sign had stated that the population was only eight hundred and sixty, but that was better than nothing. I tried to soak everything up so I would remember the layout if I ever needed to get back there.
To my disappointment, we rode on, and as the minutes passed, I felt my unease grow. The place we were going was obviously further out-of-town than I had hoped.
When the town was only a speck on the horizon, what looked like a huge motel came into view. There was a diner on one side, and on the other, there was what looked like a biker bar. As we got closer, I could see the bikes lined up in the parking lot. I shivered as we pulled in and parked at the front of the bar.
Everyone else seemed very happy to have arrived. They laughed and slapped each other on the back. Even Nick seemed more light-hearted than usual. None of the others said anything to me as they headed inside, so I trailed along behind them. I wondered if they would even notice if I made a run for it, but as I looked over my shoulder at the dusty road we had just driven down, I realized there was nowhere for me to go.
As soon as we entered the building, I saw that it was a much bigger bar than the one we had just left. There was a huge stage to one side and a long bar covered up most of the back wall. There were only a couple of people nursing drinks at the bar.
Before I had a chance to absorb any more of my surroundings, a tall, slim brunette, wearing a tank top and jeans made a whooping sound and then ran towards Damien, throwing her arms around his neck.
I just stood there staring at them. I couldn’t believe that Damien could elicit that reaction from anyone. Someone was actually pleased to see him.
As I turned to look at the others to see if anyone else was as surprised as I was, she was talking excitedly to Damien, calling him sweetie and honey. I guessed it took all sorts. It must be true what they say. There really is someone for everyone.
Then suddenly she seemed to notice me hanging back behind the others. She froze mid-conversation.
“Who is this?” Her face was strangely devoid of expression, so I couldn’t tell if she resented me being there.
Chad, Tom and Nick stayed silent. Even Damien took his time replying. So I spoke up, “I’m Ella.”
“Ella?” She frowned as she looked at me and then shot a very sharp look at Damien.
“I’m Nancy,” she said as if I should know who Nancy was.
I said hi and tried to smile, but it wasn’t easy when I was so nervous.
Nancy turned back to Damien again and raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to explain?”
“She’s just a girl we’ve brought back to see Victor. It’s nothing for you to get concerned about.”
Nancy glanced back at me and looked me up and down. “Why does she have to see Victor?”
That was a very good question and one I would have liked the answer to as well.
“It’s complicated,” Damien said.
“But…”
“Not now,” Damien said, irritably, holding up his hand. Nancy scowled at him.
“We’ve had a long drive, and I could do with something to eat,” he said.
“Then you can make it yourself,” Nancy said, pointedly. “I’ve got a bar to run.” She spun around on her heel and walked off. I couldn’t help smiling at Damien’s stunned reaction. His face was a picture.
Chad made a joke at Damien’s expense, which earned him a glare from the big man.
“What are you all doing standing around? Haven’t you got anything better to do?” Damien snapped.
Damien headed behind the bar and began pulling beers. I stood there thinking that at any moment someone would take me to meet Victor and get it all over with so I could leave, but no one seemed in a hurry to do that.
When Damien held a draft beer out for me, I shook my head. “I thought I was going to see Victor.”
I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice. What the hell were they doing sitting around drinking? The whole point of this visit was for me to see Victor.
Damien waved a hand at
To my disappointment, we rode on, and as the minutes passed, I felt my unease grow. The place we were going was obviously further out-of-town than I had hoped.
When the town was only a speck on the horizon, what looked like a huge motel came into view. There was a diner on one side, and on the other, there was what looked like a biker bar. As we got closer, I could see the bikes lined up in the parking lot. I shivered as we pulled in and parked at the front of the bar.
Everyone else seemed very happy to have arrived. They laughed and slapped each other on the back. Even Nick seemed more light-hearted than usual. None of the others said anything to me as they headed inside, so I trailed along behind them. I wondered if they would even notice if I made a run for it, but as I looked over my shoulder at the dusty road we had just driven down, I realized there was nowhere for me to go.
As soon as we entered the building, I saw that it was a much bigger bar than the one we had just left. There was a huge stage to one side and a long bar covered up most of the back wall. There were only a couple of people nursing drinks at the bar.
Before I had a chance to absorb any more of my surroundings, a tall, slim brunette, wearing a tank top and jeans made a whooping sound and then ran towards Damien, throwing her arms around his neck.
I just stood there staring at them. I couldn’t believe that Damien could elicit that reaction from anyone. Someone was actually pleased to see him.
As I turned to look at the others to see if anyone else was as surprised as I was, she was talking excitedly to Damien, calling him sweetie and honey. I guessed it took all sorts. It must be true what they say. There really is someone for everyone.
Then suddenly she seemed to notice me hanging back behind the others. She froze mid-conversation.
“Who is this?” Her face was strangely devoid of expression, so I couldn’t tell if she resented me being there.
Chad, Tom and Nick stayed silent. Even Damien took his time replying. So I spoke up, “I’m Ella.”
“Ella?” She frowned as she looked at me and then shot a very sharp look at Damien.
“I’m Nancy,” she said as if I should know who Nancy was.
I said hi and tried to smile, but it wasn’t easy when I was so nervous.
Nancy turned back to Damien again and raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to explain?”
“She’s just a girl we’ve brought back to see Victor. It’s nothing for you to get concerned about.”
Nancy glanced back at me and looked me up and down. “Why does she have to see Victor?”
That was a very good question and one I would have liked the answer to as well.
“It’s complicated,” Damien said.
“But…”
“Not now,” Damien said, irritably, holding up his hand. Nancy scowled at him.
“We’ve had a long drive, and I could do with something to eat,” he said.
“Then you can make it yourself,” Nancy said, pointedly. “I’ve got a bar to run.” She spun around on her heel and walked off. I couldn’t help smiling at Damien’s stunned reaction. His face was a picture.
Chad made a joke at Damien’s expense, which earned him a glare from the big man.
“What are you all doing standing around? Haven’t you got anything better to do?” Damien snapped.
Damien headed behind the bar and began pulling beers. I stood there thinking that at any moment someone would take me to meet Victor and get it all over with so I could leave, but no one seemed in a hurry to do that.
When Damien held a draft beer out for me, I shook my head. “I thought I was going to see Victor.”
I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice. What the hell were they doing sitting around drinking? The whole point of this visit was for me to see Victor.
Damien waved a hand at
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