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Rellik(23)

By:Teresa Mummert


“Why do the other guys go by nicknames, and you don’t? Not very creative.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“I dunno.” She chewed her lip as she fought against a smile. “The other guys have these scary names, and yours kind of sounds like a third-generation teakettle on the Antique Road Show. Not something that evokes fear.”

He laughed loudly as he shook his head. “Relic. Never thought of it that way.”

Rellik smiled crookedly as he leaned over the bar, snatching a pen from my apron. Grabbing a beer coaster, he wrote out his name in capital letters before sliding it to me.

“I don’t get it.”

“Turn around. Look in the mirror behind the bar.”

I spun around as I held it up to my chest, glancing between the rows of liquor bottles.

“Killer,” I mumbled.

“Hiding in plain sight. What’s more dangerous than that?” His blue eyes were alive with amusement.

Phantom walked up behind Rellik, his eyes narrowed as he stared me down.

“Here.” He forcefully shoved Rellik’s shirt into his chest. Rellik’s expression turned dark like it had been in the alley. “We have some people in the back waiting to meet you. Blonde, just like you like.” His eyes landed on mine again, making sure I understood he meant women before turning and walking into the crowd. I got the hint that I wasn’t welcome back there anymore, even if it was my job to make sure they were taken care of.

“So, um…” I tucked my hair behind my ear as I looked around for what to do next. “I still have another hour. I should get back to work.” I hurried down the bar to refill a beer. I didn’t glance back at Rellik’s seat as I tended to my other customers. When I finally did glance back in his direction, he was gone, and someone else was in his spot. I was relieved and disappointed.

The crowd was steady for the next hour, and when I finally was able to cash out, my feet were killing me. Mandy took over the bar until closing. But even with the extra hours, I had barely made enough with tips to feed myself, let alone get a room for the night.

I grabbed my book bag that held a few items of clothing and slung it over my shoulder as I stepped into the kitchen.

“I’m off,” I told Maric with a wave. He nodded his head, not bothering to turn around. The mint corridor had a few lingering patrons who had spilled out from the band’s party. I shook my head as I sidestepped my way around them and shoved open the back door. The night air was muggy, and as the door closed behind me, I jumped as I noticed Rellik leaning up against the wall, an unlit cigarette in his hand.

I pulled my bag up on my shoulder and nodded to him as I began to walk along the building. I could hear his footsteps close behind me on the gravel.

“What are you doing?”

“Walking you home.”

I groaned as I bit down on my lower lip. “I told you I didn’t need you to walk me home.”

“I’m not asking your permission.”

“Phantom won’t be happy.” I rolled my eyes as he pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the cigarette in his hand.

“I didn’t ask his permission either.” He took a deep pull, inhaling the smoke into his lungs before expelling the cloud around him. His mood seemed to have considerably changed from the bar, and I wanted to ask him what had happened, but it wasn’t my place.

“I thought you quit.”

He looked down at the cigarette in his hand as we continued to walk, but he didn’t respond. “So what is his problem anyway? He doesn’t seem to like me very much.” I glanced to the spot where the man had attacked me earlier, clutching my purse to my side.

“It’s not you.” He shook his head but didn’t elaborate.

“The thing about conversations, Rellik, is they usually go two ways.”

He flicked the cigarette onto the ground, and orange embers scattered as it hit. “He’s pissed at me, not you.”

“It’s touching he has such an active interest in your personal life. Afraid it will taint your reputation to be seen talking to a brunette?” My attempt at a joke fell on deaf ears.

His eyes met mine, and he swallowed hard like he wanted to say something but didn’t.

“Well, I appreciate you looking after me. This is me.” I pointed to the apartment building behind me.

“I’ll walk you up.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

His eyes narrowed like he could see through my words, and his hand ran over the stubble of his jaw. “Let’s just pretend we argued about it, and I decided I was going to walk you up anyway. Save us both some time.”

I groaned, my shoulders sagged under the impending embarrassment. “Well, I can save us even more time and tell you I sort of got evicted today.”