Would she be there? Was she hurt? How could I—
Tonight.Jade would sleep in my arms tonight; I was sure of it. I was getting her backtonight.
“Okay, team, we’re fully booked tonight again.” The restaurant manager held up his phone and read out the details. “We have three large parties. Table eleven is here for a boy’s night. Twenty-seven guests.”
Perfect—Claudio’s men would be here in large numbers.
“Table one is here for a birthday with fifteen guests.” I stood in the huddle with the rest of the staff, having stolen an apron from a locker in the back of the restaurant.
“And table thirteen has thirty-two guests. They’re here for an engagement party.”
A shock ran through me. Anengagementparty? Xavier booked this night for…an engagement party?
“All drinks are to be charged to the credit card on file.” I blinked through the blinding rage of hearing thatmygirl was engaged to dumb fuck Knox. "Who are you?" The manager suddenly addressed me.
"Stavros hired me last week. My name’s Jay. We haven't worked together yet." I outstretched my hand for a handshake, throwing in the owner’s name with whom I was well acquainted.
"Oh. Okay. I don't see you in the schedule for tonight, though?" The manager wouldn't let up, scrolling something on his phone.
"I'm filling in for John. He called in sick last minute."
I walked away quickly, taking my spot behind the bar and scanning the floor. Jade’s table was in my perfect line of vision.
Roman was already seated at the bar, and I stumbled over to his side, picking up a random glass. “He’s engaged to her. This night—it’s theirengagement party!”
The images in my mind darkened with every minute. Jade was trapped with the man who abused her. Hestoleher, locked her up…and put a fucking ring on her finger.
“Shit, man. That’s fucking rough.” Roman shook his head, having nothing else to say about the fucking disaster I found myself in.
The dinner rush started, and I stayed quiet behind the bar, busying myself with anything and everything. Waiting.Waitingfor only one specific person.
“Do you want to take a break?” Roman whispered across the bar as the restaurant noise buzzed all around us. “Jesús and his crew are seated, and Xavier’s table is almost all here. Maybe just take a five-minute—”
“No. I can’t miss her.”
Orders were pouring in, and I mixed drinks, dumping double the alcohol into all kinds of glasses. As much as it pained me to admit it, I was incredibly out of shape and still very hurt. I may have abandoned the cane, but I could barely stand. The bottles weighed a fuckington,and my legs were on fire simply from standing for a solid thirty minutes.
I was ready to collapse.
Right before I did, though, Roman grabbed a bottle of vodka out of my hands and poured two shots, pushing one toward me.
“Davai.” He jutted out his chin and…
Fuck it.
I shot my head back, letting the cool liquid coat my tongue. The effect was immediate. Not only did I not have any alcohol and been on heavy meds for the past three months, I was also extra lean.
But I was thankful for the vodka when my eyes found none other than Knox, arriving to loud greetings from his table. That motherfuckerglowed.
He was heavier than before, and he was dressed better. Did he get dressed in the same room as Jade? Did he share afucking closet with my girl?!
“Eto on.” I motioned behind Roman, and he twisted back slowly, getting a good look at him. “He’s the one with the eyepatch. What the fuck happened to his eye?” Whatever it was, I hoped it made him cry like a little bitch.
The waiter dropped off drinks for him—one after another—while he chatted with his friends, loudly laughing and joking.
Time slithered on. Their table was full and I checked my watch—an hour since Knox arrived and Jade was nowhere to be seen. My heart hammered against my ribcage just at the thought of seeing her, but she was a ghost.
“Maybe I fucked up,” I murmured to Roman over the loud chatter of the bar. “It’s been an hour and she—”
