Page 25 of Vicious Little Darling

“Yeah, I’m sorry,” I tell him, giving him a sheepish smile. “I think I just drank too much last night.”

Josh pauses, stopping at the jukebox. “I don’t know that you drank any more than you usually do when you go out, but yeah, I guess. That guy was a prick. I can’t believe Rich set you up with him.”

Right, Dylan.

I laugh, wiping a rag along the counter. “I knew from the moment he picked me up at my apartment that it was not going to work. He was judging me so hard.”

Josh’s face tinges red. “Why the hell would you let a stranger pick you up from your apartment, Em? That’s just asking for something bad to happen.”

My brows shoot upward. I was not expecting that reaction. “Well, I mean, it’s not like I didn’t know who he was. He’s Rich’s friend.”

“Yeah, and you can’t trust anyone in this goddamned city,” he snaps at me, just before kicking on the music. “That’s the problem with you, Em. You’re too trusting of people. You think everyone has good intentions and, in reality,mostdon’t.”

I open my mouth to spit out an argument, but just then the door swings open and the first bunch of patrons come in. It’s a group of two women and three men, and Josh greets them with a kindness that makes me wish I hadn’t mentioned the date with Dylan.

For the next seven hours, I fly on autopilot, making small talk and serving drinks, wiping tables, and generally helping Josh out to the best of my ability. Nothing exciting happens, and no one does anything more to me other than compliment my old band T-shirt and talk about the city. It’s a relief and serves as a great distraction from my strange day. However, by the time we hit closing, I’m fuckingexhausted.

Josh locks the door after the final couple slip out of the doors. “Easy night,” he says to me as he turns back to me. “Just as a warning though, it’s not always like this. There’s usually alwayssomeonewho tries to be stupid.”

“Maybe the universe knew I needed an easy night,” I joke, grabbing a rag and wiping down the counter.

“Maybe,” he says flatly. “Do you want me to take you home from here? I don’t think you should be traveling across this city this late at night. I don’t like that idea at all.”

“Um…” My eyes drift to the glass, taking in the dark streets outside. They’re mostly empty, with only a few stragglers making their way home. “I…” My voice trails off as the shadow of a figure steps into my view and I catch my breath.

“What?” Josh says, his back to the glass.

I stare at the skull-faced man, lingering just outside. “Um, yeah, I think I will take you up on the offer to drive me home.” I swallow the knot in my throat. If Skull-face is going to get me, I want it to be in the comfort of my apartment—notin a dark alleyway somewhere.

Josh nods in my peripheral vision. “I wasn’t going to let you walk home alone, anyway. At least now I don’t have to force you into my car.” He laughs, shaking his head as he grabs a broom and starts to sweep up. “Once the other guys start working, we can let them close up and I’ll take you.”

“Or one of them could take me,” I say, my voice quiet as I remain locked in on the man pressed against the window. “If they’re trustworthy, of course.”

“I guess,” Josh grunts, sweeping up a wad of napkins. “I swear people make such a fucking mess. I don’t even know how they do it.”

“Yeah,” I nod, just as Skull-face slips out of sight again. A shiver rolls down my spine, and I struggle to keep my breath even as I join Josh in the clean-up.

“Why don’t you tell me more about the guy who follows women home from the bar?” I suggest.

Josh chuckles. “I take it you’re in the mood to be scared shitless then.”

“Or hellaciously bored,” I counter.

He stops, looking up at me mid-sweep. “Jaxton is the son of a wealthy tech mogul here in the city. He thinks it’s his right to take whatever he wants—women included. He found my bar about a year ago, and got into the habit of coming in, sitting down, drinking one beer, and then following a pretty girl out of here. He was charged with first degree rape when he was seventeen.Seventeen,Em. That’s fucked up.”

I nod, my stomach feeling sick. “Yeah, that’s super fucked up.”

Chapter Thirteen

JAXTON

Ijust know brawny boy is going to take her home tonight and, honestly, it pisses me off even more. Ember turned me away today, and I got to feel the brunt of what it’s like for all the other guys who aren’tgood enoughfor her. So tonight, I’m taking what’s mine.

I linger outside in the shadows, waiting for Josh and Ember to step out into the street. I’m positive her little buff bodyguard is going to either drive or walk her home, and I’m prepared for either scenario.

“Why don’t we walk?” Josh throws out the suggestion. “I know I said I’d drive you, but it’s nice out.”

Ember wraps her arms around herself, scanning the area. “Um… I mean…”

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