Whispers of a Broken Halo

by Glines, Abbi

  Bryn emerged, wrapped in a black leather jacket that was too large to be hers, hanging halfway down her thighs. Having her covered up should have calmed me down and helped me focus, but knowing it belonged to a man just made this worse.

  She squared her shoulders and looked directly at me this time. “You c-c-came with a g-g-g-group. We are short-staffed, an-an-and until Demi gets here, I c-c-can’t leave Trix with the entire g-g-g-gr-group. I’ll stay a-a-a-away from you-you-your end of the t-t-table. That’s all I can d-do for now.”

  She thought this was about my not wanting her to wait on us. Part of it was because I didn’t want my friends seeing her naked. Knowing they were all going to use her body in their next spank session pissed me the fuck off. And it shouldn’t. That made me even angrier. Bryn wasn’t mine and had never been mine. Even when we had been younger, she’d just been the girl I was fascinated with and determined to protect. But never mine.

  “I can’t believe you’re working here,” I said. “What happened to you, Bryn? You take a damn steel pole to my Jeep like an insane person, and now, you’re serving men drinks, topless, with your ass barely covered. Is this how you had the money that you kept leaving with Hazel to give to me?”

  Starting six months ago, every two weeks, Hazel would give me an envelope with my name written on the front and five hundred dollars in cash inside. She told me Bryn had dropped it off as payment for the Jeep. After she gave me two thousand, I refused any more, as my deductible had been met. Three months ago, when Bryn had arrived with another envelope, Hazel had given it back to her and relayed the message that she had paid me enough.

  Anger flashed in her eyes, and she let out a hard, cynical laugh. A laugh that made me feel as if I were wrong about something when she was the one who was wrong. She was the one doing things that were fucked up.

  “It’s been six m-m-months. Six months since you sp-sp-spoke to me. Six months since you fired m-m-me. And you are going to st-st-stand here and ju-ju-judge me because I work at a strip c-club? What d-d-does it matter how I p-p-paid you back?”

  If I had been ready to respond to that, I wouldn’t have had time because Bryn didn’t pause but for a second.

  “The Shores is a small t-t-town, and there wasn’t an e-e-employer willing to hire me after the incident with your J-J-Jeep. We needed m-m-m-money if we were going to live. I was tired of not having enough. I came here. I don’t have to answer to y-y-you. Now, if you would like me not to serve your table, that is f-f-fine. I didn’t br-br-bring you back here for you to judge me or talk about things. I brought you back here for m-m-my privacy, n-n-n-not yours.”

  I hadn’t considered folks in town would hear about my Jeep and not hire Bryn. “Pops would’ve given you a good recommendation if someone had called him,” I said.

  “He did,” she replied, looking me in the eyes.

  “Then, why didn’t they hire you? It couldn’t have been because of my Jeep.”

  She had placed blame at my door, and I didn’t like it. I was going to make it clear that her reasons for working here weren’t because of me.

  “They did hire me. I’m here n-n-now. Look, I need to get back on th-the f-f-floor. Trix can’t handle it alone. If you are okay with m-m-me serving your table until another server arrives, then that’s all w-w-we need to di-discuss.”

  That was fine with me. We didn’t need to discuss anything. She was nothing to me anymore. She hadn’t been for a long time. She shrugged off the jacket, and her body was bare again. Problem with my damn head was, if she was nothing to me, then why was my need to get her covered up and out of this place so fucking strong?

  She was right. I hadn’t spoken to or seen her in six months. Which was hard to do in a small town like The Shores. But the two weeks she had worked with me, I had barely spoken to her then either. She reminded me of a life I wanted to forget. I’d wanted to help her when she needed a job, but I had also wanted to keep her at a distance. But that didn’t mean I wanted to see her working at a place like this. Yes, she had the face of a fucking angel, and seeing her topless, serving men drinks for money, broke the halo that I had once assumed hovered invisibly over her head.

