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Elena scoffs, placing her palms on the table. “I’m your wife; I’m supposed to like you. But I just think it’s rude to flirt with married men.”
Her comment feels like a stab wound, gliding through bone and muscle in a direct hit to my heart. I rub at the sore in my chest, nodding to Gwen when she comes back over with a Diet Coke for Elena and a pint for me. She says the food will still be a minute, and saunters off to another table, unfazed by the look my wife gives her.
“We aren’t staying for food,” I tell her, opening up the GPS tracker on my phone to ping Violet’s location.
“But I ordered lasagna.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you’re of no use to me dead, Elena. Don’t eat the fucking food.”
Sliding away from her, I pick myself up out of the booth, catching Vinny’s attention as I leave her behind and approach the bar. He flips his dark blond hair from his hazel eyes, leaning against the counter.
“‘Sup, boss?”
“You see that girl in the back corner booth?”
He tilts his head to the right, looking past me. Appreciation shines in his gaze, and he nods enthusiastically. “Sure fuckin’ do. Where’d you find a bombshell like that? Wouldn’t mind takin’ her for a ride on the LL Vincent, if you know what I mean. Certainly looks like she could use a little unwinding.”
My annoyance with how this entire afternoon played out ramps up, burgeoning in my throat. Lashing my arm out, I grab Vinny by the collar of his bowling shirt, looping my fingers through the gold chain around his neck.
Pulling tight, I yank so he’s angled awkwardly across the bar, clawing at my hand.
“Can’t... breathe,” he rasps, face blooming a bright crimson color.
“Good. Remember this feeling the next time you decide to talk about my wife like she’s one of your little whores.” Shoving back, I release him, ignoring the disappointment running through my veins at the lack of finality in my threat. “Except next time, I’ll just cut your esophagus out and watch you choke on your blood. Got it?”
“Jesus, Kal.” He rubs his throat, shooting me a glare. I don’t respond, smoothing my hands down the front of my suit, and he straightens on his feet, leaning against the soda tap. “Got it. I didn’t even know you got married.”
“Now you do.” My phone vibrates, my chest pulling tight when I see the name lighting up the screen. “Keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn’t wander, and that no one looks at her too long. I’m all too aware that she’s too enticing for her own good.”
Vinny nods. “Aye, aye, captain.”
Choosing to look over his smart mouth, I head for the front door, keeping my chin straight ahead. I can feel Elena’s eyes on me as I leave the bar, burning holes directly into my back, and I’m tempted to go back inside and sit with her instead.
But I have shit to do.
The sunlight is a bright contrast to the dark interior of the bar, and I’m too busy trying to adjust to notice the girl standing at the curb, arms folded over her chest.
She scoffs when she sees me, mouth pressing into a firm line. “I knew it.”
