Gripping onto the steering wheel with both hands, Jason pulled into the parking lot of Lukes and took in all the flashing lights. The front door was propped open, while an uniformed cop shoved a male out and into the back of a waiting vehicle. Two more officers appeared, both leading handcuffed males, ignoring the occasional insult thrown at them from a gathering crowd.
"What in the hell?" Cutting the engine, he slipped his gun out of its holster and put it into the glove box. There was no telling what had happened inside, and the last thing he needed tonight was to have the idiots of the PCPD know he was packing. "I didnt even know the bar was open while Luke was out of town."
"Luke left Lucky in charge." Francis shrugged, reaching for the doorhandle. "I dont know about you, but this is one story I aint gonna miss." Letting his large frame out of the SUV, he waded through the crowd.
A few officers stopped him at the door, and after a few minutes of tense conversation they let him through. With a sigh of recognition, Jason pocketed the keys and followed his friends steps. Apparently whatever Francis had told the cops had them glaring him through the door. Looking as though it was killing them to let him pass.
If the outside of the establishment was chaos, it didnt come close to what the inside looked like. There wasnt a standing table left, or chair for that matters. A few broken pool sticks lay littered across the floor.
Turning to take stock of the bar, Jason let out a long breath to see that the full length mirror was hanging in pieces. The area where the lined liquor bottles once stood like soldiers was left with only a few broken pieces of glass and liquid that was dripping down the side of the shelf.
"Jesus." With a low whistle, Jason estimated the cost Luke was going to have to suffer to get the place back up and running. Taking a few steps forward, his boots grinding in more broken glass into the ground with every step.
Heading to the back office where he saw Francis's large bulk standing, he paused when his friend looked over his shoulder with a worried expression on his face. Turning back around, Francis spoke a few more words before doing an about face.
"Ah, we need to talk." Motioning to the door, Francis sighed when Jason stood his ground. "Jase, I need to tell you something and you aint gonna like it. So how about we go and take a walk around back."
"Why?" His shoulder muscles tensing, Jason stood rooted were he was at.
"Cause what I got to tell you is going to set you off." Francis replied. "And with all the men in blue eying us down, I'd rather do it somewhere else."
"Francis." Jason warned, his scowl becoming more pronounced.
The woman's bathroom door opened, and both men swung around toward the sound. Elizabeth walked out, trying to pull her shirt up over her shoulder, her muttered words failed when she spotted them across the room. A deep blush covered her face and she scurried to the open office door.
She looked as though she'd weathered a storm. Half her hair was still piled on the top of her head, the rest tumbled past her shoulders. The front of her torn top was wet. Sticking to her body in odd places.
"What in the hell?" Swinging his attention back to Francis, Jason could see there was more.
"How about that walk?"
"How about you tell me what's going on before those clowns out front have to charge me with aggravated assault." Taking a threatening step forward, Jason stern expression had Francis taking a step back. "Where's Lucky?"
"Apparently he's away."
"Away?"
"Yeah, on some last minute business trip." Rolling his shoulders, Francis gulped. "He left Elizabeth and Emily in charge."
Blinking, Jason looked as though he was on the verge of laughing. To someone who knew Jason better, Francis held up his hands, knowing the fireworks were about to begin. That Jason, like most people had that line. A line that once they were pushed past meant the point of no return. Almost anything having to do with Emily fell into that category.
Taking a sweep glance around the trashed bar, he brought his attention back to the man in front of him. "Is he out of his freaking mind? Do you have any idea what kind of people come here?"
"Well, tonight a few hot heads from the local chapters of the Kappa Sigma and Sigma Chi."
"Frat boys did this?"
"Well not all of it. There were a few regulars who helped out." Hearing the growl coming from Jason's chest Francis hurried on. "To tell you the truth, things would've gotten really out of hand if it weren't for the regulars."
"More out of hand than this?" Jason shouted, his arms stretched out wide.
"Seems Luke's filled them in on the girls, and they didn't appreciate how the youngins were . . ." Clearing his throat, Francis swore. "Go talk to your sister. Let her tell you." Walking away, Francis pushed a chair out of the way.
With an efficient stride Jason stopped in the doorway of Luke's office and stared at the females sitting inside. Looking as though they'd heard every word. Sitting down in the chairs Luke had for visitors, they looked in every direction, except his.
Where Elizabeth looked as though she'd been used in a game of Tug-of-War, Emily was wet from head to toe. Her hair hung around her face limply, water pooling around her sandaled feet. Dear god the girl wore open toed shoes to work in a bar.
