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Dahlia blinked, unsure if she’d heard Gia correctly. She placed her hand over her heart. It was again beating out of her chest, and her dread set in.
Oh hell.
****
Trey scanned the room from his seat at the table in the corner. He was quickly reminded why he didn’t frequent The Moon Bar unless it was for business. It would fall into the dive bar category. It had enough ambiance to sucker men with a little cash into believing it was upper scale, but it wasn’t the food and drinks bringing in the predominately male clientele.
Manny’s establishment offered extra perks in the form of sexual favors for cash in the back of the restaurant. It was a well-known fact, and the Underground reaped a percentage of the income. They didn’t deal directly with the prostitution ring, but the Underground received residuals for every business occupying their territory. Trey had never thought much about it since it wasn’t high revenue, but looking around now, it didn’t sit well with him.
“I can get the chef to make you whatever you want,” Manny offered.
Trey slowly turned to Manny, seated across from him. There was no way Trey would even consider eating anything from Manny’s place. He wasn’t a snob, but he’d spent years eating crap food.
“Just in for a drink,” Trey said.
“I can get it myself.”
Not on your fucking life.
Trey smirked. “I’ll wait for her.”
He’d specifically asked to be seated in Dahlia’s section. Manny shifted in his seat, slyly trying to find the woman in question. Upon his arrival, Trey had made it clear that he was aware of a new batch of waitresses. Manny’s eyes seemed to glow. Trey had never paid for sex, nor would he, but Manny clearly thought the tides had turned. That is until he mentioned Dahlia’s name. Manny quickly offered two other women, but Trey declined, and he was seated in her section. From Manny’s reaction, it gave Trey a little hope in thinking Dahlia was not one willing to offer extras.
Manny furrowed his brows and leaned closer, eyeing the blonde making her way through the room and then stopping directly at his table.
“Hi, I’m Gia. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Where’s Dahlia?” Manny looked over his shoulder, clearly surprised.
Trey wasn’t. He hadn’t missed Dahlia’s quick appearance and her even faster retreat. If she thought she could hide from him, she was in for a rude awakening.
Gia smiled. “She’s overwhelmed with a larger table and asked me to pick up this one.” Gia turned to Trey. “What would you like?”
Nothing from you.
Trey didn’t say a word, simply turned to Manny and waited. He’d been dealing with the Underground long enough to know when something was demanded, everyone complied, and substitutes were unacceptable.
“Get Dahlia,” Manny said.
The command seemed to rock the waitress off her game, and she darted her gaze between both men before landing on Trey.
“Now,” Trey said.
Gia blinked and stepped away from the table, rushing toward the back again. Trey kept his eyes on her. He couldn’t see Dahlia, but he knew that was who Gia was talking to. A minute later, Dahlia walked out from behind the wall and straightened her top, keeping her head bowed and walking directly to the table. He noticed a small tear in her shirt near the top button, which had been undone. He would have thought it was a purposeful move to increase tips had he not seen what appeared to be an altercation with a customer.
Trey had only seen the tail end of it. It had been enough to get his blood racing, but Dahlia had seemed to handle herself. Now, getting a better look, Trey grew increasingly angry. Maybe it had been more than he’d seen. For some unexplainable reason, Trey’s animal possession came to the forefront.
She stopped at the end of the table, licked her bottom lip, and glanced up. Her smile was forced and shaky as she rocked back on her feet.
“Hi.”
This wasn’t her. Even during her interview, when he knew she was nervous, Dahlia hadn’t been this timid. It wasn’t her nature or style. This was a beaten-down version of herself. I don’t fucking like it.
Trey balled his fists but kept his composure and nodded, remaining silent as he watched her. Dahlia looked over at Manny and cleared her throat. “What can I get you?”
“You can start by asking the fucking customer, not me.”
Watch your fucking tone, Manny!
