Page 9 of Hallow’s Eve
Chapter 4
EVE
Hallow and I stole glances at each other all evening, but I hadn’t been back his way. My nerves had gotten the better of me. Knowing I was being watched, my stomach filled with butterflies. The Halloween tunes continued as the band sang, “Elvira”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, and “Feed my Frankenstein” in between everyone’s favorite country hits, like Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey”. Jackie’s Heroes snuck in their original songs too. Before I knew it the crowd had worn thin.
Donette and I huddled. “The gorgeous demon, huh?”
“Not a demon. A fallen angel.”
“Same thing,” she countered. “An alpha male for sure. Watch out.”
“He wants to know when I get off. Actually, he said he’s not leaving without me.”
“Jaylynn said you’re closing for her. Fuck me, that’s hot. He’s going to fuck your brains out. I bet.”
“Dern. I told her I would.” I’d forgotten all about telling Jaylynn I’d close. I didn’t comment on the fucking my brains out part as I watched two zombies dance.
“You’ll have to let that demon know you’ll be late. Or you could ask Grady if you can go early.”
My nerves threatening to hold me back, I walked over to let the fallen angel know I wouldn’t be available tonight. A drunk vampire stopped me.
“I’m on break. Someone else will get your order,” I said as loud as I could.
He found my ear and said, “Hey, baby. Want to suck on something.”
“No. Get lost.” I shooed him away, but he didn’t budge.
“Just a nibble.”
The jerk opened his mouth to reveal blunt plastic fangs. He snatched my arms and leaned into my neck. Shit, this drunk was really going to bite me. I punched at his back just as a dark angel loomed over us. Hallow yanked the guy off me and hauled back and hit him in the chin. The vampire fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“Holy cow. You didn’t have to knock him out,” I shouted. “But thanks. I was coming over here to tell you I’m not getting off anytime soon. I’m closing, sorry.”
“I can wait,” Hallow replied. The vampire wasn’t out, he grumbled some obscenities from the floor. Hallow kicked his side, a bit too hard. He was going to break the creep’s rips.
“You can’t wait if you’re kicked out of here for fighting.” I looked around for our bouncer, knowing he’d boot both Hallow and the vampire out.
Hallow reached down and helped the vampire to his feet. “Next time don’t mess with my girl.”
Ignoring the my girl part, I spun on my heels heading back to the bar.
I searched for Donette so I could tell her what had happened, but she’d disappeared. In all my time at Bootsies, only our bouncers had stopped a patron from accosting me. A smile took over my face while I replayed the scene in my head. Once I spotted my bestie, there was some sort of ruckus near the front door. Wondering if Hallow and the vampire were fighting again, I stood on my tiptoes to get a glimpse. It wasn’t Hallow. It was the bikers from last night. They were back. The music lulled. The biggest one shot his gun at the floor, and it stopped all together. Between the gunshot and the screams, the whole place, everyone screeched to a halt. We all froze.
The biker with the gun turned to the band. “Youin’s pack on up and get.”
Our fourth act, Jackie’s Heroes were out of the door in one minute flat while everyone else waited on pins and needles. They left their tips behind. Where was Grady? Where was our bouncer, big Earl? He didn’t usually go home until Grady cut the floor. Had Grady sent anyone home? I tapped my foot waiting for someone to do something. I started to step forward as the biker announced, “No one else is getting out of here until we find out who killed our buddy… Grady.”
Grady? Dead? No, I didn’t believe it. I’d just seen him, though it was hours ago. We’d been busy so if I hadn’t seen him, he could’ve been in the kitchen helping out. But as long as whiskey flowed Grady would be here.
As a biker blocked the front door, the head one went on, loud enough for us all to hear, “We’ll be having a look around so prepare yourself to be questioned. No funny business. No phone calls. You hear? If you cooperate, this will be over in no time, and no one will get hurt.”
The three dozen or so bar patrons were all a stir, but I noticed all the employees were here. All of us. Grady hadn’t sent anyone home. Now we were all locked in while some bikers tried to find a killer. Ford motioned me to the bar. I joined him behind it wanting to ask him if this was what Grady had instore for us, a murder mystery party?
“Grady murdered. I wonder who did it?” Ford said right off the bat, but not like he was upset or too surprised.
“Who, indeed? Maybe it was you,” I said, playing along.
Ford grimaced. “That’s not funny.”
