Page 93 of Duty

“Yeah, I get that.” Valeria stood up on her tiptoes, and scanned the crowd before shouting out, “Hey, Lachy!”

The head of the club’s security was quick to cut through the crowd at the sound of his name being called by a bartender. He was good like that—always looking out for any employee regardless if they poured drinks, served them, or worked on a pole. He didn’t care what someone did as long as they were happy doing it, and safe all the while.

The large man shouldered his way through the people trying to get their last drinks at the bar, and rested his beefy arms on the top. “What can I do for you, Val?”

She gestured at the entrance. “Could you check outside for me—big guy, but not as big as you, dark, short hair, green eyes, and goes by Andi—”

“Val,” Haven snapped.

“Andino,” her friend finished. “We don’t want him gone. We just want to know if he’s out there waiting for Haven. He’s a friend.”

“Val!”

Valeria continued ignoring her. “If you wouldn’t mind, Lachy.”

“Is he trouble?”

“Define trouble,” Haven muttered under her breath.

“Harmless to us,” Valeria said, giving Haven a look. “Right?”

Lachy looked to her as well for an answer. “Well, boss?”

Haven sighed. “Yeah, he’s harmless. Just a friend.”

“I’ll check.”

Once the security was gone, Haven gave Valeria a side-eye that could rival the Devil’s. Her friend only smiled in response.

“Listen, I have watched you sulk for two months—”

“I have not been sulking.”

“When you’re not working, yeah, a little,” her friend returned. “I do just want you to be happy, Haven. And safe.”

“I’m not sure Andino is safe.”

Valeria made a noise under her breath. “But is he safe for you? That’s where it counts. That’s where I went wrong way back when.”

That was a good question.

Wasn’t it?

It didn’t take long before Lachy was approaching the bar again, but Haven could tell his answer about whether or not Andino was outside waiting before the man even opened his mouth to speak. He shook his head—nope. Not there at all.

“Damn,” Valeria murmured. “Sorry, Haven.”

“It’s fine.”

Haven just felt … sad.

And confused.

It wasn’t fine at all.

THIRTEEN

Andino popped a hand down, and let Snaps take the scrap piece of shredded chicken from his fingertips. Just as quickly, the dog went back to his own bowl of food, and worked on the mess in there. Washing his hands again, Andino was just about to set the skillet of shredded chicken on the stove when a familiar tune rang through his house.