Page 573 of The Tempted

Chapter Twenty-two

“Last call, buddy,” the bartender called from the other end of the bar. I stared at the amber liquid, swirled it around in the glass then knocked it back and turned it upside down lining it up next to the other empty shot glasses. I had quite the collection going on.

I pointed to the tower of empty shot glasses and peered back at the bartender.

“Two more,” I ordered, slurring my words.

“You got a ride to wherever you’re heading?” he questioned as he braced his hands on the edge of the bar and studied me.

“I got it covered,” I tapped the empty glasses. “Let’s go.” I added another twenty to the stack in front of me and waited for him to move.

He sighed, reluctantly grabbing the bottle of whiskey from behind the bar, flipped over two shots and filled them to the rim—slamming his hand over the cash and stuffed it in his pocket.

So much for the concerned bartender act.

Anyone can be bought in this world.

Everyone had their price.

Sometimes a twenty got you what you needed, other times all the money in the world wouldn’t suffice.

Sometimes the price was blood.

I emptied the second shot glass, numb to the burn of the liquor as it made its way down my throat. I pushed back my stool and stood for the first time in hours, stumbling and knocking over the bar stool.

“Easy,” the bartender called. “Why don’t you let me call you a cab?”

I waved him off as I found my footing and headed out of the bar. If I had any luck, I’d wrap the van around a pole before I did what I knew I had to do.

I unlocked the van, climbed into the driver seat and fumbled with the key, leaning my head against the steering wheel.

“But the world, my world, it would be black without you,” she whispered. “I don’t know how it happened, and I probably never will, but you’re a big part of my life and my only wish is that you start living life again.

“I wanted to,” I whispered, replying to the memory of her words. “You made me want to.”

Then I was reminded of my own words.

It’s a good dream, Lace. You and me, it’s a real good dream but dreams don’t come true for men like me.

I knew better.

I knew it would never work, that I wasn’t good for her, that I had the capacity to ruin her.

It’s me.

It’s what I do.

I take the good in the world and make it ugly.

I take the innocent and feed them to the devil.

I can’t change and the more I think I can the more I hurt the people who give a damn about me.

I hurt Lacey.

I hurt Jack.

I hurt my club.

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