She had no choice but to take it as I came, thick pulses spilling down her throat. A rough sound tore out of me, and my legs nearly gave out. When I finally pulled out of her mouth, I had to lean back against the wall to catch my breath. The alley slowly came back into focus, water dripping somewhere in the dark, muffled music and voices bleeding through from inside the bar. I tucked myself back into my slacks and fastened my belt while she stood and wiped at her lips with her thumb, smirking like she’d won something. “See?” she said. “Didn’t even keep you up past your bedtime.”

Inside, I headed back to the bar while she peeled off toward her friends, heels clicking, already laughing and bragging that she’d just taken the Byrne heir down in the alley. Like sucking me off where anyone could’ve seen her was some kind of accomplishment. Around here, everyone knew who I was, so maybe it was for her. Hell, if letting me use her made her feel special, who was I to argue?

I was already thinking past her, past the bar and the noise, to the morning waiting for me.

Now, standing in my room with the morning light too bright and my head still pounding from last night, I push the memory of the alley aside. There’s no point dwelling on it. I shower, turning the water as hot as I can stand it, and by the time I’m dressed, I feel close to human again.

Downstairs, the fellas are already at the kitchen table with coffee in hand, talking over each other about deliveries and the day’s schedule. I give the orders like I always do, and one by one they head out to get started. When only Mick is left, I tell him to meet me at the docks for noon. I’ve got somewhere else to be until then. I’m going to see Alannah.