of what was at stake.
Releasing it, she rubbed her damp palms over her pants and stepped from the hallway into the main bar. Hell’s Gate was busy, as always. The kitchen was closed for the evening, but the drinks were still flowing freely.
She scanned the area. Was Balthazar watching from the shadows? She gave a short snort. It was more likely he had someone else doing it for him. Her gaze went past a corner and then arrowed back. The light was dim, but enough for her to catch a glimpse of a patron with reddish skin. The other Barskan employed by her brother.
There was no sign of Kyler. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or upset.
“You okay, honey?” Loralie asked as she maneuvered her way to the bar with a tray of empty glasses.
Shit, she had no idea how long she’d been standing there. “I’m fine.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Just tired.”
“I hear you.” The waitress set down the tray, grabbed one full of drinks, and headed back out.
Something crashed to the floor. Etta jolted, hand against her chest, heart pounding. This wasn’t good. She was jumpier than a gatla fish out of water.
Needing to keep busy, she grabbed the tray of empties and loaded them into the dish-cleaning unit. Then she wiped down the counter. Before long, she was filling orders behind the bar.
The work helped steady her, but she was still on edge. Would Kyler show? Every second it got to closing time, the greater her anxiety grew.
Where was he?
****
Kyler slipped into the bar as a group of men were leaving. It was doubtful anyone noticed him entering. The place was still about half full, but wouldn’t be for much longer. He’d hoped to get here sooner, but he’d had something to do first that had taken longer than anticipated.
Staying in the shadows, he worked his way to an empty table in the corner. Back to the wall, he breathed a sigh of relief. Etta was behind the bar. Tendrils of hair had escaped the tail she’d pulled it into and were stuck to her face. Her mouth was pinched, her eyes tired. She was paler than usual.
The waitress working this section passed his table twice before she noticed him and stopped. “What can I get you?”
“Ale.”
Was it his imagination or was the waitress trying to get a better look beneath his hood? He tilted his head down to be on the safe side.
She huffed out a breath. “Be right back.”
He fiddled with the communicator on his wrist, tuning it to the listening device on the bar by Etta.
“Your hooded friend is back.” The waitress slammed the tray down on the counter. “He wants ale. And what’s his deal? Why is he always covered up?”
“You know better than to ask those kinds of questions, Loralie,” Etta chided. “Lots of folks here don’t want people in their business.” As soon as he heard her voice, his entire body seemed to sigh with relief.
She sniffed. “Not natural, if you ask me.” She grabbed the ale Etta placed on the counter and made her way back through the crowd.
He muted his comm unit and held out a credit worth double the cost of the drink. The waitress took it and retreated, but he sensed her gaze on him as she served other tables.
Etta was noticeable by her absence. Not only did she not come over to the table, but she also didn’t even look his way.
Leaving her knife on her nightstand probably hadn’t been the smartest thing he’d ever done. But it had been a reminder to them both about their loyalties.
He’d been an ass.
Easy to see in hindsight. At the time, it had seemed like the best thing to do. His emotions had been too volatile. And the old rule about not taking anything from anywhere or anyone had been too well engrained for him to ignore.
He missed playing with her blade, having a piece of her with him.
Sensing eyes on him, he lifted his glass and pretended to take a sip. As a precaution, he’d injected himself with a serum that would protect against most poisons. He’d deemed it best to be on the safe side.
Not only were her sisters at risk, but Etta might be feeling like a woman scorned. He hadn’t even stuck around long enough to say goodbye. What had she thought when she’d discovered him gone? Each hour he’d been away, that oversight had grown in proportion in his mind.