Page 5 of The Road to Hell

“You okay?” Rathiel asked, his voice quiet.

I released a shaky breath, then nodded. “Yeah. I just didn’t think it would be this hard. Guess you really don’t realize how much something means to you until you lose it.”

His stony silence had me shooting him a sideways glance. Guess he knew all about losing something important to him.

I cleared my throat, and together, we stepped inside. Hank, the grizzled werewolf bouncer, lifted his gaze to me, then slowly arched a furry brow. “Well, look who the cat dragged in,” he grumbled, crossing his arms over his hulking frame.

One might have thought he was trying to intimidate me, butnah. Hank only had one tone of voice, and that was gruff.

“Didn’t think we’d see you here again. Miss us already?”

“Only you, big guy,” I quipped, forcing a grin. “But don’t get too excited. I came to speak to Mason and maybe have a drink. Not to work a shift.”

“Pity,” he grumbled. Then he jerked a thumb toward the bar. “Could use the help tonight. Your replacement’s got two left hands.”

As if on cue, a loud crash echoed through the room, followed by a harried, “Son of a?—!”

I snapped a glance toward the bar and winced. My former boss, normally the embodiment of vampiric composure, looked ready to start throwing fists as he struggled to handle three drink orders at once. He bared his fangs, and judging by the tension radiating from his shoulders, someone was about to regret their existence.

Probably me.

Thank goodness he wasn’t my problem anymore. I had more than enough to handle right now.

“Why’s Briggs behind the counter? Hasn’t he hired a new bartender yet?” It hadn’t beenthatlong since I’d quit, but bartenders were a dime a dozen. It shouldn’t have taken longer than a night or two for him to find a replacement.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Hank replied, scratching his scruffy chin. “He’s been back there yelling at anyone who orders a drink.”

“Oh, for crying out loud,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Rathiel’s hand and dragged him toward the bar. His hand stiffened briefly before his fingers relaxed and curled around mine. He didn’t say a word, but I caught the slight tilt of his lips—just a hint of amusement.

The chaos behind the bar was worse. In the time it took me to close the distance, Briggs had dropped a bottle of expensive bourbon, broken one shot glass, and over-poured two drinks. Mason and Hunter stood at the other end of the bar, their faces twisted with concern. I gave Mason a small wave, gesturing to him that we needed to talk, but headed straight to Briggs.

The vampire snapped his head up and blinked. “Lily? Tell me this isn’t a hallucination.”

“Hey, Briggs,” I said, offering what I hoped was a charming smile. “Uh, you look busy.”

“That’s one way to put it,” he snapped, slamming a bottle of whiskey onto the counter. “Please tell me you’ve come to your senses and want your job back.”

Oh, awkward. “No,” I said quickly. “I’m just here for a quick visit, and maybe a drink, or…” He spilled another shot. “Maybe not.”

Briggs’s shoulders sagged in defeat, and for a moment, I thought I spotted genuine despair flash across his face. “Figures.”

Guilt slammed into me. “Fine, I’ll help you catch up. But that’s it! I’m not coming back.”

Briggs blinked at me, stunned into silence. Then a wide grin split his face, his fangs glinting in the dim light. “I could kiss you!”

“Don’t,” Rathiel warned, his voice a low growl behind me.

Nervous laughter bubbled out of me, and before anyone could ask who Rathiel was, I slid behind the bar and got to work.

In fifteen minutes flat, I had turned the bar from a disaster zone into something vaguely usable. Customers were sipping their drinks, the barback had washed all the used glasses, and I’d even managed to mix a few orders that had the customers beaming with gratitude. Briggs muttered something about me being a “damn miracle worker” as I polished the last glass and handed it off.

“There,” I said, tossing a towel onto the counter with a flourish. “You’re welcome. Now, I’m going to pour myself and my friend here a drink, for free of course, and leave you to your evening. I might suggest hiring a new bartender soon though. I don’t think you’re quite cut out for the job.”

Briggs shook his head, his expression half relieved and half-bewildered. “You made that look too easy. Sure I can’t bribe you to stay? Money? Blood? Hell, I’ll even get down on my knees and?—”

Rathiel’s alarming snarl had Briggs shooting him another curious glance. I raised a hand before things could escalate into a full-blown testosterone showdown.“As tempting an offer as that is, no thank you.”

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