Pax

 

Pax switched his shifts around so that he was always at the bar when Jessica was, so that Gary couldn’t come by and make her feel uncomfortable without having to deal with the consequences. About a week went by with no incidents. Just regular drunks getting too inebriated, here and there, but most of the time it was a peaceful job, if a bit boring.

 

Unfortunately, it got a lot more interesting a week later.

 

Pax was standing by the door, checking IDs and making sure nobody was already too drunk to go in and give the Gorge their business, when a guy that he recognized from pictures around Jessica’s apartment appeared. Gary. Pax straightened up in the doorway, stretching up to his full height and squaring his shoulders like he used to do when he was preparing himself to walk into battle.

 

There were three or four Nightwalkers behind Gary. At least, Pax assumed that was who they were, looking all menacing in tight leather jackets as they approached the Gorge. But Pax wasn’t worried. They were all pretty shrimpy-looking, except Gary. If things turned ugly, Pax could handle it, especially if the other bouncer waiting inside got involved.

 

Gary finally walked up to the door, holding his ID out for Pax to talk. “Hey, there, haven’t seen you around town. You new here?”

 

“Yep,” Pax said tersely, not even pretending to check the ID held out in front him. “Listen, guys, I’m afraid we’re at capacity tonight. You should head out, find somewhere else to drink.”

 

Something flickered over Gary’s face, some mixture of surprise and anger that went away as quickly as it appeared. “Aw, that’s a shame,” Gary said, shrugging sheepishly in the vague direction of his friends. “Well, what do you say we just wait outside here for people to come out? I got to imagine some drunk bitches will stumble out of here soon enough, am I right?”

 

“It’s bar policy,” Pax said, shaking his head, “to let women in ahead of men. Good for business. You understand.”

 

Gary clicked his teeth a little impatiently, his eyebrow furrowing up even as he tried to keep the rest of his face calm and placid. “Well, look, I know you must get this a lot, but how much will it take to let me into the club? $10? $20? $50? Come on, name it. I really want to enjoy the atmosphere, you know.”

 

Pax offered a tight, apologetic smile that must have looked as insincere as it felt. “No, sorry, no can do. Why don’t you try to come back another night, maybe? We’re awfully busy around here, though. Maybe another bar is more your speed.”

 

Gary maintained eye contact with Pax, his eyes narrowing a little as they stared into each other’s pupils. Out of the corner of Pax’s eye, he could tell that Gary’s hands had balled up into fists, and he felt his body go tense as he anticipated the first blow.

 

But the next second, Gary seemed to relax, all of the air seeping out of his body like a popped balloon. “Well, hey, actually I’m not really here for the nightlife, to be honest with you. I’d like to talk to the owner, you know, about business opportunities. I’m always looking to partner up with ambitious young entrepreneurs. Why don’t you go on and get him, huh? Just let him know it’s Gary, the guy he spoke with last week.” He smiled broadly, almost looking like an animal about to pounce on its competition.

 

Pax considered his options for a long moment, staring at Gary before lifting his gaze up to look at the vaguely menacing-looking meatheads that he had lined up behind him, obviously ready for a rumble. Pax had no doubt that if he turned into the building to go get Tom, one of these slimy motherfuckers would be tempted to hit him in the back of his head when he wasn’t looking. Pax just had an intuition about this sort of thing, an ability to see the impulses and thoughts of other people, whether he wanted to or not.

 

“You can wait outside,” Pax finally said, pointing to the other side of the building. “There, so you don’t get in the way of other people on their way out.”

 

Gary looked like he was going to resist for a second, opening his mouth to retort to Pax, but then finally he just nodded and gestured for the other Nightwalkers to follow him. Pax supposed that Gary must have calculated his odds, or at the very least decided that the costs of fighting Pax weren’t worth it at this moment in time. As soon as Gary and his pathetic crew went over to the other side of the building, away from the door, Pax reached into his pocket for his phone, quickly texting Tom about the situation.

