#Chapter 171 – Good friends in tough places

Delia scrambles, her vision darkening as Joyce squeezes her throat even tighter. She can’t think – can’t breathe –

All she can do is look into his cruel face, his teeth elongating before her eyes, his rage overtaking his desire for information –

Then, suddenly, there’s a crash and the pressure on her throat lessens –

Delia gasps, welcoming the fresh rush of oxygen that floods her throat, falling to her knees. Her hands go directly to her neck, soothing her wounded skin, but she frantically looks around, trying to figure out what –

There – on the floor, Joyce, his eyes closed and his mouth open – glass and liquid scattered all over his back and around him – as Delia, breathes her nose smarts at the scent –

Delia’s eye flit upwards to see Cliff standing there, the neck of a broken liquor bottle in his hand, staring down at Joyce.

“Knew he was trouble,” Cliff says quietly, “the moment he walked in.”

Delia can’t help the shocked little laugh that comes out of her then. Cliff looks at her then, shaking his head, offering a hand to help her up.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah,” she says, her knees shaking a little. “I wasn’t…expecting it to go so bad so fast.”

Cliff just shrugs. “I don’t like it when strangers come in and mess with my favorite customers.”

Truly touched, Delia suddenly wraps her arms around him in thanks. She and Evelyn had been coming here for years, and while they had quickly developed an affection for the gruff bartender, they had never known it to be reciprocated.

Cliff hesitates for a moment and then pats Delia on the back. “There there,” he says, awkwardly, as if he can’t think of anything else to say.

Delia laughs and pushes away. “Do you want to help me with one last thing?”

Cliff glances around the room at the customers who are studiously minding their own business and then nods.

“Okay,” Delia says, walking to stand at Joyce’s feet. “You take the front, I take the back. We have to get him to my trunk.”

“Fine, but take him out the back. Don’t want

Cliff a grin. “Whatever you say, boss,” she

Victor is surprised to see that Alvin is still up, helping Victor to keep organized while he makes plans to shut

cars, Victor leans

a pile of paperwork and then dashes over to his father. “Ready for

you still doing up?” Victor asks, working

at

he says. “But aren’t you tired? You’re a civilian, son –

at his father with determination. “I want to help,” he

his son, putting a hand on his shoulder. “And I appreciate your

interrupts, seeing

but he contains himself. “Almost seven, yes. But still, quite a bit younger than even our youngest recruit. You have to take care of yourself, Alvin, which means

“But I’m not

– Alvin’s clearly running on adrenaline. But, he’s also the heir to the pack. Victor isn’t going to stop

moment, though. One

to be long and complicated. What, really, was he going to do with his son when he

can make a big push in a few days. We’re

Alvin nods eagerly, understanding.

“I want you

with disappointment – but then, Victor is

fists and stomping his foot. “No, I’m going with you. You can’t

he can stop him – but

be there – he’s going to be right there with mommy, so you

if it were up to me, I’d make sure Ian stayed home too,

just kids, dad,” Alvin says, his voice softer, though his face is still red with

at this.

are…special. We can do things, papa. We can help you –

an active war zone when you

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