Page 36 of Reine's Salvation

Chapter Fifteen

Mystique chewed on her lip as she wiped the countertop with the stained rag. The din of the voices in the restaurant was like muted background noise as she went over the events of the last few hours in her head.

Reine’s name careened through her mind like a wheel spinning out of control. She liked him a lot. There was no doubt she was sexually attracted to him. Just the thought of the mind-blowing sex they’d had earlier made her pussy clench. However, her feelings for him went beyond and therefore, so did her concern. He had problems. Big ones. The story of the loss of his arm. The demons, the Sins and the voices in his head. She shivered. Any sane person would run for the hills.

“So, where’s your pretty head off to today? That countertop is more than clean.”

Mystique released the cloth and lifted her gaze at the sound of the familiar voice. Her lips stretched into a wide smile.

“Max,” she cried. She gave him a brief hug over the bar. “I haven’t seen you in ages. Where have you been off to?”

“Ah, here and there, you know how it is with work,” he replied, settling in the nearest stool and sticking his hand in a plate of peanuts set out for another customer.

“Beer?” Mystique asked while grabbing a glass mug.

“Yep, the usual.”

She filled it with the frothy golden liquid and placed it in front of him. Max drank deeply before piercing her with his silver gaze.

“So, what has you looking so preoccupied?” His eyebrows arched. “No doubt a man.”

Mystique laughed, but she could feel the burn in her cheeks. Max grinned.

“I knew it. Do tell.”

“I’ve met someone,” she admitted.

“Aha.” Max grinned, the dimples on either side of his cheeks popped out, giving him the appearance of a mischievous kid. “So, he’s terrible in bed and you don’t know how to break it to him and that’s why you were wiping the counter like your life depended on it.”

“No, the sex was great. It’s just—” Mystique glanced at the clean bar. She wasn’t sure how to continue. “He’s a bit unstable,” she finally said.

Max’s smile vanished.

“Unstable how?”

Mystique’s eyes widened, surprised by the tone of concern in Max’s voice.

“Has he hit you?” he asked.

“No, no, he hasn’t hit me or anything similar, but, and this sounds terrible, he does anger quickly,” she said, the words tumbling out of her like water from a cascade.

Max’s gaze narrowed. “Go on.”

“Not at me, mind you, just at himself. You see, he has a disability.”

“A disability? Not an excuse for anger outbursts if you ask me,” Max said. He looked at her with apprehension.

“I know and I’m not making excuses for him, but he’s missing an arm and his wife died about three years ago and I think he hasn’t gotten over it.

“Wait, wait. Did you say missing an arm? Right arm? And this fellow is big, about my height, tattooed, with long hair and dark beard?”

“Yes,” Mystique replied. “Do you know him?”

“Is his name Reine?”

“Yes.”

“Do I know him?” Max burst out laughing. He took a long sip from his tankard. “We’re friends. As a matter a fact I’ve come down here to check up on him.”

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