My Personal Hell, D. Richardson [ebook reader browser txt] 📗

“It’s alright.”

“I’m a bit rusty, but I’m sure I can handle it. What did you have in mind?” Bastion asked, a rare grin spreading across his face.

“Well, I can chase her off, or piss her off so she won’t come back. Which would you prefer?” We exchanged another glance.

“The second option, I think,” Bastion replied.

“Alright, Sadler would you mind putting your ring on your other hand?”

“Why?” I asked, suspicious.

My ring was a simple solid silver band. I started to wear it not long after I met Ailith. I usually wore it on my right ring finger.

“Just keep an open mind. If I’m going to do this then I’m at least going to have some fun. I’ll be over after the next performance.” After that the speaker clicked, signaling that she had turned off her end.

We handed the ear pieces back, and I started fidgeting do to nerves. I had no idea what she had planned, and I didn’t know if I would like it. The blonde just kept smiling, completely oblivious, as she ran her finger tips along my forearm, and then leaned over to invade Bastion’s personal space.

The lights started to flicker and we turned to see Rob on stage. He held a regular microphone and spoke to the customers.

“Ladies and gentleman, it is my utmost pleasure to inform you that you’re about to see what you came here for. I ask that you remain patient on your orders as my girls are performing two tasks at once, with that said, enjoy yourselves.” As soon as he stopped speaking, the band started to clap their hands rhythmically, except for the drummer.

It took a moment to notice that the waitresses were clapping as well. Then the music started and Chris started off the song. I was able to pick Ailith’s voice out of what was coming out of the speakers and we started to look around for her. Then the song slowed and hers was the only voice singing. The people crowding the bar split down the middle catching my attention.

She was standing on the bar, clapping to the beat until she launched herself over the customers, doing an impressive spin in mid air before landing softly. Then she joined the other girls in the middle of the room. When the song ended the entire room erupted in applause and the girls split in different directions, waiting on their tables.

But instead of going back to the bar, she came in our direction. When she was level with us she looked at Bastion, her face lighting up like a damn Christmas tree.

“Daddy!” she exclaimed, throwing herself at him as he stood. He gave her a full on smile and hugged her back.

“Daddy?” the blonde asked, eyeing the two of them. She couldn’t have been more than a few years older than Ailith.

“Hey, Sweetheart, we thought tonight was your night off?” Bastion asked, taking his seat, she moved around the table to stand behind me.

The blonde’s eyes never left her as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. I had lifted my hand up to touch her arm without thinking, and the blonde’s eyes zeroed in on our hands. Our left hands, that both sported rings on the right finger.

“Yeah, I’m covering Delia’s shift, she had an emergency at home,” she answered easily, her smile never wavering. The blonde stood, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Well, it was nice meeting all of you, but I’ve got to go.” We all waved goodbye.

“Come back soon,” Ailith yelled after her. As soon as the door closed behind her Ailith stood straight, taking the vacant seat. She leaned back, crossing her legs at the ankles and let out a content sigh. “Well, that was fun.” She smirked at all of us, and the guys erupted in laughter. She transferred her ring to her right hand before reaching for a cheese fry on Dalton’s plate.

“If I had known having a daughter was so much fun I’d have knocked someone up a long time ago,” Bastion replied, and she laughed so hard she bent over clutching her stomach. When she could breath she stood.

“Where are you going?” Macon asked, she leaned over, snagging another fry before answering.

“I have to get back to work.”

“Oh, you’re not going to be our waitress?” Nevin asked, disappointment evident in his tone.

“Nah, I’m working the bar tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll leave you in Chris’ capable hands,” she answered. Christine materialized just at she finished speaking. And then she was gone.

Though that explained why I hadn’t noticed her here. The bar was so crowded they had blocked out her small frame. Which was probably why she had climbed on top during the performance.

Twenty minutes later Asher walked in with his men. They were his closest friends and just happened to be the wolves under his command. It wasn’t unheard of for a commander to develop a close bond with his men.

Unfortunately, his men just happened to be friendly with Bastion’s, so they joined our table. Having to push a couple more against ours. Asher sat in the seat farthest from me, and we didn’t bother greeting each other. They put in their orders, and the group came together nicely, even with the three silent commanders.

Our table was close to the front door so I noticed when two young men walked in with a young girl. Well, the oldest looked to be about my age, the second looked just a few years younger than him and the girl had to be around sixteen. After being directed to sit where ever they wanted, they chose a table just down from ours, hidden in shadow filled corner.

My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to listen in on their conversation.

“What are we doing here, Cory?” the middle male asked.

