Page 52 of Cruelest Contract
The headlights catch the shape of a coyote standing in the road up ahead and feasting on some roadkill. I take my hand from Cecilia’s and blast the horn. The animal dashes into the darkness.
“So that’s Laramie,” Cecilia says as we pass the city limits.
“You’ve seen it before,” I remind her. “The airport you flew into is less than five miles from here.”
“I was a little distracted that day,” she says with a touch of sarcasm. “There wasn’t much chance to appreciate the scenery.”
This town is far from a big city but compared to Vigilance it’s a sophisticated metropolis. The first two bars we pass look pretty dead and the boys balk at stopping but the third place has live music and a healthy crowd.
When we get to the door, one of the bouncers does a double take. We’ve been here before. His jaw tenses and a flash of agitation stirs in his beady eyes. He’s bulky and thick-chested and looks capable of taking down an army of belligerent drunks with one hand.
Since he remembers us, he’ll also remember that we’re generous. In my pocket there’s a roll of twenties adding up to three hundred bucks and kept handy for situations like this. I shove it into his palm. All he needs to do is overlook the ‘No Firearms’ rule posted on the door. Just like he did last time.
After all, there’s always a possibility of running into some trouble in a place where men are pounding shots and hunting for women. I won’t be walking inside with nothing but my dick in my pants. The sloppy, untucked shirt look isn’t my favorite but it’s necessary to hide the holstered pistol on my hip.
The bouncer waves us in and my brothers surge inside first. Cecilia stays close to me and I keep my hand on her lower back as we wade through the crowd. No need to risk any confusion about whether or not she’s spoken for.
Cecilia doesn’t appear to mind when I touch her like this, as if she’s already agreed to be mine. In fact, I’d say she enjoys it.
This place is the size of three regular bars combined, with room enough for a shallow stage and a dance floor. The band sounds decent and is currently belting out a cover ofShould’ve Been A Cowboywhile some braver customers attempt a bad imitation of line dancing on the floor.
A group of young women are clustered around the bar. All of them are pretty and they nudge each other with giggles when they spot our group. If there was a dictionary entry entitled College Girls, their picture would probably be under the caption.
Naturally, my brothers make a beeline for the girls. Satisfied that they’ll stay occupied for a while, I steer Cecilia away from the area. Sitting at a bar is the worst place to be if you want tokeep an eye on the whole room. Besides, now that I’m out with Cecilia I want her all to myself.
We luck out when a table pushed against the wall opens up. From here I have a clear view of the bar and the door. Behind my back there’s only one other table where a quartet of fortyish women are enjoying drinks and laughter. No one will be able to catch me by surprise.
Cecilia can’t hold back a smile when I get her settled into her chair. I’m starting to wonder if no man has ever gone out of his way for her before. She’s so easy to please it kills me.
The line dancing on the floor has dissolved and people either pair off or wander away in search of another drink. The band announces a break and the volume takes a nosedive. My brothers have amassed a fan club over at the bar and they’re already drinking like it’s a competition.
When a gum chewing waitress stops by our table, I plunk down five twenties and order a soda. “You want the same?” I ask Cecilia.
“What’s your most popular beer?” she asks the waitress.
The girl scratches her cheek and snaps her gum. “Miller Lite if you just want something basic.”
“Sounds good. One pint please. Wait, I think I’ll try a shot too.”
“A shot?” I say. “Kind of risky if you don’t drink.”
She looks at me a little funny. “Maybe tonight Idodrink,” she replies with a touch of stubbornness. “Give me a whiskey.”
“Jack all right?” asks the waitress.
“Sure,” Cecilia says, looking the opposite of sure.
“No change needed,” I tell the girl and she snaps up the cash and takes off.
Cecilia folds her arms on the table and gives me an arch inspection. “I’ve been to bars before, you know.”
“I’m sure you have.”
“And yet you seem to be under the impression I’m a little inexperienced.”
“Then prove me wrong and tell meall about your life experiences.”
She rolls her eyes. “You sound like your brother right now.”
