Dark Lies (Magic Side: Wolf Bound 3)

8

Jaxson

I entered Eclipse from the back. It was just past nine p.m., and the line out front wrapped around the corner. It’d be a five-figure night, enough to cover the losses from returning the confiscated shipment to the LaSalles.

Casey LaSalle was getting on my nerves, and I would have sicced my wolves on him by now if I didn’t have to tiptoe around the ridiculous situation with Savannah. It was more and more like having one of my wolves held hostage.

Actually, that was exactly what it was.

I cracked my neck as I strolled down the hall to my office, then dropped my keys on my desk. Savannah’s signature tickled my senses, and I couldn’t help but slip into the bar to see how she was handling her new job.

The bass of the metal band tonight pumped through the walls, and I greeted one of my servers as I stepped into the morass of bodies. Blue sparks sprayed off the drums with each beat, and orange flames cascaded across the stage as the bassist strummed his guitar. I scanned the room and settled on the bar, and then white-hot anger flashed through me.

Savannah was pouring drinks and wearing the white T-shirt I’d given her earlier. It skimmed over her busty chest and curves in ways that sent blood pumping through my body. Her hair was pulled up and half-braided, and as she slid three shots across the bar, she flashed a demure smile to the guys who were watching her like hungry animals.

Damn it to hell. This had been a mistake.

It had been the perfect way to keep Savannah within arm’s reach. Here in the heart of our den, she was surrounded by my people. Not even a drug-crazed lunatic would try to take her.

Still, I hadn’t planned on her becoming the center of attention.

I cursed under my breath, and the crowd parted around me as I strode to the bar, my fists ready to connect with the fuckers who were watching her a little too closely.

One of my bouncers stopped me on the way. “Things are getting a little rowdy, boss. Want me to call in backup?”

My attention was focused on Savannah, who’d spun around and was reaching up to grab a bottle of Patrón off the top shelf, with her ass cheeks and long legs on full display under those black high-waisted shorts. My jaw ticked, and murderous thoughts raged through me.

“Yeah, sure, whatever you think,” I said, stepping around the bouncer.

Savannah poured a generous serving of tequila into a lowball glass and handed it to a very interested man in a black button-down. A vampire, judging by his pale skin and signature. As she slid the drink toward him, he brushed her hand, and though she smiled broadly, I smelled her displeasure.

Her eyes drifted up and caught mine, and she froze. “Jaxson.”

I stepped up to the bar next to the vampire and gazed down at him, letting my signature loose so that he and every other asshole in this place was aware of me and what was mine.

The vampire gave Savannah one last, quick glance before getting up and leaving. I watched him snake off, then stared down the three shifters who’d been ogling her earlier. They shrank away, too.

Savannah slid a whiskey on the rocks over to me, scowl included. “Did you just deliberately chase off some of my customers?”

“I wanted a spot at my bar. And don’t worry, I’m a better tipper than those pricks.”

She reached down and grabbed a bottle from below the counter and waggled it at me. “You’d better be, or I’ll start pouring you bottom-shelf stuff.”

For the second time that day, I laughed—such a rare thing these days. “If you knew what kind of hooch was in that bottle, you wouldn’t threaten me like that.”

She slapped two shot glasses up on the bar. “I’m brave. I’ll try it if you do. I’m used to moonshine.”

I covered the shot glasses with my hand. “No doing shots with customers or at all while you’re working. There are bikers hunting you. You’re safe here, but you’re also on display, and I need you sharp—not whiskey blind.”

She dropped the bottle back into the well. “Are you really worried about the bikers in here, or just the other customers?”

With a wicked grin, Savannah headed down to the far end and leaned provocatively over the bar to tend to a couple of assholes. Darkness wound around my heart, choking my thoughts.

“This was definitely a mistake,” I muttered as I watched her make their drinks.

There was a laugh to my left, and Sam reached over and topped up my glass. “You were the one who offered her the job.”

“I was a fool.” I polished off the drink, left a stack of cash, and headed to the front to check on the bouncers at the doors, but mainly to distract myself.

Spending the night staring at Savannah Caine was only going to get me into trouble.

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