  “If I get you another job, one in town, will you quit?” I asked her as she started for the door.

  She stopped walking but didn’t look back at me. “I want n-n-n-nothing from you.” Then, she went to the door and opened it, stepping back to wait for me to leave before her.

  I stood there and looked at her. She was in there somewhere. The girl I’d once known. The girl I had put on a damn pedestal for years. No matter what life had done to her and how she had changed because of the damage, this was not okay.

  But who was I to stop her?

  The girl two trailers over that I had wanted to protect and save was in the past. Just like my life back then was not something I thought about. This woman in front of me was what had become of a child who had been abused and neglected. It was too late for me to save her now. The damage had been done. Bryn hadn’t been taken from that world like I had. She was broken in ways that couldn’t be fixed.

  Life had changed her, and I needed to accept it.

  Chapter Six

  Bryn

  “You okay?” Saint asked me as I stopped at the bar to get the tray of beers one of my new tables had ordered.

  “Yes,” I lied.

  My stuttering hadn’t been that out of control in a while. Rio had triggered it. I hadn’t been okay since I’d walked in tonight to see Rio sitting there. The way he had looked at me in Saint’s office, as if I had become my aunt, was going to haunt me. I wanted to hate him, and maybe I did a little, but not enough.

  “Pretty boy keeps watching you, but I’m watching him,” Saint said, as if to reassure me that I was safe.

  I knew I was safe. Rio wasn’t here to hurt me. Not physically anyway. Emotionally, he had done plenty, but then in his defense, he believed a lie. One I had told him.

  “Rio is harmless. A friend from the past. He doesn’t like that I work here. That’s all. I’m not at their table anymore, and they’ll leave soon enough. It’s fine.” I said all that without stuttering once.

  Rio was the only one who could make me stutter anymore, it seemed.

  Saint cocked a pierced eyebrow at me. “You’re so fucking naive.”

  “Rio doesn’t like me. He might hate me. But he’s not going to hurt me,” I said.

  Saint’s gaze shifted back in Rio’s direction, and a scowl darkened his face. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s not hate, sweetheart,” he replied. “Not even close.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. He had no idea what Rio thought of me, and I wasn’t about to explain that to him. “He has reasons,” I assured him and took the tray, then headed to the Prince table.

  It was the second most-sought-after table in the club. There was a bachelor party seated at it tonight, and the groom did not want to be here. I liked him for it too.

  I was thankful they were here for selfish reasons. It kept me busy, and I had no time to think about the pair of eyes following me around the room. I hadn’t needed Saint to tell me I was being watched by Rio. I could feel it. If he wanted me to look back at him, then he was going to be disappointed. Our interaction was done.

  “Hey, Angel. It’s Angel, right?” one of the groom’s friends called out too loudly since I was putting drinks down almost directly in front of him.

  I turned to look at him, and he gave me a drunken grin.

  “Damn, baby, what I got to do to take you home?” he asked.

  This wasn’t new, nor was I offended. It was a regular question. Part of the job. “You can always take me in your memories,” I replied with a smile. “Are you boys ready to order some more food?” I asked.

  They were laughing at their friend or my response to him.

  “Boom! She burned your ass,” one of them said with a cackle.

  I knew to wait it out when drunken men started this line of talk. See if they were going to order
, and if not, walk away.

  “I can give you whatever you want. I’ve got more money than God,” the guy said, leaning forward in my direction.

  “Your daddy has more money than God,” one of his friends said, and they all started laughing again.

  He didn’t care or look away from me. The wealthy, spoiled, drunk ones were always the wild cards. When they didn’t get what they wanted or their money couldn’t buy them what they wanted, they got angry, or they got bored. I was hoping this one got bored.

  “I bet you don’t care whose money it is, do you, beautiful?”

  I started to respond when a hand touched my back, startling me. I jerked my head around, ready to shove someone back. Touching was not allowed.

  “She’s not fucking interested. How many times does she need to say it?” Rio’s voice sounded on edge.

