Page 21 of Running on Empty

I lostmyself in my work for several hours, as serving beverages took on a regular, familiar rhythm. Dealing with pushy customers or dickhead dudes who thought they were in with a chance with me was my routine, but there came a point where that routine got interrupted.

“What can I get ya?” I asked, looking up at the next person in line and then stopping my spiel.

Ash loomed there, brows jerking down as he took in my uniform, somehow less impressed by it today, despite the fact that he knew I wore it every damn shift I worked.

“Macca,” I said to one of the guys I worked with. “Can you look after Ash for me?”

“You got it.” Macca didn’t ask questions. The two of us had each other’s back after working together for years. “What can I get you, Ash?”

“Stevie.” Just a flat, one word answer.

“Well, mate, she’s not on the menu, as you well know.” His hand went under the bar where we kept a few cricket bats. Jonesy didn’t like it, but this was a shitty pub out in the western suburbs, so we were going to protect ourselves or not turn up to work at all. “Plenty of blokes think they can order her and you know how that goes.”

I glanced up from pouring a few rum and Cokes for the next customer after Ash and caught the moment when the alpha’s jaw muscle popped.

“I just need to talk—”

“Order a drink or fuck off,” I snapped, nodding to Sam, a big Tongan bloke who was both a local rugby hero and one of our bouncers. His eyebrows shot up but he nodded, and started his slow amble over. “Sam’ll escort you out if you need help.”

“Three Cokes,” Ash ordered through gritted teeth, directing that at me, not Macca.

“Three Cokes coming up,” my friend said, racking up the glasses then filling them with ice and pointing the post-mix soda gun at each one. Ash moodily returned to the table where the other two idiots were sitting

But that wasn’t the end of it. Of course, it wasn’t. Despite holding themselves back for… Fuck, how many years was it? Too many, that’s for sure. Apparently they couldn’t wait any more, because when I tore off my apron and tossed it on the bar, letting Jonesy know I was going for a break, the Kelly boys all got to their feet. I shot them a warning look, making clear what I thought about any ideas they might have, but of course, they paid no attention. I went and ordered myself a feed from the kitchen, waiting around the servery for it to slide out, and the cook shot me a wink before handing me some cutlery.

The staff hada small area fenced off from the main area of the pub. It was where we could have a smoke, or grab a bite to eat without customers thinking we were slacking. I walked over, but they followed hot on my heels and I spun around.

“Stevie—”

“I haven’t eaten much of anything since…” I swallowed hard. “Well, you know. You’re all full of that alpha bullshit now. How about you fuck off and leave me alone; let me get the first real meal down in days?”

Ding, ding, ding, we had a winner. The three of them backed off real quick, filling me with some kind of hope I could manage this shitty situation.

“I don’t want to talk to you, any of you.” I waved my knife back and forth in the air to emphasise my point. “And if I do, I’ll let you know. You held out on me for years. You can wait for at least that long until I’m ready to talk.”

The three of them looked at each other, the fuckers, checking in with each other rather than listening to me. My heart sank at that and I shook my head slowly. But then Jax replied.

“Of course. It’s… perfectly reasonable, considering the circumstances. Enjoy your meal and call us any time of the day. Doesn’t matter when, we’ll answer.”

I’d delete their numbers from my contacts first, but watching them take a step backwards, from the situation and actually fucking listening to me, was what I needed.

So why did I feel hollow once they were gone?

I didn’t spend any time investigating that thought. Instead, I unlocked the little area we ate in and sat down at a table. My hands shook as I unwrapped the serviette around the cutlery, but I tightened my grip, steadying my hand before attacking my food. Hunger, real, honest hunger surged up, strong enough that I could no longer push it to the side. I cut into the chicken schnitzel, the crumb coating super-crisp, the chicken succulent, all enhanced by a big squeeze of lemon and a sprinkling of salt. The taste exploded on my tongue, reminding me that food was a pleasure, not a burden.

I chewed my way through most of the massive slab of chicken and a handful of chips, washing it down with an acid sweet Coke. I was starting to feel normal, when the lock to the alcove clicked. Must be Macca wanting his dinner now, I thought, getting to my feet, ready to take my plate back to the kitchen. What I didn’t expect was for the door to swing open and the Spencer pack to come sauntering through it.

Their whole bad boy thing, with the expensive clothes coupled with tattoos and attitude? Yeah, it didn’t do shit for me now. Jack watched me clasp my knife and fork tightly, moving my feet to keep my stance low and loose, just like Ronan had taught me. But rather than be impressed, he grinned, his eyes as silver as the moon, his fangs flashing.

“There she is…” he said. “There’s our girl.”

Whatever those pricks had given me had been smothering my contact with my wolf. But at the sound of his voice she leapt to her feet inside me, snarling at their bullshit.

“Not fucking yours,” I snapped. “How the hell did you get in here?”

And that’s when Jonesy walked in, holding out a hand. Snake slapped a bundle of money into the guy’s hand, making clear that a deal had been done.

“Don’t you fucking walk out of here, you piece of shit!” I snarled at my boss, my claws snicking out. “You sold me out to these fuckers?”

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