 

Within two minutes, Tom came out, looking up at Pax worriedly before gesturing for Gary and the Nightwalkers to head in his direction, a few yards away from the front door of the bar. Pax stepped forward, just in case things got dicey and Tom needed any help.

 

“What can I do for you tonight, guys?” Tom said, blowing into his fists to warm up his hands, which were otherwise unprotected against the cold outside air.

 

“Well, I was wondering if you gave any thought to what we discussed last time,” Gary said, rocking back on his heels like he was utterly comfortable, as relaxed as could be talking down to Tom.

 

“I haven’t,” Tom said, shaking his head and blowing out his breath. He looked as calm as could be expected, really, under the circumstances, but Pax could tell that he was on edge. “I haven’t had to think about it anymore because my answer is the same. It’s not going to change. I don’t need a business partner right now. Sorry.”

 

“Hmm,” Gary said, clicking his tongue. “That’s really unfortunate.”

 

“Uh…” Tom said, appearing to lose his composure a little bit at Gary’s strange response.

 

“It’s just such a shame, Tom,” Gary said, shaking his head as if he felt genuine disappointment. “It’s just so unfortunate because I really thought this place had potential, you know? I really thought it could be something.”

 

Tom said nothing, staying still as Gary began to pace a little back and forth in front of him.

 

“See, it’s in a great location. That’s the best part about it. You really snapped up a treasure here, Tommy Boy. It’d be such a shame if something were to happen, you know, to such a fine establishment.”

 

Tom turned to look back at Pax for a moment, his eyes narrowing with realization, like he only now recognized what a scumbag Gary was, what a threat he posed to the Gorge. “And what are you suggesting is going to happen to the Gorge?” Tom asked, clearly fighting to keep his voice steady as he spoke.

 

Gary shrugged, smiling a little crookedly as he stared at Tom. “There’s an awful lot of MCs in the tristate area, you know. Lot of competing forces at play here, Tom. You wouldn’t want to get into the crossfire. Believe me.”

 

“I’m not getting into any crossfire,” Tom said, shaking his head, straightening his shoulders up as he attempted to stand up to Gary. “The Gorge is neutral, and it’s going to stay that way, okay? That means it’s an MC-free zone. No clubs are welcome to come here. Including the Nightwalkers.”

 

“Mm, I see,” Gary said, smirking meanly as he nodded his head, narrowing his eyes at Tom until they were just slits on his face. “You’re an idiot. See, I didn’t know that before. Now that I’m aware of it, I can change tactics. Thank you for helping me see the light, Tom.”

 

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Tom said, but his voice came out a bit higher and squeakier than he probably intended.

 

“This town is protected by the Nightwalkers. Has been for decades. We’ve poured our blood, sweat, and tears into the soil here, and that makes this place our home. No other MCs are going to cross into this town, and you’re definitely not smart enough to keep it from happening on your own. If we can’t protect this place, we’ll burn it to the ground. With or without you standing outside with us.” Gary shrugged again, a superficially friendly expression crossing his face as he walked a bit closer to Tom, until barely a foot separated their bodies. “You just think about it a little more, huh? Maybe a week? Maybe two? Think it over. Really consider if you want to keep this place or not. Then let me know. You’ll know where to find me.”

 

He turned and started heading across the road, but just as Tom turned back around, looking up at Pax with unmasked terror on his face, Gary turned around and yelled something in his direction. “Hey, say hi to Jessica for me, will you? I know she’s working tonight. She’s my girl, you know.” Then he broke into a run, dashing toward his bike before he roared off into the cold night, his buddies in tow.

 

Pax watched as Tom’s expression changed, anger replacing the worry that was written across it seconds before. His jaw set and his hands clenched into fists as he marched past Pax, shoving his way back into the bar. Pax didn’t know what he was about to do, but he had enough sense to follow him. The door could watch itself for right now.

 

“Jessica!” Tom shouted as soon as he entered the main room of the bar. “Jessica, my office! Now!”

