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“I think it would be helpful if you took some time to review the logistics of your current security team. Maybe you can go over their schedule, where you have each of your men stationed, what your standard procedures are . . . give our new friends the lay of the land in your world. Sound okay?”
Frank nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Leo’s eyes bounced to me, and I found myself instantly lost in their depths. Knowing he was going to these lengths to keep us safe—to keep me safe . . . I didn’t know what to do with that information. “Mara,” he said on an exhale, as if he’d been looking everywhere and finally found me, despite the fact that I’d been with him for this whole tour. I stood frozen next to Frank as Leo took the five steps needed to close the distance between us, captivated as I watched the expression on his face morph from concern to what looked like wonder. And then he smirked. “The most dangerous thing in the world is a silent woman,” he said, to no one in particular. “Especially when she’s smiling like that.” He gently tapped the pad of his finger against my bottom lip.
Had I been smiling?
Shit. I quickly schooled my expression, wiping any traces of a smile right off. In fact, I went so far as to glare at him, exasperated that he would call me out for something like that in front of all these people, let alone touch me so intimately. We both agreed we’d keep everything regarding the contract quiet at work, so there was no reason for him to treat me as if we were anything more than professional co-workers. And co-workers definitely didn’t try to make contact between their finger and another co-worker’s lip.
I felt the foundation of our little truce crumble as his playful display demolished through my comfort zone. “What?” I snapped. Now wasn’t the time to let him have a taste of my vengeance—but I found joy in anticipating when I could lay it on him.
“Oh.” His smirk crawled higher up his face, and dread pooled in my stomach at what he might say next. “I wish you’d warned us that you woke up and chose violence today.”
Hm, okay that wasn’t so bad. Still wildly unprofessional, but at least it was more snarky and less intimate. I rolled my eyes and turned away from him and the rest of the men around us, muttering, “I don’t have time for this,” as I walked away.
I was scheduled to open the bar tonight, and even though it was only a Monday, Nora arrived for her closing shift around six. We’d only recently started scheduling two bartenders on Monday and Tuesday nights. They were normally our slowest of the week, but with how much business had increased over the last few months—and after Sam got caught in a particularly grueling Tuesday night shift by himself when all of Denver showed up—I decided it wasn’t worth anyone being caught on their heels. It meant the bartender who opened usually didn’t make as much money as they would have if they’d had the whole night to themselves, so I usually took that shift and gave the beefier closing shift to someone else, only staying as long as we needed to ensure there’d be no surprise rushes.
Tonight was a more typical pace for a Monday: the bar seats were half-occupied, a handful of booths around the perimeter of the club had been filled, and only a few people had gotten loose enough to dance to the house playlist. On the nights we didn’t have a DJ, we used my music streaming account to play an eclectic mix of both trending hits and old bangers from legends like Tupac and Heart. “Big Poppa” by Biggie was currently bumping through the speakers, and I shimmied in place to the beat of the music while prepping a new batch of garnishes. It was slow enough that I’d stopped serving customers a little while ago and was going through some of our closing duties so Nora wouldn’t have to handle things alone at the end of the night.
After taking a round of beers to a high-top table near the bar, Nora sidled up next to me and watched as I cut an orange into wedges. “So,” she said with an uneasy tone, “are we allowed to talk about it?”
I glanced up at her to find worry etched in her big brown eyes as she fidgeted with the tail of her long braid. She was taller than me—the top of my head only reached her shoulder—and for a moment, I had the distinct feeling that she was looking at me as an older sister, despite being a few years younger than me. And it knocked me sideways, because I was supposed to be the strong one in this place. I was supposed to be the one who had it all together for everyone else so I could effectively lead them. “Talk about what?” I asked, purposefully looking back down at the orange in front of me as I sank my knife into the rind.
“Saturday night, Mara.” A sigh spilled out of her mouth before she lowered her voice and leaned in a little closer. “Are you okay?”
Movement caught my eye as Ethan opened the front door to let a large group of people in, and I realized I knew those people. Nora’s boyfriend, Andre, led the pack while our mutual friends Logan, Adam, Amelia, and a petite Hispanic girl who looked a lot like Andre followed closely behind him. I looked back up at Nora, her eyes still glued to me. “I’m okay, Nora, I promise. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. I was just trying to help stop something worse from happening . . . I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Her eyes blazed with concern before she wiped it away, nodding her show of support and love. I reached out to squeeze her hand in thanks before we turned to focus on the incoming group. Nora locked eyes with Andre and smiled so brightly it was like she’d caught the stars in her teeth. “Hey you!” she greeted him.
Andre’s lips curved and his eyes crinkled. “Mariposa.” Nora leaned across the bar to give him a brisk kiss, and I shifted my attention to the rest of the group, placing cocktail napkins in front of each of them.
“Haven’t seen you all in a few weeks. How’s everyone doing?”
Adam smirked. “Oh, how we’ve missed you, our small-but-mighty bartending queen.”
“Mara,” husked a voice from the end of the bar. I turned my head to find Leo and Rocco standing together, Leo’s eyes trained on Adam.
I almost rolled my eyes before I turned back to the group. “It’s good to see you all—give me a second and I’ll be right back to catch up.” Spinning on the heels of my leopard printed Vans, I marched toward Leo. “What?” I asked with an impatient tone when I reached him.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed down a retort, his eyes flashing toward the group before landing back on me. “Rocco is going to take Frank’s usual posting for the rest of the evening. It’s slow tonight, and I’d like Frank to spend some time working with Rocco’s men. It’ll also give Rocco an opportunity to absorb what things are like around the bar to observe and flesh out some of our weaknesses.”
I glanced at Rocco, watching as he scanned the faces of each patron with a scowl. “Okay, but he stays in his corner. I don’t need him scaring anyone away.”
Leo nodded. “Nor do I.”
“Good,” I mumbled.
“Great.” He smiled.
“Is that all, sir?”
His eyes flashed before they darkened, and I immediately regretted my feeble attempt at sarcasm. “For now,” he responded, his voice considerably rougher than it had been moments ago. It sent a shiver up my spine.
I felt the need to pour a bucket of ice-cold water over whatever spark was glinting in his eye, so I rushed more words out of my mouth. “I’m almost done helping Nora with the prep work for tomorrow. I’m going to visit with some old friends who just got here, and then I’ll be leaving for the night. Unless there’s anything else you need?”
His brows knitted together. “Well, isn’t that convenient? I’m wrapping up here too. I’ll drive you home.”
Home. My eyes flashed to Rocco, who was watching me with a new curiosity. I looked back at Leo, giving him a pointed look. “Thanks, but I don’t need a ride.”
