Page 9 of Iron Hearts

Nothing could be further from the truth. My dad had lived fast, my mom had too, and I had been the apple of both of their eyes. I mean, I still was, I guess, but things were so different now without him.

Life kind of sucked, and I felt bad for my kid brothers. They would never get to know him, or me and Mom, and what we were like with him around. All they got to see was the both of us working ourselves to the bone, trying to keep things together. Man, we weren’t the same. Life just wasn’t the same… and four years on, it felt like the grief would never end.

I turned away from the mirror and clicked out the bathroom light as I moved into my bedroom, which had pictures of happier times of me, Mom, and Dad stuck to the walls everywhere. There were also pictures of Aden, Braden, and Caden –yes, my mom went there. No, she wouldn’t listen to reason. And yes, even though I was vociferously against it, I still thought the names were adorable, and they’d only gotten cuter the more the boys had grown.

I crawled into bed, cuddled under my fluffy comforter, and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, I was asleep. I swear my mother was shaking me back awake in the blink of an eye. I groaned and flailed an arm in her direction and grumbled about being up. She made me get up and walk around the kitchen island before she would let me lay back down.

So stupid, which I know – she was worried – so it wasn’t stupid… but still.

A full night of that shit, and I felt wrecked. Nevertheless, I got my ass up, got dressed in my uniform for the craft store, and slipped out before my mom could stop me. I marched resolutely an hour-plus walk back to the Iron Horse to get my keys, my phone, and most importantly,my carto drive myself to what I considered my first job.

Thank God for caffeine and sunglasses.

When I arrived, it was to a pretty serious cleanup effort and oh, yay,Charliewas still here and he was standing with the owner.

“Rarity! You’re alright!” the owner called, and I nodded tiredly.

“Concussion, but I’ve got to work, and I’ll be here tonight.”

“That’s my girl!” Charlie tried to sound enthusiastic but my withering look and pulling off my sunglasses shut that shit right down.

“I’m just here for my keys, phone, and car,” I told him.

Rob looked a little green around the gills because of my face.

“Nasty shiner, girl. You sure you’re alright?” he asked me.

I looked at him. “I’ll be better if Charlie Boy and security would actually enforce the rules around here. I mean, for real,what the fuck was thatlast night?” I demanded.

“It’ll be taken care of,” Rob grunted, and I believed him. Charlie at least had the grace to look embarrassed, which was something, I guess.

“Oh, yeah? What’s the plan?” I asked.

“Extra security tonight,” Rob said. “And I’ll be on-site later.”

I nodded slowly and said, “It’s a start. How’s Gemma?” I asked.

“Fine! Fine! She’s fine. All good,” Charlie stammered nervously.

“Big Dawg?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“Fractured orbital. He’ll be out a while,” Rob said, and he didn’t sound happy about it.

A little instant karma,I thought to myself. I knew it was bitchy, but damn – he’s the head of security when he’s on shift, and he let that shit go for far too long. So as bitchy as the thought was, it was alsotrue.Of course, Charlie was the manager, as he always liked to remind us. He was the one in charge and held the power. We were just to do what we weretold. That had definitely tied Dawg’s hands to an extent, and forthat,I low-key felt bad for him. But still, Big Dawg could have crumpled Charlie between his hands and thrown him into the garbage bin. He should have told Charlie to fuck off and pulled rank ashead of securitywhen it came to the bar’s,you know, actual security?

Wild concept, I know – butugh.

“It’ll all be good tonight,” Rob declared. “I doubt they’ll be back after the cops were called last night.”

Well, shit.I wished I had as much faith as good ol’ Rob, but lord.

“I’m going to grab my phone and keys. I’ll be back tonight,” I said. I ran upstairs to my bar and punched the keypad of the cubby under it. The door beeped and clicked, popping open. I retrieved my personal belongings and scrolled through the burst of messages and texts that’d come through the night before.

I walked back to my car, answering everyone, but it was Gemma’s text that caught my eye.

You know, fuck Charlie, fuck Big Dawg, and especially fuck Rob for not firing them after that shit show. Don’t worry, girl. Tonight’s going to be different, I promise. I took matters into my own hands and made some calls.

Interesting…

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