 

Various bar customers looked up from their drinks, some of them looking scared and concerned, while others grinned at the display of workplace drama right in front of them. Pax watched as Jessica visibly swallowed, putting down the rag she was using to wipe down the bar counters before she walked around the bar to follow Tom back towards his office.

 

Pax followed them without saying anything, barely slipping into the room right before the door slammed shut behind Tom, who must have noticed that Pax came with him but chose not to address it right now. He was clearly more concerned with shouting in Jessica’s face, blaming her for what had just happened. But at first, he simply spoke calmly and softly, deceptively hiding the rage that simmered beneath the surface.

 

“So, it’s you. It’s all you,” Tom murmured barely audibly, his eyes glued to the floor of his own office, while Jessica looked at him with wide, worried, confused eyes.

 

“Sir, I’m not sure I understand,” Jessica started to say, stuttering a little over the words.

 

“The Nightwalkers!” Tom shouted without warning, his voice booming so loud in the office that the customers outside in the main room of the bar could probably hear his words. “The fucking motorcycle club you brought here! You dropped this bullshit on my doorstep! Now I have to deal with this like I’m in the middle of a goddamned gang war.”

 

“I’m—I’m sorry,” Jessica stuttered out, her voice sounding weirdly clogged, like she was fighting back tears. “I didn’t know this would happen. Really, honestly, I had no idea!”

 

“Well, save it,” Tom spat at her. “All you’ve brought me is trouble since you first came here.” He paused, staring at her, maybe feeling a little hesitation as she appeared to crumble before him. “I’m sorry, Jessica. But can’t you see I only have one option here? What else can you expect me to do?”

 

Jessica nodded slowly, seeming to accept her fate as the light dimmed in her eyes, her fingers visibly trembling as they moved to her waist, attempting to remove the apron that she wore as a part of her uniform.

 

“Wait. Tom, wait,” Pax said, stepping in between them and encouraging Jessica to go stand against the wall and collect herself. “Now, look. Think about what you’re doing here.”

 

“I have,” Tom said defensively. “This place has been doing great. Everything would be perfect if we didn’t have that stupid biker gang breathing down our necks. She brought them here. Maybe they’ll go away if she leaves.”

 

“Think about what you’re saying, Tom!” Pax protested, reaching forward to grab Tom by the shoulders. He saw his boss flinch a little, like he was expecting Pax to hurt him, but he was careful not to squeeze him too tightly or threaten him in any way. In any other situation, Pax would have been tempted to use his considerable physical strength to get what he wanted, but for some reason he cared too deeply about this job to ever jeopardize it like that. “Listen to me. First of all, it’s not Jessica’s fault. Eventually, Gary and his stupid band of cronies would have heard about this place. They would have heard that it was doing well, no matter who your fucking bartender is. They would have come sniffing around here sooner or later, and then you’d be in the same situation that you’re in now, juggling everything between different MCs, hoping none of them get the drop on you.”

 

Tom narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything, probably overcome by the logic of Pax’s argument. So Pax pressed onward, moving to his second point.

 

“And, anyway, even if that weren’t true, what is firing Jessica going to accomplish for you now? Really, think about that. What is it going to do for you? You think Gary’s just going to step off now, leave you alone? Fuck no! This place makes money, and more importantly it’d be a sign to the other MCs in the area that they’re top dog. There’s no way they’re just going to disappear now, even if you kick Jessica out onto the street.”

 

“So what the fuck am I supposed to do, then?” Tom yelled, his face going red as he stared at Pax expectantly.

 

“Show them they’re not the fucking boss of you,” Pax said, the words coming to him seconds before they left his mouth. He didn’t know that he thought all this, but as soon as he said it he realized that it was the truth. It was what he believed. Fighting for the Gorge. “Show them that you’re not scared of them. That you’re not going to be bullied and pushed around by a bunch of losers on some motorcycles. Can you do that? Can you do it, Tom? Can you stand up for what’s rightfully fucking yours?”

 

Tom bit his lip, looking from Pax over to Jessica, who stood still and silent over by the door. “You could have told me about them, you know,” Tom said to Jessica. “You could have warned me, back when you interviewed for the job. I didn’t know there were fucking MCs in this town.”

