Page 2 of Bound in Blood
“Something like that.” Logan tried his best to match his easy smile. “Just moved here from Texas.”
The man’s grin widened, the sharpness of his features softening slightly with his amusement. “Well, you know what they say about Texas? Only steers and?—”
“Mateo.” The sharp voice of Right-Twin cut him off. His voicesoundedmore or less the same, but Right-Twin spoke more… measured. Precise. He said one word, but that one word was all he needed.
“What? They do say that!” He looked up at Logan. “Tell him, cowboy.”
Logan leaned in a little closer, emboldened by Mateo’s cocky grin and said, “I know the expression, but since I’ve known you two seconds and I’m already offended, I’m going to pretend I don’t.”
Mateo laughed, warm and unrestrained, nudging his brother. “I like him, Marco.”
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Logan was pretty sure he hadn’t been this overtly flirted with in the six months he’d lived here. Evenlongersince Logan had the desire to flirt back. He was out of practice. He was absolutely going to drop dead of sheer embarrassment behind this bar.
Right-Twin—Marco—pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Apologies for my brother,” he said, with a long-sufferingI’m-fed-up-with-youtone,“I wish I could say he’s having an off day, but he’s always like this.”
“No worries. Ask any regular, Texas-based insults are practically currency around here.” He leaned his hip against the bar, folding his arms in a way that he hoped made him look at least a little cool. “Y’all just passing through? Don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.”
Mateo looked Logan up and down appraisingly, then over at his brother, seeming to communicate without saying a word. Logan shuddered under his scrutiny, like Mateo had physically reached out and touched him. “We figured we’d switch up the routine. Now that I know you’re here, though,” he glances down at the name-tag hanging from Logan’s apron, “Logan… I think you might be seeing a lot of us.” He winked, causing his brother’s eyes to roll and Logan’s heart to stutter all in the same beat.
Logan raised an eyebrow, trying so hard to play it cool. “As long as you tip well. Don’t be like Alexei over there.” He gestured to the regular, whisper-yelling, “He thinks because he’s not American he doesn’t have to follow our tipping customs.”
Alexei looked up from his ice water, grinning down at them. “You want a tip?”
“I swear to God if you’re not about to follow up with actual money, Morozov, I will water down your drinks until the day I die.” Logan growled, pointing an accusatory finger.
Alexei put a hand over his heart in mock offense. “This is why you make no money,???????* you are mean to those who only want to be your friend.”
“Stop calling me words I don’t know, Alexei, I can’t even figure out if I should be insulted.” Logan sighed, rolling his eyes. “And if thatisan insult, I’m having Vik ban you from the bar.”
“I believe he called you a little bunny,” Marco mumbled, and maybe Logan was imagining it, but he seemed a bit upset at Alexei’s casual use of the term. “Usually, the nickname is reserved for children. If my brother isn’t going to order a drink, could I get a glass of whiskey?”
“Oh, right, we’re in a bar.” Mateo grinned, flashing his teeth. “I’ll take a Long Island…little bunny.”
“I think I might already have a favorite twin.” Logan sighed as he prepared the twins’ drinks, sliding them across the baras Alexei moved closer to the two. “Great, my customers are unionizing.”
The last hour of the night ticks by a bit quicker than usual with the new company, much to Logan’s dismay. He was hoping when the twins spoke that they’d be uninteresting, or rude, or uninterestingly rude, but it was never that easy, was it?
Mateo was charming, effortlessly so, quick with a joke and even quicker with that grin that made Logan’s stomach twist. Every time that smile was directed at Logan, he felt like he could faint. Marco, on the other hand, was quieter, but his attention never strayed far. He barely spoke, but Logan couldfeelhim watching, tracking his every move as he tended to other customers. He never seemed annoyed when Logan was busy, but there was a certain satisfaction in his expression whenever Logan’s gaze returned to him.
They lingered long after the usual stragglers had stumbled into the night. Long after Alexeishouldhave left.
Instead, he was still at the bar. Not even drinking, just nursing the water Logan had handed him an hour before, eyes flicking between Logan and the twins. Logan had never known Alexei to hesitate, but something in his expression felt like reluctance.
“All right.” Alexei finally said, stretching like he’d only just decided to leave. He slid the empty water glass toward Logan, his gaze lingering a beat longer than necessary. Then, just as he turned toward the door, he threw a casual, offhand remark over his shoulder.
“Be careful on your way home,??????.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “Don’t start acting concerned for me now, Alexei. I’m not about to get mugged over a few tips.”
Alexei’s responding smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “There is much worse than petty thieves lurking in the dark.” He flickeda glance at Mateo, then Marco. Sharp, assessing, like he was trying to determine if they were trustworthy.
Mateo scoffed. “What are you, his mom?”
Alexei didn’t reply right away. He studied the twins for another long moment, fingers flexing slightly at his sides, like he wanted to say something but thought better of it. Logan watched the standoff, feeling a bit like he had been dropped in the middle of a story that had started way before the twins sat down at the bar. Marco tilted his head upward in slight acknowledgment, so subtly Logan would have missed it if he hadn’t been staring.
Finally, Alexei let out a low, unconvinced hum. But instead of pressing the issue, he took his coat off the rack and stepped outside.