  “Who the fuck asked you?” The guy stood up, shoving the table a little and making his drink slosh over the top.

  “Sit down, Jude,” one of the others at the table said.

  “She’s just a waitress, man. Stop being an ass,” another said.

  Rio’s hand slid to my waist, and his grip firmly tightened, as if he were afraid I was going to be taken at any moment. I started to tell him to let go when his gaze moved to meet mine, and the words got stuck in my throat. It was seven years ago all over again, and Rio was protecting me. The same look in his eyes daring anyone to say another word about me.

  “Angel,” Saint’s voice called out, and although I knew he wasn’t happy with the situation, I couldn’t seem to stop this.

  “Let’s go,” Rio said.

  “Hey, man, where are you taking her? We need more food,” one of the guys at the table said.

  I heard them, but my body was currently wanting to obey Rio. I was unable to do anything but stand here and consider leaving with him. When my head knew good and well that couldn’t happen. This job had been our salvation. Rio hadn’t been.

  “Take your hand off her.” Saint’s commanding voice snapped my moment of insanity, and I blinked, remembering who I was and what the hell I was doing.

  Rio didn’t move his hand, but I stepped away from him.

  “I’m sorry,” I said to Saint.

  Trix was there then, and she began taking the table’s order.

  “Go to the back until I come get you,” Saint said to me, but his eyes were locked on Rio’s.

  “I’m f-f-fine,” I said, not wanting to leave the two of them standing there in some sort of face-off.

  “Hey, man, think it’s time we move on. Other places to be,” Drake said as he approached us.

  I was relieved to see the rest of his party was also on their feet and headed this way.

  Rio kept his gaze locked on me. I tried to look away, but he was making it impossible.

  “Bryn,” he said my name. Just my name.

  But the way he’d said it sounded like he meant more. I knew he didn’t, and if I was being honest with myself, I knew Rio March enough to know this had to do with his conscience. Not me. He felt guilty that I worked topless. Maybe deep down, I wanted him to.

  The truth was, it was my sister’s actions that had set this in motion. Yes, he had fired me, but it had been six months, and I had blamed him in the beginning. I didn’t anymore. This situation was one that Tory’s actions had caused. Not his. I wasn’t going to pretend otherwise.

  “I think your f-f-friend has the b-b-best idea. Good-bye, Rio,” I said through the strange lump that had suddenly formed in my throat.

  I guessed old habits died hard, and Rio was definitely an old habit for me. At least, feeling something where he was concerned was an old habit.

  I didn’t wait to see what he would say or do. I had to get distance from him before I did something stupid, like walk out on a job that had given me the first real security in my life.

  “Don’t,” I heard Saint’s warning, and I winced.

  Although I wanted to turn around, I didn’t. I kept walking toward the back door leading to the offices. Saint was right. I needed to get out of sight until this was over. I didn’t stop until I was in Saint’s office, wrapped back up in his jacket. Then, I stood there and stared at the wall. Remembering a time when I had thought life would be different.

  I wasn’t sure how long I had been standing there, lost in my memories, when the door behind me opened. I turned to see Saint walk inside. He paused, and his eyes studied his jacket that I was wearing, then he sighed.

  “Who is he?” Saint asked me.

  “I told you earlier, I’ve known him a long time, and once, we were friends. Then, I did something that made him hate me. We haven’t talked in six months,” I replied.

  Saint didn’t walk any farther into the room. He remained just inside the door. We stood there in silence for several minutes. I didn’t know if I was supposed to say more or if he was deciding on what I would do next.

  “He doesn’t hate you, and I doubt you’ve ever done anything to someone to make them hate you. You’re too damn sweet,” Saint said as he came inside and went to sit on the edge of his desk, then crossed his arms over his chest.

  “I didn’t do it, but he thinks I did. I took the blame for my sister. Look, I am sorry. It won’t happen again. There are no other guys out there who will care about my working here.”