Stepping in and closing the door behind him, Jason waited a couple of silent seconds. The two girls squirmed, looking ready to bolt under his heavy stare. Making sure he blocked the doorway, he rested his attention on Emily.
Giving her the look that always got her talking, he tried to ease some of the anger building inside. "Tell me."
"Well it happened so fast." Rubbing her forehead, Emily flashed him a sweet smile. "One minute we're cutting some guy off, then the bar just . . . exploded."
Taking in their appearance, Jason grunted. "Do tell."
Both woman squirmed under his unbelieving eyes. Emily was the first to crack. "Fine. But if anyone asks, it's the story we fed to the cops. They seemed to believe it."
"Do I look that stupid?" Leaning back against the door, Jason noticed that Elizabeth was still keeping his eyes averted. Why was it that she kept coming back into his sphere?
"No." A quirky grin spread across her face. "Fine. I'll tell if you don't freak."
Remembering the Emily from years ago, the one who willingly thumbed her nose at the family. Who's wild sense of fashion had more than one brow raised in town, let alone the going pool of bets that were being taken on whether or not she get a piercing. And where.
Wondering what brought the resurrection of the sister he once knew, Jason smirked. "Throw it at me."
Heaving a heavy sigh, she cast a glance over to where Elizabeth sat quietly, she shrugged. "You asked for it.
Well the night started off quiet. Just a few locals who only wanted a beer and a game of pool. Thank god, because if they wanted anything complicated we'd have been up a creek."
Elizabeth watched Emily tell the tale with just a little shock. They might have called an uneasy truce, but this wasn't the girl she'd done it with. In fact, about an hour ago, some alternate ego had emerged. It was a little unsettling, but at the same time this Emily was one she could relate to.
"So then this group of idiots show up. They were already three sheets to the wind. The locals weren't too happy with the commotion, but they kept to themselves. It wasn't until another group of guys showed up that the sh - well you know what hit the fan. So when Elizabeth," Nodding to the silent accomplice, Emily licked her lips in anticipation. "went to grab the empties, one of the groups of guys started to harass her."
Cutting her off there, Jason swung his eyes to where Elizabeth sat. He'd been right when he'd labeled her as trouble, with a capitol P. Pain in his ass. "Harass you how?"
Silencing Emily with a look, he waited until Elizabeth spoke up. After a few tense seconds she blushed before she answered. "They just said a few things."
"Like?"
This time her face flamed red. "They. Uh." Biting the inside of her cheek she took her time. "Well they invited me back to their house."
"That's all?"
Almost feeling her discomfort, Jason read between the lines. "Fine. Then what?"
"Well they wouldn't take no for an answer." Elizabeth said softly. "That's when the other guys showed up."
Not to save her, Jason thought. They'd found a reason to take out their aggression. "And the locals."
"Well the only thing we can come up with, we think they're loyal to Luke, and didn't like what was happening in his bar. I guess he takes great joy in kicking frat boys out of his bar."
Nodding, Jason knew Luke took great joy in keeping his bar free of spoiled rich boys. Looking over at Elizabeth's torn clothing, he didn't know if he should continue on, or take the story they were weaving and let it go. Call a clean up crew and call it a day. But she already had enough secrets that were keeping him up at night. "Where were you when the fight broke out?"
"I was behind the bar." Emily piped up.
"Yeah, I saw the bar. That doesn't make me feel secure."
"I was out on the dance floor." Elizabeth was mortified. And it was all Lucky's fault. Jerk. Now she and Elizabeth were forced to come up with something even more evil to pay that freak back.
"You were dancing?"
"Yeah. Dancing. Can't see that." The picture inside his head didn't have Elizabeth gaily dancing with a couple of college brats. By the looks of it, it appeared she'd been drug out onto the dance floor.
"Yeah, well, when they started shouting at one another, one of the guys pulled me there." In a way she owed the creep, she'd missed a flying beer bottle.
"I think I've heard enough." Pinching his nose, he pushed himself away from the door and pulled out the cell phone from his pocket. "Johnny I need a clean up crew at Luke's."
Flipping it shut he looked at the two woman. "Get your stuff. Francis will wait until the guys show up."
Both females moved at once. Emily snatched her purse and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Elizabeth I hope we're still on for lunch tomorrow." Waving she slipped out the door Jason opened for her.
"I just need to call Laura. She dropped me off tonight." She'd given her direct orders to have some fun and blow off some steam. That she'd wait up to give her a ride home. Looks like she didn't have to wait too long.
"Don't worry." Reaching out and wrapping his fingers around her lower arm, Jason noticed that her shirt was stiff. Most likely from beer and whatever else had been served that night. "I'll take you home."
