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“How’s Finn?” he asked as she finished pouring.
She smiled. “He’s hangin’ in there. Promised me some grandbabies when he gets back from deployment.”
“He’s a good man.” Bently smiled, highlights of their shenanigans in high school playing a loop in his mind.
Lieutenant Finn Reed, dressed in his battle dress uniform, stopping by the station to say goodbye before he was deployed. “Take care of my girl while I’m gone.”
Charli’s swollen face flashed, sobering his thoughts. Another failure. He’d get the bastard eventually. “How’s Charli doing?”
Claire sighed, wiping down the bar as she looked around them. He followed her gaze towards the few patrons with their backs turned away from them. “She’s hanging in there. Any leads on catching the asshole who did it?”
Bently shook his head, drawing the glass closer. “Not yet. Camera catches the assault, but then he runs off out of view. Must have had a car waiting down the road. Too dark to make out his face or any distinguishing details. And the footage from inside had their faces obscured. The lighting in this place doesn’t help.”
Claire shook her head.
“I’ll get him,” he promised her, and she nodded once before she walked down the bar, tending to the other patrons looking for a good time.
Bently tipped the glass to his lips, drinking down the alcohol until it didn’t burn anymore. The liquor’s warmth buzzed through his veins, easing the ache in his chest and clusterfuck in his mind. He’d have to let Belle go. That was the only way to keep them both safe.
“Hey, baby. Looks like you could use some company,” a husky voice said from his side. He turned and the room spun with him. Was there one or two women in front of him?
The old Bently would have said something witty and put his arm around her, or them. Then he’d go back to their place and fuck all night. But this Bently hadn’t been with anyone since the diagnosis. That was well over a year without the company of a woman. He hadn’t had anyone he was truly interested in, until Belle. She’d sparked something to life in him. If there was something he’d learned from the whole experience of being on death’s door, it was that life was short, tomorrow was never promised, and regrets would eat you alive.
So, why not take a chance on Belle?
“You okay, handsome?” the woman asked.
“Yeah. Just tired. Gonna head home.” He stood, wavering on his feet. He was drunk for the first time in . . . forever.
The blonde looped her hand through his arm. He hadn’t been clear enough.
“I’m not in the mood for company tonight, but thanks for the offer.” He pulled his arm away from hers, unsteady on his feet.
“You sure? I could do all the work.” She winked, seemingly familiar. Tina? Tanya? Tonya?
“I’m sure. Have a good night,” he said, walking towards the exit. He’d sleep it off in his truck and then drive home once he was sober.
Opening the door, he stepped out into the cold night air. He stared up at the dark sky, filling his lungs. Stars peeked out from behind clouds, defying the encompassing blackness with tiny sparkles of light. Hope.
“Bent, you’re not planning to drive home like this, are you?” Mason asked.
Bently shook his head, immediately regretting the movement. “Nah, gonna take a little nap in my truck.”
“I’m sorry about leaving Charli that night. I should have . . .” Mason trailed off.
“Ness time call me if you gotta leave. Let the other bouncssser know too. I don’t want Claire or Charli walking out here alone at night.”
Mason nodded. “Already done. Won’t happen again.”
Bently walked into the darkened parking lot, heading to where he’d parked his truck. He pulled out his keys as a burst of pain erupted across his back. He was shoved against his car from the impact before he fell to the ground. His head spun as he drunkenly tried to make sense of what was happening. Was this another flashback? He searched the darkness as he groaned in pain. A hooded figure stood above him, angry eyes boring into him, with a metal bat glinting in the moonlight.
“What the fuck!”
“You’re gonna pay, pig.”
He lifted his hand to block as the bat swung and met his head with a crack!
Everything went black.