  Saint let out a low chuckle, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “You can get under a man’s skin, Angel. That naivete normally isn’t my thing, but somehow, you make it work.” He held my gaze, his green eyes flashing something I did not want to acknowledge. “I’ve never heard you stutter. Not once, until tonight. He upset you.”

  I said nothing. I didn’t want to admit that at one time, I couldn’t speak without stammering over every word. That was another life. I could control my speech now. Most of the time.

  “Things are under control out there, and I think you could use a break. Go on home and get some rest. I’ll see you back here on Saturday,” he said, dropping his arms and standing back up. He said nothing more as he headed for the door.

  “Are you mad at me?” I asked, afraid that him sending me home meant I could be fired soon.

  I had been scheduled to work the next three nights. Now, he was sending me home and acting as if they didn’t need me.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m not mad at you. Not fucking happy with myself, but I’m not mad at you.” He paused, then looked at his jacket wrapped around me. “That’s gonna mess with my damn head. Seeing you in my leather,” he added, then opened the door and left me there alone.

  I was tired. Physically and, I realized now, emotionally. Going home sounded wonderful. Tonight was the first time I’d had to face someone I knew. I probably could have handled it better if I hadn’t been so worn down.

  We had gone six months without running into each other. There was a good chance I wouldn’t see Rio for another six months. That thought both relieved and deflated me.

  Chapter Seven

  Rio

  Work had done little to distract me today. I wasn’t in the mood to be around people, and if I wasn’t starving, then I would go directly to my bedroom. The smell of something cooking drew me toward the kitchen even though the sound of voices got louder.

  The only cars outside were Saul’s, my best friend and the owner of this house; Henley’s, my sister and Saul’s girlfriend; and Drake’s. Those three I could deal with if that meant I would get some of Henley’s cooking. She was best at baking, but she could cook better than the three of us.

  When I stepped into the kitchen, Henley was closing the fridge door, and her eyes met mine. She frowned. “I heard about last night,” she said.

  I was sure Drake had given them both every detail.

  “I bet,” I replied and shot Drake an annoyed glance.

  He just shrugged and took a drink of the beer in his hand.

  “Did she say why she was working there?” Henley asked.

  Talking about Bryn was the last thing I wanted to do. Eating
, showering, and getting in bed to hopefully sleep and forget Bryn was my plan.

  “Needed a job,” I replied.

  Henley rolled her eyes at my response. “Most women who work at places like that do so because they have to. They need the money that they can make there, doing it to take care of someone or to pay for school, something that a lower-paying job can’t cover. Does she have a kid?”

  I shook my head. She didn’t have a kid, and she wasn’t going to fucking college. She was using folks not hiring her because of what she had done to my Jeep as an excuse. I didn’t fucking buy that.

  “Her sister has a kid,” Drake said. “Or at least, I think so. We only hooked up twice, but she mentioned him. Said she was late because she had to get him to bed or some shit like that. I didn’t ask details.”

  Drake’s messing around with Tory had been around the time of my Jeep getting bashed to hell. For a moment, I tried to make myself believe Bryn had done it because of something Drake had done to Tory, but that didn’t add up. It was my Jeep, and I hadn’t done shit to her. She had said she made a mistake, but she knew I drove that Jeep. She had seen it at work. We had parked beside each other a few times. I’d said good morning to her as we got out of our vehicles.

  “Does she live with her sister and nephew?” Henley asked.

  I nodded. “Yeah.” That much I did know. I hadn’t been aware Tory had a son, but I did know they lived together. It had been on her job application.

  “Maybe she needed the money because of the nephew,” Henley suggested.

  “Tory can’t keep a fucking job,” Drake piped in. “She had been fired from two last time I talked to her, and she’d only been in town two weeks or something like that.”

  Henley raised both her eyebrows at me, as if Drake had said something informative.

  “This is Rio’s shit to handle. Let’s not meddle,” Saul said as he walked up behind Henley and placed his hand on her waist, then kissed the side of her head.