunately, the bar hit a spike and business really starting booming.

I paid back every last dime and even seven thousand dollars in interest. I thought I was through with Sonny and all of his back alley connections. Unfortunately, it's two years later and for some reason he seems to think I'm still beholden to him.

He's nothing but a big fucking bully, and the last thing I'm going to do is let someone strong arm me. Only his threats are becoming more and more intense, and it's costing me business.

Evan is the only one so far that he's sent to talk to me.

"I've told you before, you're not welcomed here." I grit out as the last of my paying customers rushes out the door.

Evan turns in my direction and smiles at me. His teeth are rotten and cracked, but it doesn't stop him from flashing them any chance he gets. "Not welcomed. What do you mean? Where friends, aren't we? I mean, Sonny seems to think we should be very friendly."

"You can tell Sonny I don't need any more friends." I toss the rag in my hand down on the counter and cross my arms over my chest. There's no doubt that I can break every bone in Evan's face without much effort but the last thing I want is for Sonny to call anyone else in here to make a point.

"Yeah, sorry buddy, seems like you don't have much of a choice." Evan shrugs and walks closer to the bar.

His body order is so strong I have to take a step back. How the fuck does anyone let him get close to them.

"I don't owe you or Sonny shit. I've paid all my debt. I'm done with you." I keep my eyes on him. I don't know what he's got on him and I don't want to be caught off guard.

"Done with him?" Evan throws his head back and cackles, "You think you're ever going to be done with him. That man owns you. It doesn't matter what you've paid back, you asked him for a favor, and now he's going to need you to reciprocate." Evan settles his glare on me. "After all, this place wouldn't be here at all if you didn't get help from him. Don't be so difficult, just go along with the plan, and I promise you things will be smooth sailing from here on out. You're the only one who's holding out. You don't want to end up like the Greek restaurant down the street, do you? They tried to get out of the tax and things ended badly for them." Evan tilts his head, and my anger flares inside of me.

There were rumors that the fire that decimated the small restaurant was started because of Sonny, but I wasn't close enough with any of the business owners to really get the answers I needed. This wasn't a veiled threat. It felt like a full-blown attack.

If I didn't kowtow and give Sonny what he wanted, my entire way of life can be taken away from me. Yeah, I have insurance, but it wouldn't nearly cover the damages.

I could go to the cops, but they've spent years looking into Sonny and have never been able to find anything that'll stick in court. Not only would that just make things so much worse, but then I'd have to worry about the blowback from that.

"I'm going to give you one last chance to get out of my place." I keep my eyes glued on him. I see what he's about to do before he even moves his arm completely.

He reaches into his pocket obviously about to pull out a weapon, "No, I'm giving you-"

I cut him off before he has a chance to finish his sentence as I pull my 9MM out from under the bar. I'm liscensed to have it in here but if it came down to a large gun battle it's not going to do anything for me.

Evan's eyes go wide. He wasn't expecting me to fight back. Wasn't expecting me to pull a weapon on him. From what I heard everyone else just goes along with the plan so they don't end up on the wrong side of Sonny. I refuse to do that. I've worked way too hard to get what I have to have someone pulling it away from me.

Not for nothing.

At that very moment, the door opens and I want to curse the gods for having this happen in what should be the middle of my work day. Nothing says this isn't a bar you want to be at then the bartender holding a gun toward someone's head.

"You dumb fuck." Evan mutters, his face much paler than it was a few seconds ago.

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