Bittersweet

~~ Secrets & Regrets ~~

Giving the bar the once over, I made my way to the front to check on the door.  Greg and Carl, my lads from the repair shop were on the door tonight.  They were both the size of a bear, and I wasn't worried if trouble ever darkened our steps.  Hands down, they would sort it. "All good, Greg, Carl?"

Carl flicked his head and Greg grunted, looking despondent as always. I was just about to head back when Greg spoke up.  "Think I saw your brother head inside?"

Brother, Lucas?  "What Lucas?"  Lucas was the youngest in our family.  Again, he had followed in the family tradition and was currently working his way through law-school.  Normally he didn't come to the bar, but just recently, he'd been coming in.  Something was on his mind, but he wasn't ready to share, so I'd wait.

Greg raised a brow, looking deep in thought as he scraped his tattooed hand across his stubbled chin. "No.  The other one, Tony?  The one that came to the bike shop that time."

Tony had tipped up at the bike shop, stating I was bringing shame to the Valentino name by lowering myself to run a bike repair shop.  I thought Greg must be mistaken, because Tony wouldn't show his face here, beneath him, for starters.

I flicked my chin up. "You sure? Doubt it very much."  He grunted his reply.

"I'm heading back in. Catch up with you later, lads."

Back inside, my eyes travelled round the room.  He couldn't have seen Tony, surely?  The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, prickling my collar.  Something was off.

Music thumping, I took a turn around the place.  Walking around, many of our regulars nodded their hello in my direction, and I was just about done when I spotted him, huddled in a corner.  And I knew that wasn't Jenna he was with.  Greg hadn't been wrong.  Goddammit. Of all the places, he tips up in mine.  A knot formed in my stomach.

He was sat with some blonde. Tongues down each other's throats and by the look of his roaming hands, they were definitely somewhere they shouldn't be.

The angry grew from nowhere, like a cyclone.  In my rage I was blind to everything else, his actions triggering something that I didn't like to associate with me. The asshole never saw me coming as I grabbed him by the hair and yanked him from the woman.  He yelped out, startled. The woman jumped up, pulling her skirt down before she tried to grab my hand. It didn't stop me. My top lip curled and she shrunk back.

"What the fuck?" Tony bellowed, pulling at my hands in his hair.  

I stopped and turned to face him, releasing my grip on his hair. I moved my hand to the back of his neck, gripping his collar.  "What the fuck is right, Tony—what the hell are you doing, man?" I turned towards the woman who could have easily passed for a barbie doll.  "Stay here." I barked, and she halted biting her lip, looking at Tony for some reassurance.

"Get your fucking hands off me!" he demanded as I started leading him forwards, towards the exit.

"Quit your bitching. Me and you, Tony—We're taking this outside."

"What gives you the—"

Was he this stupid?  "This is my place, Tony.  Dumbass.  And I can do whatever the fuck I like."

All eyes on us, people parted to let us through as I tightened my grip on the scruff of his collar. My blood pumped through my veins, the adrenalin spiking. He continued to struggle against me as I kicked open the door, shifting my hand from his neck down to his arm.  Greg moved to the side; a smug look plastered across his face.  "Need any help?" he offered.

"No, I got this.  Make sure the woman doesn't follow."  He nodded curtly, and I dragged Tony along the side of the building to the corner.  Releasing him, I pushed him hard up against the wall.  "What the hell man.  What was that in there Tony?"