Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

“Bitch,” he muttered. It was the best he could do.

“Just pay the tab and get the hell out of my bar.”

Some of guys who’d played football back when I was in high school came over. Big strapping guys that had been linemen back in the day.

“You need some help, Emma?”

I winced because I really didn’t want the asshole to know my name, not that it would have been hard to find out. Still. “I’m fine,” I said. “We’ve come to an understanding. They are leaving right after they pay their bill.”

It was important that the town knew I could handle the bar, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate four big guys folding their arms over their chests like sentries for the outsiders to do as told. I sashayed away knowing I hadn’t made customers for life and didn’t care.

“Josie, take them their bill.”

She nodded, “Thanks, Emma.” Though I’d handled it thoroughly on my own, I could tell she felt better the townsfolk had come to the rescue. I sighed.

When the bar closed, I stood in the door and watched as my staff got in their cars and left. There was no sign of the asshole or his compadres in the parking lot. There was that. I went to Dad’s office and closed out the registers. Normally, I would leave a minimal amount in the drawer so it was ready to go the next day. But I had a bad feeling.

Asshole and friends could come back and do damage to the bar. I wouldn’t leave them any cash to take with them even though the amount in the registers wouldn’t have covered the value of their tab.

When I was finished, I checked the cameras. Again, something I wouldn’t normally do. But tonight, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

Sure enough, there were now two cars in the parking lot. Asshole stood next to his waiting. His nose wasn’t taped up, but it didn’t appear to be bleeding anymore.

Instead of dialing dispatch, I called Aiden. It was instinct.

“Emma, is everything okay?”

He sounded half asleep. It was late. “There’s trouble at the bar.”

I hung up because there wasn’t time to explain. I had no idea how long he’d been waiting. He could have been across the street and had watched everyone leave except me. He was shifting on his feet, likely anxious and planning his next move.

His mistake was thinking I was an easy target. My father made sure I wasn’t. I could handle myself and like everyone in the state, I was armed.

I checked my gun but left it in my tote bag for easy reach. The thing about guns was if you pointed it at someone, you had to be prepared to shoot to kill. That was how my father taught me. Because I felt confident I could handle him by other means, the gun was a last resort.

After locking up the office, I walked down the hall to the door, checking the camera on my phone as I did. I didn’t want to be blindsided. So far, he was still at his car.

One last look at the phone, I dropped it in my bag in favor of my car keys. They were useful weapons in a pinch if you held them right. I opened the back door and made sure he hadn’t moved before I stepped out.

“You should leave,” I said before he could make any vague threats.

“Why? You’re exactly who I’m here to see.” His voice came out nasally, which I’d expected given the size of his swollen nose.

“Looking for another lesson on manners?” I asked, taking a few steps toward my car.

“You keep talking and I’ll make sure no one thinks you’re pretty anymore.”

I stilled. “Is that a threat? I want to be clear on what you’re doing here.”

“Call it whatever you want. But you owe me.” His lip curled in an ugly smile that went well with the ugly muddled coloring around his nose.

“Owe you for what?”

“For breaking my nose.”

I was careful with my choice of words. “After you assaulted me.”

“Whatever bitch. You prance around in your tight clothes because you want a man. A real man, not some small dick city pussy.”

Did he know me? I studied his scruffy face, trying to recall who he could be and came up empty. He had a scar on his cheek, but that didn’t ring any bells either.

“Last chance. Leave or you’ll regret it,” I offered.

He chuckled not having learned his lesson earlier. I gave him my back and walked to my car. It was a risk. If his friends were somewhere hidden, I would be in trouble until Aiden or the cavalry arrived.

As I guessed, he was as predictable as he’d been earlier. He did exactly what I wanted him to do. He rushed up behind me and wrapped an arm nearly around my throat. I dropped my bag and grabbed at his arm. Then, I bent, using his momentum to send him over me to land flat on his back.