Page 28 of Menace

It took him a while to do what he had to, smile and reply.

“Hi Carmella, I’m Lucky and these are my friends, Dive and Lure. Thanks for the offer, but I’m ridin’ and I don’t do more than one shot when I’m on my bike, and I’ve already had one.”

He purposely didn’t use the name she wanted them to call her, she wasn’t a friend. Dive and Lure played along, giving her nods but not saying a word. Lifting his almost empty beer he shook it and gave a small smile.

“Won’t say no to a beer though.”

A look flashed through her eyes he couldn’t place. It looked like satisfaction but it was gone so fast he couldn’t be sure it was what he had seen.

“I’m here with my girlfriends, and we have a booth at the back. Would you like to join us? We’re new in town and this is our first night out exploring the nightlife.”

She acted all coy and shy but he saw the calculation in her dark eyes and wasn’t taken in.

Lure saved him from answering by butting in.

“We’d be happy to darlin’. Give us a minute to settle up here then we’ll join you.”

Giving his forearm a squeeze she hopped down and sashayed her ass back to her friends, carrying the small tray of drinks Nathan had given her.

“This is a good thing brother. You not makin’ the first move is a good thing. It’s obvious we’ve been targeted, so let’s keep our heads clear. And keep a sharp eye on your fuckin’ drinks.” Dive spoke quietly, ensuring no one overheard him.

“I agree. We’re treatin’ this as a hostile situation, stick to beer, in bottles. We use the fact we’re on our bikes as a reason not to accept any shots.” Lure said as he called Nathan over to settle their tab.

“We’re goin’ to join the ladies at the back booth, Nathan. You don’t send us beers, we’ll come and collect them personally. Understood?” Dive growled at their bartender.

Nathan knew from past experience none of them took drinks that hasn’t been under their eyes the entire time. Bad shit has a way of happening when you’re not watching.

“Let’s fuckin’ do this.” Lucky growled as he stood.

Walking across the bar he glanced to the side and saw a table of women giving them the eye. He smiled and winked, giving them a chin lift as he walked past to where the bitches were waiting. They had seen him and his brothers checking out the other women and all three had sour expressions on their faces.

It confirmed it for him.

They were bitches, through and through.

They didn’t own him and had no right to feel pissy because he looked at other women. It was none of their fucking business. Remembering why the bitch from his past was here and wondering how she was still alive had his usually friendly Cajun persona deserting him.

Breathing deep he forced a half-smile to his face as he stopped next to their table. They were obviously Latina. Dark hair and eyes with that lovely creamy caramel skin, the type of women he used to spend time with because they reminded him of Gloria. Not that it was going to happen ever again.

She sat there with a new face and body pretending not to know him. Pretending to be someone else. He realised he no longer felt it. No longer felt drawn to her, she was not what he wanted anymore.

He was stunned when he realised he no longer had feelings for her. He felt nothing. Not for the woman sitting in the booth and not for the memory of her either.

It changed things, changed things drastically.

Carmella waved a hand towards the women as she made the introductions, and all the while her fucking eyes never left him.

“Please, join us. These are my friends, Maria and Lucia.”

She scooted her ass over on the bench seat. Lucky knew she wanted him to sit next to her, so he did. The bitch instantly put a claiming hand on him when he rested his forearm on the table. He had to work hard not to shudder with disgust at the feel of her hand on him.

“I saw the vest you’re wearin’ and told Maria and Lucia that you must be bikers. Am I right?”

She fluttered her lashes at him with a sweet little smile.

What utter fucking bullshit.

She knew damned well who they were.

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