ate in one of the booths. On the other side of the bar, booths had been replaced by tables and a small stage.
A British singer songwriter’s tune played on the stereo. Gray picked up the lyrics as he eyed the man behind the bar. Words of being gone in the morning flitted past. A masculine, melodic voice sang of being chosen for a life on the road. Seemed fitting at the moment.
Gray didn’t allow his nerves to flare up. He didn’t think. He approached the bar. Step by measured step—there was no going back. He was gonna find this kid, end of.
The stocky man looked up from the register and jerked his chin.
Gray cleared his throat. “Are you Mick?”
The man inclined his head. “The very one. We’re not hiring.”
Gray shook his head minutely. “I’m looking for Kellan Ford and was told to ask you.” In his periphery, he caught one of the guys in the booth looking over. Did he know the name? Did he know Kellan Ford, maybe?
Mick straightened and raised a brow. “You got a message, lad?”
“Right.” Gray refocused on him. “I’m a friend of Dominic Cleary, and I need to talk to Kellan.”
“Oi.” The guy who’d looked over nodded at Mick, as if to say it was okay, and then he met Gray’s stare. “I’m Kellan.”
Oh. Oh shit. For some reason, he had expected someone older. This guy didn’t look to be much older than Gray. His arms were tatted up, his hair was dark and cropped short, and he reminded Gray of a soccer hooligan from England. Complete with the gingham button-down and suspenders.
The fact that Kellan already happened to be here fucked with Gray’s head. He’d thought he would have some time to prepare. At the same time, the dude didn’t strike him as very dangerous.
No time to waste.
He walked over, and Kellan exchanged some quiet words with his companion, who grabbed his plate and walked off.
Kellan leaned back in his seat and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Dominic Cleary, huh? Been a while since I heard his name.” He gestured for Gray to take a seat. “What’s he up to these days?”
“He works with kids,” was a vague enough answer, Gray figured.
Kellan hummed and returned to tucking into his food. It was some sort of stew. “Did he make it to Seattle?”
“Yeah.” Gray didn’t know how close they’d been, and he didn’t want to divulge anything that wasn’t his to share. “He’s doing well.”
“But you’re not.” He smirked faintly and dragged a piece of bread through the sauce. “I don’t know how many times I tried to get him to work for me, but he kept his distance.” He paused and chewed on the bread. “He wouldn’t tell you to come to me if there were any other options.”
Gray didn’t reply, because he didn’t know what to say to that.
“So, what can I do for you…?”
“Gray.”
“Gray. What can I do for you, Gray?” Then Kellan held up a finger and turned to the bar. “Mick! Two pints over here, when you got a sec.”
His easygoing and casual demeanor rattled Gray. Was Kellan really that bad? Dominic had made it sound like organized crime was involved. It didn’t help that Kellan had piercing green eyes that seemed to hold a touch of mirth in them all the time.
“I have to find someone.” Gray tried to relax and shrugged out of his jacket. “Dominic said I could cash in the favor you owed him.”
“Oh, he did?” Kellan finished his meal and threw the napkin on the plate. “That’s not how this works, but I’ll hear you out. If I feel motivated to help…” He trailed off with a shrug.
Gray suppressed a pinch of frustration and waited while Mick arrived with two glasses of beer.
One was for him.
“Put it on my tab, mate,” Kellan said.
“No, that’s fine,” Gray said as politely as he could, and he dug out his wallet and offered Mick a ten. “Thank you.”
Kellan and Mick exchanged an amused glance before the bartender returned to the bar.
“Dominic told you a bit about me,” Kellan stated with that smirk. “You don’t wanna owe me anything—which you wouldn’t. It’s beer, not a kidney.”
Gray lifted a shoulder and didn’t touch his glass. “No disrespect. I’m just being careful.”
Kellan nodded and took a swig of his beer. Then he sat back and retrieved a pack of cigarettes. “You mind?”
Gray shook his head.
“Who’re you looking for?” Kellan asked, lighting up a smoke.
The absent-minded action reminded Gray of Darius