Read Online Ahead of the Darkness by Simone Nicole - Free Book Online

moving.
    “You're such a tosser. You always get the front."
    “It’s ‘cause I’m good with me hands.” He wiggled his fingers in Mac’s face.
    “You manky git. I bet you can’t even find you bleedin’ co...”
    "Bloody hell, Mac. Easy on the language, you trollop, there's a lady present." He winked in our direction, and for a minute I was confused.
    "What, Drew?" Oh, he meant me. Everyone, including Drew laughed.
    "Alright get to work ye lazy sods. Jules, storeroom, Mac ye can clean the tables and check on the bathroom, would ye?”
    "Shouldn't that be the newbie role?" She tried to giggle playfully but the scorn was still present.
    "And how would she know what to check for? Mia needs to get familiar with the system before everyone starts pouring in."
    "I do?"
    "Aye, ye do."
    "Fine, fine,” Mac said in a sing-song, voice but it seemed to be anything but fine, as she huffed off, bumping Jules’ on the way out of the bar.
    “I’ll be out in a jiffy if he gives you any trouble Mi.” Mi?
    “On with ye, and stop pissin’ Mac off would ye? I’ll have to listen to her bitch and moan all night.”
    “I’ll do me best.” The unspoken not came through loud and clear.
    “Aye...”
    The front door swung open, and in walked our first patron. The man was in his late fifties, easily, and not what I’d been expecting on a Saturday night, but it was only 6pm.
    “Alright, Drew?”
    “Angus, ye late old man.”
    “Got caught up, din I? Where’s the rest of the lazy sods? Oh who’s this then, you got yourself a lass?” His eyes lit up as he came closer to the bar.
    “Aye.” What? “First day, mind. Go easy on her.”
    “Is that so? Ya work ‘ere then, she ain’t yas after all, aye Drew?” Oh... He winked and smiled at me. The few missing teeth really added to the creep factor. Drew frowned for a spilt second before he straightened out his features.
    “Ye cannae have her either, ye dirty bastard. She’s young enough to be ye granddaughter and too good for the likes of us.” I’m what?
    “Too right ya are, son. Too right. So what’s ya story, little miss?” He stretched out his hand towards me, and I internally shuddered. He seemed harmless enough but I detested shaking hands with people. “The name’s Angus Wilkinson.”
    “Mia. Mia Green.” I tentatively shook his hand with a strained smile in return. Angus didn’t notice anything amiss but Drew did. I could hear him trying not to laugh. Bastard
    “I’ve not seen the likes of ya around here before. Where’d ya come from, lass?”
    “A town not much different to this one, just further inland.” I smiled at him sweetly. That was all he was getting, the nosy codger. I looked to Drew in the hope he’d get my subtle hint. We should have been working, or at least he should have been teaching me the till. He got the hint, threw the dishtowel at me and pointed the spray bottle behind me. You son of a ...
    “Ya got a fella, one back home, maybe?” I scoffed at the thought. Drew looked at me, perplexed, with a little too much interest I thought.
    “I never leave anything behind, especially not men.”
    “Is that right? I have a feeling ya’ve left a few fellas in ya path. Maybe ya just don’t know it.” He winked again at me.
    “Mia’s already broken my heart.” Jules emerged from the store room with a crate in his hands. It was an impressive display of strength, and I couldn’t help but admire the way his arms flexed with the effort as he carried it to the bar. “She didn’t bat an eyelid at me. I’m losing my touch.” He winked as he entered the bar, and begun restocking the other side.
    “Mia?” Drew sounded gruff.
    “Yes?”
    “Ye think ye can ask Angus what he wants to drink?”
    “Oh ...”
    “Don’t worry lass, I was distracting ya. Besides, I don’t normally have to be asked. Ya slacking there, Drew.”
    “Sorry Angus, what can I get you?”
    “Make me whatever ya want, darling.”
    “Well, if I had to guess, I would