Page 66 of Deadly Conflicts

18

Eighteen

“Let’s order more drinks.”

Fifteen minutes later the second pitcher of margaritas was toast and so was Mandy’s patience. She grabbed the empty pitcher from Ally and shook her head. She’d managed to sober up nicely in the time since she called James and she’d been watching the front door for a familiar face ever since.

“You don’t need another drink,” Mandy admonished. “How about you have a glass of water instead?”

Ally wrinkled her nose. “I don’t want a glass of water.”

“Yeah, she doesn’t want a glass of water,” Vince intoned, leaning into Ally. His chair had gotten progressively closer with each passing moment. “She’s a big girl. Leave her alone … killjoy.”

Mandy already disliked the man when she made the call. She hated him now. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

“Like what?” Vince feigned innocence. “I’m not talking to you like anything so … chill.”

“How about you bite me?” Mandy shot back. “I think that sounds like a better plan.”

Ally was beyond tipsy so she had trouble wrapping her head around Mandy’s attitude. “Am I missing something?”

“No,” Vince said. “You’re too cute to miss anything.”

Mandy rolled her eyes so hard she thought she might fall out of her chair. “Yeah, you’re missing something,” she said. “This guy is following you around and he’s a total douche.”

“Excuse me?” Vince’s eyes flashed with anger. “I see you get your social skills from your husband.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You shouldn’t,” Vince said, raising his hand to signal the waitress. “Come on, Ally. Let’s get more drinks and move out to the deck. Your friend is raining on my parade and I don’t like it.”

She might’ve been drunk, but Ally wasn’t so far gone she would get up and abandon Mandy. “No, she’s right. It’s a weekday and I have to work tomorrow. I’ve had more than enough.”

“Oh, good grief,” Vince lamented. “What happened to you? You used to be so much more fun. This is what happens when you spend your days pining for a carny.”

“Stop calling Jake that!” Ally exploded.

“Hey, it’s not my fault he’s not giving you what you want,” Vince said. “He can’t. He’s a limited individual … just like this one.” He jerked his thumb in Mandy’s direction. “She’s only friends with you because she thinks she has to be to make her husband happy. What she doesn’t understand is that her husband is an ass and he’s probably sleeping with every woman in town when she’s not looking.”

“That did it.” Mandy grabbed a pitcher of beer from a passing waitress’s tray and didn’t hesitate. She threw it in Vince’s face before the waitress had a chance to register what was happening.

“Hey!”

“I’m going to kill you,” Vince hissed, wiping the beer from his face. “I just … this is an expensive suit!”

“That doesn’t make you any less of a douche,” Mandy shot back, flashing a rueful smile at the waitress. “You can put that on his tab. He’s paying.”

“You stupid bitch,” Vince barked. “I hope you die a long and torturous death and that your husband knocks up some hussy and embarrasses you so much you crawl into a hole and are never heard from again when it finally happens.”

“Hey!” Ally was on her feet, but she didn’t get a chance to blurt out whatever angry remarks flooded her mind because Vince was being dragged away from her by a hand around his throat before she could form words. “What the … ?”

James was furious when he slammed Vince into a wall. “Don’t ever talk to my wife that way!”

“Let me go,” Vince choked out, gasping for breath. “I … she started it.”

“Yes, I’m sure the tiny woman deserved you threatening her,” James seethed. “Don’t look at her! Look at me.”

Jake stood between Mandy and James, his face unreadable.