Page 61 of The Originals

Mack laughed, shaking his head. Grain noticed Regina smile and give a short shrug before walking to the other end of the bar. Grain spent the next ten minutes watching her. The man she’d been talking with cashed out and left.Smart move, motherfucker.

Mick tapped him on his shoulder. “Gotta go, brother.”

Fuck!

Grain could try and get out of the run, but they were already a man short. Leaving the club vulnerable was not an option. While it didn’t sit right with him leaving her like this, Regina had to understand. This was part of his life.Their life.

He tossed cash on the bar and shouted, “Gee!”

She glanced over her shoulder. He and the brothers were standing. It was clear they were leaving.

“Get your ass over here.”

Regina snorted and waved her fingers. “I’m working, Grain. But have a great ride.”

She lost her smile and glared at him before walking into the back.Fuck, this isn’t over.No one in the world could hold a grudge better than Regina.Stubborn fucking woman.

He could’ve gone after her. His gut was telling him to. Regina wasn’t like most women he knew. She couldn’t be sweet talked, not that Grain had ever tried that tactic. In the past, if a womandidn’t like something he did, he got rid of her. Grain was about the life, not the hassle. Until Regina showed up.

“Ain’t gonna fix that right now,” Mick said, glancing over at the hallway. “But if you wanna try, we can go three in.”

Go three in.Mick was giving him an out. It was a five-man job, and he couldn’t allow them to go without him. This was part of the life. The one he chose.

Maybe the time apart would help her cool off.

“Let’s go,” Grain said and walked out of the bar.

It was going to be a long three days.

Chapter Sixteen

Regina tossed her bag on the couch and scanned the room. It wasn’t anything fancy. A small, old cabin in the woods. She’d rented it the previous month. The write-up was far more impressive than the actual cabin. A combination kitchen and living room with a wood burning fireplace. She walked toward the back, peeking inside the room. A large queen-sized bed, two nightstands, and a shoddy dresser that had seen better days.

It wasn’t anything special. It wasn’t meant to be. She lived on a fairly fixed income, which didn’t leave much for extras. The location was what she wanted. It was rare she and Grain had time away from everything between her work and the club. This was meant to be just for them.

She walked to the back door, glancing out the dirty window. There was a level clearing with a few plastic chairs around the fire pit overlooking the mountains. It was the only thing worth the three-hour drive.

Regina moved her bag into the bedroom and unloaded her car. She’d made a point of picking up groceries before she left knowing the area was desolate. After she’d unpacked, she heard the rumblings of a loud engine coming up the drive. It was perfect timing. Regina walked to the door, opened it, and for the first time in hours, she smiled.

This getaway was meant to be for her and Grain. But this woman was a worthy substitute. The car pulled up behind hers and the door swung open. The blonde popped out of the car with a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other.

“Two drunk girls in the woods.” Lola cocked her hip, closing the door. “You do realize this is how every horror movie starts, right?”

Regina laughed. “Only the trashy ones.”

“Well, that’s perfect for us.”

Regina had every intention of coming to the cabin on her own. But she’d spoken to her best friend, Lola, earlier. Mostly to complain about Grain. Lola insisted on making it a girls’ getaway. How could she resist?

Two hours later, unpacking, settling in, and two tequila shots, they had retired to the yard. Regina started a fire and grabbed blankets from the cabin. It was what she’d planned with Grain.

“This is really nice, Gee,” Lola said as she sipped her margarita.

It was nice. At least she could count on her best friend to come through and make her a priority. Obviously, it was too much to ask of Grain. She would have preferred anger, rage, and hate over what she was currently feeling. Hurt had a way of digging inside the heart and festering.

Lola chuckled, and Regina glanced over. “What?”

“Nothing.” Lola shook her head and giggled again. Clearly, there was something.