“Thank you.”
He ended the call, and I placed my phone down on the bar. I looked up at the girls who were staring at me expectantly. “He’s taking care of it.”
“Thank fuck,” Jess muttered.
Annie’s eyes were wide with fear and I went to her. I put my arms around her and pulled her close. Smoothing my hand over her hair, I murmured, “It’s going to be okay, honey. Donovan will help us. We don’t have to do this on our own.”
Her body was tense. I knew her reaction must be from remembering the shit we’d been through together. We’d come a long way since then and I’d learnt how to defend myself. How to defend us.
I won’t let you down again.
She pulled away from me. “Okay,” she whispered, but I could tell from her hesitation I hadn’t convinced her.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. “I promise.”
She answered me with a small smile and nod.
It was the best I’d get out of her.
Turning to Jess, I said, “I’m gonna lock the front door until Donovan’s guy gets here. If any customers want to leave, we’ll let them out, but no one else gets in, okay?”
She nodded. “Good idea.”
I locked the door and we waited.
How the fuck do I get myself into these situations?
***
Banging on the front door twenty minutes later startled all of us. The bar was empty now after the last customer left five minutes ago.
“Might be Blade’s guy,” Jess suggested.
“Let’s hope so,” I said, and went to check it out.
Thank god for the glass panel in the door.
Two bikers stood on the other side, staring at me.
Shit.
I hesitated, not sure whether they’d been sent by Mario or Donovan.
One of them spoke. “Blade sent us, babe. Open up.”
I eyed him. Ink pretty much covered every inch of his skin, and although I didn’t usually go for that look, I had to admit he was gorgeous. I shifted my gaze to the other guy. He was more my type, with less ink, and had the looks sure to melt any woman’s panties. But they both oozed a don’t-fuck-with-me attitude.
That’s what I need.
I unlocked the door and let them in before locking it again after them.
The heavily-inked one looked at me. “You can leave it open, babe. We’ll stay till Blade comes.”
Gratitude overwhelmed me. “Thank you.” It came out almost as a whisper.
His grin lit his face and that was when I appreciated fully what he had going on. He was breathtaking with that grin. “You’re welcome.” He pointed to himself, “I’m Nash, and this dickhead is J.” He pointed at J as he introduced him.
J jerked his chin at me. “You ladies okay? Haven’t heard from Mario again since you spoke to Blade?”