Page 2 of Broken Hero
I shake my head. “Well...I did, but also, you're Jack’s brother.”
His face closes down even more, if that is possible. “Oh, you're one of those.”
I frown. “One of those what?”
“One of Jack’s conquests. Sorry honey, I don't do sloppy seconds.”
I gasp. I am leaning towards arsehole.
“No, I work with him at the racetrack. I've seen you on race day.”
He nods. “Oh yeah, you do look familiar.”
He doesn't say anything else...awkward silence.
“Thought I’d say ‘hi’ so that you didn't think I was rude, but now I thinkyou'rerude. I’ll leave you to getting hammered on your own - you obviously have issues.”
He nods. “Fair enough.” He spins back around in his chair.
Arsehole.
I instantly forget him. I mean, yeah, he’s a babe on the outside but empty on the inside.
I join my friends on our tiny dancefloor. Mia is watching me with eyebrows raised. I give a wave of my hand as though it was nothing - he’s not worth the breath. I glance back over at him, though. I can see the muscles of his back through his t-shirt that is pulled taut over his shoulders. Hmmm, he is fine, that's for sure. I bet he'd be naughty in bed too - someone with that much darkness in him—what a waste.
Last orders are called. How did I last until two am? I must have drank myself sober. There’s hardly anyone left in the pub, and only Mia and I are still here out of our group.
The lights are on, and the waiter makes his way over to us. “Hey, did I see you talking to the guy at the bar earlier? You bought him a drink?”
I look over. He’s still sitting in the same spot but slumped over his drink even more. There’s a glass of water at the side of him, untouched.
“I know who he is. Why?”
“Because I can't get him to move. I need to get cleaned up here if I want to get home tonight. Will you see him home?”
“What? No! I don't know himthatwell. I don't even know where he lives.”
“Please. I don't know what else to do. It’s either that or call the police and he doesn't look dangerous; he looks as though his puppy got run over. I don't want him to get in trouble, he might go John Wick on my arse. He obviously has enough problems in his life right now. Plus, cops would take hours.”
I sigh and look over at Mia to gauge her reaction.
She raises her eyebrows. “He can get in our taxi?”
She’s so drunk she would agree to anything right now.
I scowl at the waiter. “Fine! Our taxi will be here in five. I’ll try to get him in it, but no promises. I'm not gonna force him.”
“He’s mad if he doesn't get in a taxi with you two.”
I roll my eyes. “No point using flattery now - I've already agreed!”
I stand up and take a deep breath. Right, let's do this. Why do I always seem to be the one helping the injured bunny at the side of the road? I laugh to myself, I doubt he's ever been compared to a bunny before.
I make my way over and tap him on the shoulder. Nothing. No movement whatsoever. I push him a little more forcefully and his head moves up with a grunt.
“Hey. You want to share a cab with my friend and me? You live in Badger’s Mount, right?”
He stares at me with those dead eyes of his, making me squirm in my knickers.
