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“It’s weird because you’re my mother,” I retort, and she huffs out a laugh.
“So, it’s not weird to sleep with Enzo, but it’s weird to sleep with me?” She lifts her brows, and my stomach drops with anxiety.
“I don’t sleep with Enzo,” I say seriously. “He sleeps on the floor or couch. Not in my bed.” Her smile slowly falls as she flicks her eyes between mine.
“You know what I meant,” she says. I nod as I move toward the door, not trusting myself to say anything else.
“Will you wake me up for school?” I ask, forcing myself to keep my voice light. I glance at her over my shoulder, and she nods.
“Of course,” she says. She moves from the room, squeezing my arm on the way out. “You’d tell me if anything was going on, right? If you didn’t want Kiwi here?”
“Yep.” I open my door, bending to scratch Rasputin’s head. “If you want me to get rid of him, I can.” She’s halfway to the bathroom when she laughs softly.
“I know you can, bud,” she says, her hand on the doorframe. “But let me take care of him, alright?” I let out a long sigh, making her laugh. That was my goal, and it makes me feel lighter.
She’s always so worried about everything and never lets anyone shoulder any of the burden. I’m old enough to take care of her, so I don’t know why she won’t let me. We stare at each other for a moment longer. She looks like she wants to say something more, but she just presses her lips into a tight smile.
“I’ll get you up in a bit,” she says. “Rest.” I nod again and turn toward my room, ready to disappear into the darkness. “He won’t be here forever.” I pause and turn back toward her.
“I know,” I say. Again, she hesitates, like she’s holding back her words. “Don’t worry about me.” I smile tightly, and she twists her lips to the side. “I stay in my room most of the time, anyway. It’s not like I’ll have to talk to him.” She still doesn’t look convinced, but she nods nonetheless.
“Goodnight, bud,” she murmurs. I knock softly on the doorframe as I walk through it.
“Night, Mom.”
Kennedy
I’m forcing Spencer to hire more people when he gets back. I don’t care if my pay takes a cut, I can’t do this alone anymore. I’m the only bartender and waitress while Arden and Nessa are gone, so I’m running around like a fucking lunatic trying to make sure everyone is covered.
The guys know me and know I’m trying my best, but they’re all drunk bikers and their patience only goes so far.
“Come on, Kens!” one of the guys shouts. “I need my fuckin’ beer!”
“I’m coming!” I shout back. “Fuck.” I hurry past a table and someone pinches my ass. I swat blindly at them, but with how crowded and dark it is, it’s impossible to know who it was.
I haven’t seen Ezra all night. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen anyone in the Inner Circle all night, either. That thought sends a chill down my spine. There’s usually at least one of them around to make sure the girls are protected. But Milo, the bouncer, is the only friendly and safe face I see.
Friday nights are our busiest and craziest nights. So even though I’m the only girl Milo has to keep an eye on, he still has his hands full with drunk men starting fights.
It’s nights like these I ask myself why I’m still doing this. Why I haven’t just found some stuffy office job and work a nine-to-five. It would be safer, I’d have a steady income, and I could see Ian more.
But I know it would kill me.
“Excuse me,” someone snaps.
“Just a sec,” I say, my back to them. “I’ll help you after I run this to–”
“I just need a fucking beer. I’ve been standing here for twenty minutes.” I whirl toward the man, now just as irritated as he is.
I don’t recognize him or the other man he’s with. On busy nights, we have a lot of outsiders come through. These two look especially out of place, though. They don’t look like bikers. They look like tweakers.
“I said I’ll get to you in a sec,” I grit out.
“And I said I want a fucking beer,” he says. “Where are they? I’ll get it myself.” He pushes off his barstool and I hold my hand up.
“You’re not allowed back here.” He scoffs as he approaches. “Milo!” I shout and hope he can hear me over the music and men yelling. “Milo!”
His blond head turns my direction, and the giant bastard makes his way toward me, shoving people out of his way. He’s massive and built like a fucking wall, but has a baby face and is more loveable than a golden retriever.