“I told you, if she’s in this town then she’ll be here.”

“Do you really think she’d be working here?” the girl asked.

“It’s a restaurant with performing waitresses, of course she’d work here.”

“I don’t know, Man. Are you sure it was her? There were a lot of girls in that benefit.” By this time our entire table was listening. At the mention of the benefit those of us who cared about Ailith tensed.

“I’m telling you, I’d know her voice anywhere,” the oldest replied earnestly. When Chris walked up to their table to get their drink order they looked up at her.

“Good evening, what can I get you?” she asked, her smile was genuine and her hand was poised over her order pad.

“Actually we were wondering if you could tell us if a girl, Ailith, worked here?” Several of us turned to actually look at them. They noticed the intense looks they were receiving, but chose to pay more attention to Christine.

“Just a moment,” she mumbled, and went back into the kitchen. After a few seconds she came back out with Rob. He followed her to the table, a towel in his hand.

“I heard you’re looking for one of my girls?” he asked, and instead of seeming intimidated, they all perked up.

“You mean she does work here?” the middle male asked.

“That depends, what do you want with her?”

“We’re old friends of hers,” the oldest answered. Christine was the one that answered.

“Old friends doesn’t necessarily mean good friends.” I briefly wondered if Ailith knew that she had so many people willing to protect her even when she wasn’t around. But the girl was the one that answered this time. She stood up, looking down right pissed.

“Listen, I appreciate that you want to protect her, but she’s my sister, and I’m sick of this bullshit! Either she’s here or she’s not. Now just answer our damn question!” The oldest put a gentle hand on her shoulder and she sat back down. Christine and Rob exchanged a look, and he went back into the kitchen.

“Hang around, you’ll see her soon,” Christine answered, and took down their drink order. But when she walked away she didn’t go back to the still crowded bar. A few minutes later I found out why.

The music started and Ailith’s voice came over the speakers again. All three of the strangers perked up. Then the sea of people around the bar split as she laid trays of drinks on the surface of the bar. She walked around and grabbed one, bringing it over to our table. She continued singing as she handed the drinks out, leaning over with a smile, like she was actually talking to us.

When our drinks were delivered, she went back for another tray, this time taking it to a different table. She sang with any waitress she came close to as she delivered drink after drink. It looked like she was having a lot of fun. Then the song ended and she went back behind the bar. Rob relinquished his spot to her, and I realized there weren’t as many customers surrounding it. So she could actually be seen.

“That’s her,” one of the strangers breathed. All three of them had their eyes glued to her as she worked.

Then they spent the next five minutes with the younger two arguing over whether or not to go over to her. The oldest just stared at her like he had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. At some confusing point me and Asher exchanged a knowing look.

When the oldest flagged Christine down, I was still watching them. He spoke so softly to her that she had to lean down and I couldn’t hear him. When she stood back up she had a stunned look on her face, but nodded.

She walked away and my eyes followed her all the way to Jake. She spoke to him in between songs and his expression turned to one of confusion. Finally, he nodded and handed her a guitar and his ear piece after saying something. It looked like he was speaking directly to Ailith as she looked over at him. After a moment she nodded, but Chris had already walked away, so she didn‘t notice the guitar in her hands.

After a few minutes the stranger started to play. Ailith started to sing on cue, though her expression looked like she was troubled by something. When the stranger started to sing with her, her head snapped up.

He was still hidden in shadow though his companions started to grin from ear to ear. Ailith walked around the bar and started to look around. She first looked at the stage, but Jake just shrugged his shoulders at her. She walked the room, but couldn’t find him. She was about to go back to the bar when he stood and moved closer. His movement must have caught her attention, because as soon as he was visible her eyes widened.

It was impressive really, how they managed to never miss a note. But her shock was more than evident as she backed up a few paces. A few measures later she got over it and started to smile, his smile grew with hers. When the song was over she finally moved.

She took the ear piece out and set it on our table as she moved passed, until she was close enough to throw herself at him. He caught her easily, his smile turning into a laugh. When he put her down she had tears in her eyes.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, but instead shook her head, holding a hand up to keep him from answering her own question. “Wait, I get off work in an hour and a half, don’t leave.” He nodded, and she came back to pick up her earpiece.

“Someone you know well?” Bastion asked, her eyes were slightly glazed as they skimmed over him.

“Yeah, a very good friend of mine. From before,” she mumbled, before turning back to her job. I wasn’t the only one that kept an eye on the strangers.

A phone call and thirty minutes later an older man walked through the doors. He glanced around, his eyes pausing on Ailith,