Page 39 of Fallen Flame

Thorn didn’t touch the wallet. “I already know you’re old enough to drink.”

Alice leaned across the bar. “Then why did you ask for our IDs?”

“Because it made you three happy for five seconds.”

Karmen pointed at him. “Smart man.”

“Survival instinct,” Thorn corrected.

Jude and Ever reached the bar, and Ever tucked herself against Jude’s side while he wrapped one arm around her waist.

“What do you want?” Jude asked her.

“Something fruity.”

“That narrows it down.”

“I trust you.”

Thorn tossed the bar towel onto the counter. “Good. Because I’m apparently the only asshole in this building who knows how to make a drink.”

Jude looked behind the bar. “You want me to make it?”

“No,” Thorn muttered. “I want one person to appreciate me.”

Alice lifted her drink. “That’s why we had kids. They do things for us when we don’t feel like doing them.”

Nikki nodded seriously. “Exactly. That’s why they’re alive.”

Jude stared at them. “You two know neither of you gave birth to me, right?”

Alice waved him off. “Details.”

Ever laughed against his shoulder while Jude shook his head and reached for a bottle behind the bar.

Thorn slapped his hand away. “Get out of my bar.”

“You just complained no one was helping.”

“I didn’t ask for your help, though.”

“That’s because you enjoy suffering,” Nikki said.

Thorn pointed at her. “I’m cutting you off.”

“You haven’t even given me a drink yet.”

“Then I’m ahead of schedule.”

A roar of shouting exploded from the axe-throwing lanes, loud enough to pull everyone’s attention toward the back of the building.

Alice twisted on her stool. “What the hell are they doing now?”

Nikki grabbed the drink Thorn had finally set in front of her and slid off her stool. “Pipe said something about proving Wrecker was getting slow.”

Alice’s eyes lit up. “Oh, this should be good.”

Karmen picked up her glass. “Or bloody.”