Kings of Decay (The Winston Brothers Duet #1)

6. Willow

Chapter six

Willow

T he first hour of my shift passed in a blur as I got acquainted with the stock behind the bar. As much as my Dad’s comparison to bartending and being a barista annoyed me, it turned out he had a point.

Two hours in, I was sure that drunks were actually easier to deal with than a tired, overworked businessman.

Todd slapped the bar beside me, jolting me from my thoughts. “I’m gonna go out for a smoke, alright?”

Although it was phrased as a question, I had no control over what he did, so I just nodded.

“You gonna be ok here by yourself for a few minutes?”

I nodded again, glancing out at the patrons, all consumed in conversation with fresh drinks all around. “I’ll be fine.”

Todd shuffled towards the storage room, leaving me alone for the first time since I started.

Just as the door closed behind him, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I got called in. I won’t be able to pick you up. You good to walk home?

It was a text from my dad.

Sure.

I lied to him, but what choice did I have? I couldn’t stay at the bar all night. I’d just have to suck it up and walk home in the cold.

My mood instantly soured, and I went back to drying pint glasses.

A minute later, the tinkle of bells above the door caught my attention. There was an instant shift in energy as two men walked in.

Two incredibly sexy guys in their twenties. I couldn’t help but stare. It was the first time I’d seen anyone here my age.

They acted like they owned the place. Even from across the room, their presence was like a live wire, crackling with an energy that hummed beneath the surface of this sleepy town.

A blond guy led the way, his sun-kissed hair and bright blue eyes painting the picture of an all-American boy. But there was a shadow in those eyes, a hardness that hinted at something lurking beneath the golden exterior. He moved with a predator's grace, muscles rippling beneath his worn denim jacket.

A step behind, the younger of the pair, was his darker reflection. Brooding brown eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. His features were sharper, more angular, framed by a mop of unruly dark hair. There was an aura of a poet about him, a hint of vulnerability that would be easily missed.

They were both tall, broad-shouldered, and imposing. But it wasn't just their physicality that commanded attention. It was the way everyone went silent and looked at them before turning back to their drinks. A collective shiver rocked the room.

I didn’t notice my hands shaking until I nearly dropped the glass I was holding.

The pair locked onto me as they walked over to the bar. They sat down in unison, moving like a machine.

“Lookin’ good, Todd. Damn, I didn’t know sex change technology got so good.” The blond one laughed, slapping his brother on the shoulder.

“What?” I blinked. Did I miss the joke?

The blond frowned. “It’s a joke, dumbass. Obviously, you’re not Todd.”

Heat flashed across my face.

“She’s not Todd,” his dark-haired brother said as he leaned over the bar. “She is new, though.”

The way they looked at me made my skin feel hot. They stared me down like wolves.

Wolves.

“Uh,” I swallowed the lump in my throat and put down the glass before I broke it. “What can I get you?”

“Whisky. Neat.” They both said at the same time.

“Can I see some ID?” I mentally ticked off the next step I'd learned during training.

The blond scoffed. “Are you fucking serious?”

“Yes,” I squeaked.

“Babe, we’re VIPs.” The dark-haired one said with a click of his tongue.

“Sorry. I don’t know who you are,” I squared my shoulders to hide my nervousness.

The men exchanged glances before pulling out their wallets and throwing their licenses on the table.

PEARCE WINSTON

AINSLEY WINSTON

The world swayed around me. So, these were the infamous Winston brothers.They didn't look related at all. Stepbrothers, maybe?

Suddenly, the nervous look on the other customers’ faces made perfect sense. I’d only heard a whisper here and there, but apparently, these guys were not to be messed with. Now that I stood before them, feeling like a deer in the headlights of a semi-truck, I could see why.

I tried not to let them see the flurry of emotions wreaking havoc in my mind as I glanced at their birthdays before pouring their drinks.

“Your drinks,” I said.

The blond, Pearce, grabbed my wrist before I could pull away. “What’s your name, new girl?”

“Willow.” I can’t pull away. His grip burns into my flesh and leaves me helpless.

Pearce and Ainsley exchange glances again.

“Cute name,” he said. “For a cute girl. Where are you from?” His eyes flick over my body. “Obviously not from around here.”

Anger bubbled up in my gut, and I wrenched my hand away from him. “No, I’m new.” I don’t offer any other details. The last thing I’d want is these dangerous creeps, knowing where I live.

I glanced around, praying for another customer to call me over, but no one made a single move. All their eyes are on us, and Todd is nowhere to be seen.

“Well, new girl,” Ainsley flicked his dark wavy hair back as he spoke. “Why don’t you have a drink with us?” He raises his glass.

“No thanks,” I stepped back, desperate for something to do.

The brothers’ expressions harden.

“I insist,” Pearce growled.

I’m terrified. I know nothing about these guys except that they are dangerous as hell. Red flags and alarm bells are ringing in my head. Should I take a drink to appease them? No, if I did, I'd be just as bad as everyone else in this town.

“No thanks.”

That was when I signed my own proverbial death certificate.

A sound came from behind me as Todd opened the back door. A cold breeze and the scent of cigarettes followed him.

“How’s it going, Willow?” His voice faltered when he saw the Winston brothers leaning over the bar. “Ah! Good evening, boys. I see you met our new part-timer.” He plasters a smile across his face that even someone who barely knows him would see through.

It's a strange sight to see a wall of a man suddenly cautious.

“Yes,” Pearce said, throwing a twenty on the bar. “We were inviting her to take a shot with us.”

“Ah,” Todd said, cutting between us to redirect the conversation. “Sorry, boys, she’s not twenty-one yet.”

The brothers knocked back their drinks, which were much more than a shot, in a single gulp.

“Keep the change,” Ainsley said as they shoved off the barstools and left. The cold October wind whistled as the door opened.

Pearce looked over his shoulder again before letting the door slam behind him.

I relaxed, feeling like I could both sink into the floor and hug Todd at the same time. I felt like a balloon animal letting the air out all at once as I slumped against the wall.

“What did you do?” Todd asked.

“I just said I didn’t want a shot,” I said.

Todd scrubbed his gnarled hand over his wiry beard, a troubled look passing over his face. “No one says no to those boys, Willow.” He shoved the crinkled twenty in the cash register and went back to tending to the bar.

I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t say another word to me for the rest of my shift.