Zodiac Academy: The Awakening(5)

I knocked the drink back, my throat burning in response to the sting of the liquor as I slammed the glass down again.

I turned to leave and found my way blocked by a wall of muscular chest wrapped up in a crisp white shirt.

“Can I have a word with you?” he asked as I glanced up at him.

He was tall, his brown hair pushed back in the kind of careless I’ve-spent-ages-making-this-look-accidental way that guys with too much time and money on their hands often went for. I guessed he was five or six years older than me, probably mid-twenties. Kinda hot in a straight-laced way which wasn’t really my bag.

“Are you lost?” I asked with a smirk. This was a biker bar. Facial hair, leather jackets and jeans were pretty much the uniform here and Mr expensive shirt and grey slacks stood out like a sore thumb. He did have a beard but it was carefully styled to look a certain way. The beards in here were more along the lines of crumb-hoarding face wigs than designer stubble. He was drawing attention and the last thing I needed right now was any extra attention.

“No. I’ve found exactly what I’m looking for,” he replied, his deep tone almost lost to the heavy metal playing in the background.

“Good for you. I’ll see you around.” I started to walk away from him but he caught my arm.

“What the hell do you think you’re-”

“Take a seat with me,” he said, his tone firm.

I dropped into a chair by the bar and he sat down beside me, releasing my arm.

Joey had made an appearance behind the counter and he raised an eyebrow at my choice of companion. I hadn’t actually meant to sit down and I frowned as I tried to figure out why I had.

“You drinking tonight then, Tory?” Joey asked with a smirk as he filled another shot of tequila for me with half a smile. He knew I wouldn’t waste my money on alcohol but he was also pretty generous with freebies when I wanted them. No doubt it was a ploy to keep me sweet so I didn’t find anyone else to deliver my liberated merchandise to.

“I think I’ll give it a miss after the events of last weekend,” I reminded him. Me and a free bar weren’t always the best combination and dancing on a table before falling from it wasn’t exactly my proudest moment. I still had a purple bruise the size of Utah on my ass.

“Well one of these days I might-”

“Leave.” The guy beside me said irritably and Joey headed to the far end of the bar without so much as a word of protest.

I raised an eyebrow at his rudeness but he didn’t seem to care. I guessed douchebag ran through his veins too deeply for him to acknowledge it.

“I think that’s my cue too,” I said, hopping from my seat and slipping back between the crowd of leather-clad bodies.

Fancy-shirt snatched my arm again and said something which was drowned out in the crowd of voices and background music.

“Back the fuck off,” I snapped, twisting my arm out of his grip as I slid into the throng of bodies. A few of Joey’s gang overheard me and stepped in to halt Mr Expensive’s advance as he tried to follow me.

I took my chance at escape and headed for the exit. Must be the full moon bringing out the pushy weirdos again.

I ignored any further attention which was cast my way as I crossed the crowded bar. I didn’t want to drink tonight. I just wanted to get back and show Darcy the cash I’d managed to earn.

Eight-hundred dollars. I sighed as I fingered the envelope which was at least half as fat as I’d have liked. Next time I’d have to set my sights on something a little less flashy.

Although, as I thought back to the ride I’d taken to get here, my lips lifted a little. So maybe the payout hadn’t been quite what I would have wanted. But man that was a good ride.

The usual line-up of douchebags decorated the wall outside the bar, posing with their Harley Davidsons and bad facial hair. A couple of the younger guys eyed me with interest and I decided to skip the bus journey tonight.

“Any of you fellas fancy showing me what those machines can do?” I asked with a smile which was way sweeter than my personality.

My face was well enough known around here to allow me a measure of trust with the gang members though I’d made it clear I had zero interest in signing up.

“What’ll you give me for it?” asked a guy with a handlebar moustache.

Nothing you’re hoping for asshat.

“Which way are you headed?” a less gross male asked next. He didn’t even have any facial hair which may have been because he was incapable of growing any yet but that was okay. Young and hopeful topped old and lechy any day of the week. He was actually kinda nice looking and he had a bike so that was two ticks for him.

“Just outside Riverdale on the south side,” I replied hopefully. It was a fifteen minute ride at best but a good hour on the urine stained rust-box that served as a bus around here.

“Hop on then,” Babyface said with a grin as he pulled his bike out of the lineup, throwing his leg over it as I drew closer.

I gave the bike an appreciative once over. “Nice upgrades, dude,” I said with a smile. Either he was spending way too much money on putting this baby in the shop or he knew his way around a bike and a toolbox.

“Thanks, I did it all myself,” he replied with a smirk. My kinda guy.

I slid onto the bike behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist as he started her up.