Amelia
I sank as low as I could against the floor. Had I let my wolf out, she would have clawed through the floorboards, certain she wasn’t worthy of being on the same level as Lucien.
At his low laugh, my skin flushed with humiliation while my mind raced. For three years, I hadn’t seen him, and it wasn’t like he’d stopped by when I wasn’t at work. I lived above the bar. I was always here.
I figured he’d just left me here to rot with the bar. Maybe part of me hoped that by making this bar profitable, I’d gain his attention. Prove that I could be a capable member of the pack.
Nothing. Not a peep. It was obvious he couldn’t care less about me. Was he finally here to do what he should have done three years ago?
What would happen if he’d decided to marry? It wasn’t common for wolves to marry someone else if they were mated, but it did happen. Would he need to kill me?
Or maybe he’d figured out how to remove our mating bond. There was a witch attached to the clan. Maybe it was possible.
“Get up,” he sighed. “Now.”
He didn’t push any of his power in his voice. He didn’t need to. My wolf would have slit her own throat if he’d just casually mentioned it was something that would make him happy.
I slowly stood but kept my gaze to the floor. Silently, I waited.
“Look at me.”
Shit. He was here because of me or has decided to entertain himself while he was here.
Either way, I was not going to just be able to slink out of the bar unnoticed.
Still, I didn’t dare speak. It was all I could do not to cry as he looked me over with distaste. Behind him, two out of three guards smirked.
The other looked on with curiosity. Him, I recognized. He’d been there when Lucien eviscerated Gary.
He’d held his claws against my neck while I watched. I never did learn his name.
“Stabbing customers is no way to get repeat business, is it?” Lucien asked as he twirled the knife between his fingers.
“Considering that Fanged Smile is now turning a profit, maybe you shouldn’t question my techniques.”
I couldn’t stop the words from coming out of my mouth any more than I could stop my wolf’s reaction. Immediately, I was on my knees again, presenting my throat.
Is that smart mouth of yours going to be worth your death?
Parker’s voice in my head, laced with disappointment. If he could see me now, he’d be furious with me.
The bar was deadly silent. When Lucien leaped over the counter, I closed my eyes and waited for the fatal blow to come.
Instead, I heard the ring of the cash register. Confused, I opened my eyes and watched as he pulled out the day’s receipts. He grunted as he sifted through them and closed the register.
After what seemed like forever, he turned to me.
“Get up.”
Once again, I pulled myself to my feet. If I started adding a little hop at the end, I’d be doing burpees and getting some killer abs.
I could feel his gaze on me. “Bar’s closed for the day. I want everyone out.”
Paul shifted behind me, and I turned to leave. “Not you, Amelia. And Paul, you can wait for us in the office. I want a word with you before I leave.”
Oh, good. He wanted to kill me without an audience. At least it wouldn’t be public.
The bar was slow to empty. Clearly, everyone was hoping to see my humiliation. Finally, it was just the two of us with his one guard. “You remember, Jenson, I’m sure.”
I remembered him. I just never knew his name. Parker’s lessons on pack hierarchy came to mind. Jenson was Lucien’s second-in-command. His power curled around me, not as seductive as Lucien’s, but sharper.
A lot like those claws that were at my neck.
“Pour us some drinks, Amelia.”
Woodenly, I did as he asked; he settled back on the bar stool and studied me. “You know, when Parker told me that you wanted to tend bar, I figured you had a death wish. A month later, this was my most profitable business. Apparently displaying Gary’s daughter is the fastest way to get rich.”
Bile rose in my throat, but I kept my mouth shut as I sat two beers in front of him. He’d known what I was doing?
Parker must have told him. It made sense that he was reporting to his alpha.
“Haydenwood Brewery?” Lucien growled. “You realize that’s a Snake River Pack beer, don’t you?”
“No.” I finally dared to look at him. “I don’t know anything about any of the packs. I know that it’s popular.”
“Parker didn’t educate you?”
“I think Parker’s only mission was to make sure nobody killed me. He did that fairly well up until he died.” I couldn’t help but let bitterness rise in my voice. “I don’t even think there was a funeral for him.”
“There was. You weren’t invited.”
Pain curled deep inside me. The old geezer had been a real bastard at times, but he’d also been far more kind than anyone else in my life. “Maybe it’s time you stop toying with me and just tell me what you’re doing here.”
“Fanged Smile is mine. I can come and go as I please. I’m starting to think I need to come by more often.”
Wonderful. I really needed to curb my tongue and become as boring as possible. “You are right, of course. Parker was a bastard, but I’m sad that he’s gone. Are you replacing my babysitter?”
Lucien grunted but didn’t say anything. As he sipped his beer, I took a deep breath. “Please. I don’t even know how he died.”
“Suicide.”
Shock gripped me as that single word fell out of his lips.
