Getting to her feet, she grabbed me in a hug. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her just as tightly as she held me. Now that I could see her, I realized how much I missed my cousin. Since I didn’t have any siblings, she’d sort of taken that role in my life.
A year older than me, Tia was the sister I never had. We spent a ton of time together growing up, always having sleepovers and studying together. It wasn’t until her parents divorced that I lost touch with Tia.
Her mom started dating again almost immediately and each guy was worse than the last. It finally got so bad that Tia ran away because her mom couldn’t be bothered to stop her boyfriends from putting their hands all over her seventeen year old daughter.
When she left, she stayed in touch. It took a year and some convincing but my mom talked her into moving in with us until she graduated high school. She insisted on working part time, pitching in to help pay bills. Mom tried to tell her it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted.
That was the kind of woman Tia was. She took care of herself. She had for a long, long time.
After she released me from her hug, Tia held out a hand to King. “Tia Preston. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Alaric Sloan. Everyone calls me King.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Can’t blame them.”
I snorted and they both looked at me. I shrugged. “What?”
We sat and the server came by to take our orders. After she left, Tia, as usual, cut right to the chase.
“So what exactly did Jena leave out last night?”
I frowned at her. “Tia, is that why you’re here?”
She stared me down. “I’ve known you all my life, Jen. I know when you’re lying to me.”
“For your own good,” I stated. “I knew you’d be up here in a flash if you knew what was going on and this is not the time for you to visit.”
“Hell yes I would. You and your mom are my only real family. If I think you need me, I’m here.”
“It’s not a good time, Tee.”
“Shut up, I wasn’t talking to you anyway,” she snapped, turning back to King. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I-”
She glowered at me. “I said. Shut. Up.”
When I pointed my finger at her, King wrapped his around it. “Calm down, Jena.”
“King, she shouldn’t be here, she’ll get hurt or-”
“I can take care of myself,” Tia insisted.
“Jena, Tia, would you like to talk louder so everyone around us can hear our conversation?” King asked dryly.
We both fell silent, glaring at each other.
Finally, Tia’s eyes moved to King. There was a look in them I’d never seen before. Normally, they were a pretty hazel color, both green and brown. Right now they were burning and bright, the color of amber.
“Tell me what’s going on and don’t leave anything out,” she demanded.
He considered her for a few seconds and, to my surprise, he told her. Not all of it, but a lot more than I had.
When he finished, her face was set and stony. “I think I’ll be sticking around for a long while,” she murmured. “What can I do to help?”
King shook his head. “Nothing.”
She leaned forward. “I can help, King.”
“No.”
She flopped back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. “Fine. Know anyone who’s hiring? I’m gonna need a job while I’m here.”
King shook his head. “I’m full up on bartenders. Only staff I need right now is a bouncer, but you’re a little too scrawny for that.”
That light came back into Tia’s eyes, the one that reminded me of Wick and made chills run down my spine. “Actually, I think I’d like to apply.”
King scoffed.
She leaned forward. “I’m serious. I think you’ll be surprised how well qualified I am for that job.”
“Tia, no,” he answered.
“I’ll tell you what, just let me do the interview and then you can decide.”
“I don’t hire female bouncers.”
Tia pushed a little harder. “Just think about it. Everyone would think I’m a bartender. I’d have the element of surprise. Not to mention, it would be easier for me to talk them down if they’re drunk, because drunk guys still have the eternal hope that the woman smiling at them intends to go home with them too.”
“I don’t think so.”
I knew Tia wasn’t going to give up, so I intervened. “King, what’s the harm in letting her go through the interview process?” I paused. “What is the interview process anyway?”
“Usually, I ask’em a bunch of questions about their background, training, and get a good look at’em, then they’re hired.”
“You don’t make them, I don’t know, audition or anything?” I asked.
King shrugged. “Usually they all look like Jack.”
I nodded. Jack was six foot three and solid packed muscle. No one, sober or drunk, would be stupid enough to fuck with him.
“Well, give her a shot at least.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” King muttered. “Fine, fine. You can come by later tonight. But I’m telling you, it’s not gonna happen.”
Tia looked at me and smiled. I giggled because I knew that, if nothing else, tonight would be entertaining and I needed the distraction.
“Fuck me,” King muttered.
Tia and I both laughed.
Breakfast was nice. Tia and I caught up and King seemed to get a kick out of the mildly bitchy way we talked to one another. It was good-natured, more like teasing than actual insults, but a lot of people didn’t know how to take it when they witnessed it for the first time.
There was a bit of a scuffle when it was time to settle the check because Tia insisted she would pay it. When King put his foot down, she was adamant she would pay for her own meal. He and the server both ignored her protests and he settled the tab with cash.
“Got a place to stay?” King asked her.
Tia shrugged. “Since Jena’s not at her apartment, I could stay there.”
“Not a good idea,” King stated, shaking his head. “Larry’s guys are probably watching her place.”
“I’ll be fine,” Tia insisted.
King shook his head. “We’re not arguin’ about this, Tia. You’re not staying there. You can stay with me and Jena or you can stay in a hotel, your choice.”
She put her hand on her hip. “I’d say a hotel, but I have a feeling I won’t be paying for it.”
King just smiled.
Rolling her eyes, she sighed. “Shit. Fine, I’ll stay with you two lovebirds, but I need some industrial strength earplugs.”
“You’ll follow us over there now,” King instructed.
“Yes, sir!” Tia gave him a mock salute.
“So, I’m seeing the smartass gene runs in the family,” King murmured to me.
I shrugged. “You’re the one who insisted she stay with us.”
He shook his head, but he was smiling.
* * *
“Please tell me you’re fuckin’ kidding,” Jack rumbled.
He stood in front of Tia, his massive arms crossed over his chest, and looked down at her. I’d forgotten how tall Tia really was. Even though Jack was six-three, she was only four or five inches shorter than him.
However, she was a lot leaner. He outweighed her by at least sixty pounds and all of it was muscle.
Tia mirrored Jack’s post, but grinned cockily at him as she did it. “King promised I could interview for the job as bouncer. As part of that interview, I have to prove I can handle a big, ole bruiser like you.”
Jack’s eyes cut to King, who was sitting next to me at the bar. “Seriously, boss?” He did not look pleased.
King shrugged. “She wouldn’t shut up about it.”
Jack didn’t say anything, but he shook his head as though he were done with this situation.
“I promise I won’t hurt you,” Tia offered generously.
Jack shifted his massive weight and looked bored. “Let’s get this done.”
Tia shot a look to King. “So, what do you want me to do?” she asked.
“Well, how would you handle a drunk guy if you needed to get him off the premises?”