After some time, Flynn stopped by and rested his inked arms on the bar. “You’ve got a knack for this. Simone won’t like you stealing all the good tips.”
“I doubt I’m the first who’s ever done this,” I said while cleaning a glass.
“Most people here like their job, and they follow the rules so they won’t get fired. That usually means not yelling at the customers.” He wagged his finger at me. “You’re a rebel.”
“So I’ve been told.”
My eyes widened when a panther sprinted across the room and pounced on a man. “Watch the bar!”
I flung up the countertop and flashed across the room. A female worker in all leather ran over and tried to grab the leash on the panther, but she couldn’t get close enough. The man waved a chair like a lion tamer.
I sharpened my light as I moved in. Shifters made my pulse jump. Gathering my courage, I gripped the panther’s collar and gave it a hard yank.
“Down!” I ordered him. “Get down.” I held out my left hand, ready to blast him if he so much as turned in my direction.
The panther growled fiercely and then retreated.
“Thanks.” The walker collected his leash and wrapped it once around her wrist. “He’s not usually like this, but that man wouldn’t stop pestering him.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Did he touch him?”
She nodded. “They can’t pet Shifters. It’s not allowed.”
“I’ll deal with it.”
After she led the feline away, I yanked the chair out of the man’s hands. “You broke the rules. You’re out.”
He tucked his shirt back in. “Misunderstanding.”
“The misunderstanding was you not paying attention to the rules. Out.”
He held up his hands. “Won’t do it again. No need to get your panties in a twist.”
Based on the fact he hadn’t fought the panther, I guessed he wasn’t a Mage. So I gripped his forearm and yanked him forward. Before he could resist, I blasted him with my other hand. He recoiled and threatened me with his red, glowing palms.
Damn Sensors.
Sharpening my light, I widened my stance. “I’m only gonna ask once.”
“Touch me and I’ll touch you back.” He grinned at the challenge and wiggled his fingers.
I hurled a chair at him. Before it hit the ground, I flashed behind him and kicked the back of his knee with my heel. When his knees buckled, I grappled his shoulders and slammed enough volts in him to make my point crystal clear without killing him. As he fell to the ground, the man seized my hands, and an unbearable pain engulfed me like an inferno.
I shrieked and wrenched my hands away. My mind knew that nothing was happening to me, but every nerve ending in my body convinced me I was burning alive, and I desperately slapped my arms as if putting out flames. When that proved a waste of time, I grimaced and found the courage to fight through the agony long enough to knock him unconscious with another blast of energy.
Then I kicked him once for good measure.
As my skin cooled, it was as if someone had tossed ice water onto my raw, burned flesh. The magic wasn’t wearing off fast enough, so I stalked to the bar, stole a drink from someone’s hand, and downed it.
Sweat beaded on my brow. When I noticed the line of customers watching me, I waved them off. “Find another bartender. I’m taking a break.”
Once behind the bar, I poured a double shot of tequila.
Flynn clucked his tongue. “You have to watch out for Sensors. The manager thinks they make good bouncers, but people like us are the only ones who can control a situation.”
“Us?” I returned the tequila bottle to its home. “I didn’t see you doing anything to help.”
He shrugged. “Not in my pay grade. If they give me a raise, I might pitch in. But I don’t earn tips, and my shit wages aren’t enough to risk my neck.” Flynn glanced over his shoulder and sighed as he pushed away from the bar. “Do me a favor and don’t break so many chairs next time. I have to crawl around and look for the small bits of wood.” He trudged off toward the mess and then dragged the Sensor out of the building.
An elderly man in a fine suit took the barstool across from me. “That was an impressive show.”
I recognized Mr. Crawford, Simone’s VIP. “Would you like a drink? Beer, right?”
He laced his fingers together and smiled, so I served him a cold beer.