Page 16 of My Undead Heart
“Now I know why Zig hired you.” Tana laughs and shakes her head. She’s a cool chick and tonight’s been surprisingly enjoyable, chatting it up between checking IDs and keeping an eye on the customers. Uneventful too, other than keeping the room tally current. The band’s been playing for a good hour and must be a local favorite as fewer people leave compared to those who stick around. Tana promises the night is still young and there’re at least a half dozen fights every weekend, but so far I’m feeling overpaid to shoot the shit with a pretty young thing while she takes tens and twenties.
“Why’s that?” I smile and nod at the group of girls we just let in. “Have a good time tonight,” I say and they pass in a fit of nervous giggles.Damn.I feel old, because if I saw them on the street I wouldn’t guess they were old enough to be in here.
“You know how they put sparkly lights in window shops?” Tana’s grin pulls up and her eyes brighten with mischief. “You’re like that, but for this bar to attract women. Oh, and gay men.”
A chuckle escapes my lips. “You’re calling me eye candy? I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”
“Oh, it’s definitely ...Shit!” Her gaze darts over my shoulder and she points at the bar. “It’s go time, pretty boy.”
I turn to follow Tana’s wide-eyed stare and feel her give a little shove at my back, but I’m already winding my way through the crowd and toward the fight brewing at the bar.
“You wanna fucking go?”
“Not really! I’d like to order a drink without you assaulting me or my friend.” The man with the blue hair—the one who walked in earlier to hug zombie girl—shoves at the chest of the man getting up in his face.
The bulked out dude with the buzzed hair only pushes closer. His gold chain rests along the collar of his one size too small black T-shirt as he gets right in faux hawk’s face, spitting out a hate filled threat. “Take your fag ass outta this bar. We don’t want your fuckin’ homo ugly ass face here.”
Before I can step in, zombie girl wedges herself between the two men and pushes buzz boy square in the chest. “Fuck you.Wedon’t want your intolerant dipshit brain inourbar either, but it’s a free country. Don’t fucking touch me again and move the fuck over so we can get our drinks.”
The bartender behind the counter shoots me a worried look as I reach the altercation. “Why don’t we take a walk?” I shout and reach for buzz cut’s arm. He shoves back against my hold and zombie girl’s eyes widen as the man charges her. Her blue haired friend isn’t fast enough. He reaches to drag her out of the way, but my guy knocks into her with his shoulder. She falls back into her friend’s arms as my guy thrashes to escape my hold.
“Lemme go! Imma beat the shit outta that fag!” he shouts and if it were anyone else restraining him, I’m sure he’d get free. The fucker is strong. Axe body spray permeates my nostrils, but still I don’t let go. Shouts and screams from around us only add to the chaos. Tightening my grip, I drag the still struggling and very mouthy drunk toward the exit.
“Call the cops,” I tell Tana.
“Already did. They should be here,” she says, and runs ahead of us to hold the door open.
“Careful,” I warn. This dumbass is still throwing out kicks every few seconds and I don’t want her catching a cheap shot. God, I hope zombie girl is okay. She took a good hit, and right in the head. The fact she was still conscious and shooting glares like a loaded pistol gives me hope for no major injuries.
Manhandling my detainee outside, I drag him over to the flashing blue and red lights that greet us at the curb.
One of the officers steps from the vehicle and approaches with his hand at his weapon as his partner joins him at his side. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Get the fuck off me!” The man in my grasp continues to thrash against my hold but he’s got no skill beyond his heavy frame.
“Assaulted at least one customer inside after I suggested we take a walk.”
“I see.” The officer comes over to read the man his rights and take over my hold.
“Careful. He’s strong,” I caution as the other cop comes around to assist his partner in cuffing the man. I step back and out of the way as they maneuver him into the back of the squad car. A second police vehicle pulls up to the curb and a woman officer steps from the passenger side as soon as it rolls to stop.
“You boys need help?” she asks, her gaze drifting over my frame for a quick assessment before meeting her colleagues.
“If you’re offering. Yeah.” The cop who cuffed our drunk nods to me. “Any chance you can show her to the others involved in this altercation.”
“Of course.” I wait for her to reach me and walk toward the door.
“Did you see what went down or just break it up?” she asks.
I point over my shoulder. “All I saw wasthatguy flinging some serious hate speech before he and another guy started pushing each other. There was a girl, too. I grabbed him but she took a shoulder to the head pretty hard.”
“You think you could pick the guy and girl out of the crowd?” She points at the club doors.
My smile widens when I consider how I’ll be showing her to the zombies inside. “Oh, that won’t be a problem.” Cops working the beat in this area have probably seen a lot, but my guess is she’s not expecting the undead. Hand on the door, I pull it wide and hold it open for her to step inside first. The zombie girl sits on Tana’s chair while her blue haired friend stands beside her and presses a bag of ice against her forehead.
“Let me guess. It’s these two,” the cop deadpans, no surprise or humor in her tone.
“Ding, ding, ding.” I smile.