 

Jessica sighed deeply and nodded. “I know. I should have said something. I’m sorry. You don’t deserve to get involved in this mess. I can… I can just go…” She began to head for the door, but Pax stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, firmly tugging at her until she backed up, away from the doorway.

 

“No,” Pax said. “You’re not going to fucking quit, either. Can’t you see what’s happening? They’re intimidating the two of you. They want you to feel this way. They want you to roll over and do whatever they want. Aren’t you fucking sick of it, being bossed around, told what to do by someone who shouldn’t have any authority over you at all? Aren’t you sick of it?”

 

Tom and Jessica looked at each other, crossing their arms and shrugging as if they were sharing the same thought. It was like they knew Pax was right, but they were unwilling to concede to his terms just yet.

 

Pax kept going anyway. “If you fire Jessica now, or if you quit or whatever, they win! He wins! He gets what he wants out of you, because all he wants right now is to terrify you. That’s how fucking weak and pathetic he is, that he depends on scaring other people to feel stronger. Don’t you want to fuck with him? Come on, guys. We can do this!” Pax had no idea where the enthusiasm he felt was coming from, but he was certain that he hadn’t felt this passionate about anything in years, not since he signed up for the Army as a young adult.

 

Tom finally sighed and nodded, walking around his desk and pulling out an aged bottle of whiskey, pouring out shots for all of them. “You’re right. Fine. I admit it.” Pax would have felt smug if Tom didn’t still seem so defeated. “You can stay on, Jessica. As long as there’s a Gorge, at the very least.”

 

“Thank you,” Jessica murmured softly, stepping forward to take one of the shots off Tom’s desk and downing it in a few seconds. “Jesus, I needed that.”

 

Pax leaned down to take his as well. “We can fight this, Tom.”

 

“How?” Tom said blankly, finishing his shot and going ahead to pour himself a second one, then a third, all in a row, grimacing a little at the taste as he downed them in quick succession. “How can we fight this? One way or another, I’m losing the Gorge, right? Either they’re going to burn it down or they’re going to take it over. I don’t want my bar to be a front for a fucking gang. Is that too much to ask?”

 

Pax wasn’t sure what to say. He now felt more invigorated than ever, committed to this new workplace as if he’d sworn an oath to protect it. But despite his confidence that they could put up a fight, that there was still a chance they could protect the place from the Nightwalkers, he didn’t have a plan yet. At all. There was nothing he could really say to placate Tom’s fears or to reassure him that they weren’t going to be controlled by the toughest MC in town.

 

For now, he just nodded at Jessica to follow him back out into the main room of the bar. “Take the rest of the night off, Tom,” Pax said, clapping Tom on the shoulder as reassuringly as he could. “We’ll see you this weekend, okay?”

 

Pax and Jessica walked back out to the bar, where most of the customers had already left. There were a few stragglers still drinking, chatting up the other bartender on duty tonight, but they just settled into a dark corner to talk. “Do you really believe what you said in there?” Jessica whispered under her breath.

 

“I do,” Pax said, feeling himself blush a little bit as he admitted the truth. “But we got to come up with something. Tom’s right. If we don’t act soon, we’re totally fucked. They’re going to take over the bar and then…”

 

“The whole town,” Jessica concluded for him, cupping her forehead in her hands and closing her eyes, exhaustion written all over her worn-out face.

 

“Yeah,” Pax said. His fingers itched to reach out and touch her, to work the tension she was feeling out of her muscles and bones. But for some reason he still felt hesitant to touch her like that in public. It wasn’t like he was embarrassed, exactly, about other people knowing. After all, given how loud they were the first time they fucked, most of the people who worked here, at the very least, had to have some idea, along with the alcoholic regulars who stopped by every day. But Pax was keenly aware that he was in danger of crossing into new territory with Jessica. He was already calling her “baby” and “my good girl” in bed, like he’d already lost his goddamn mind. It was ridiculous. And scary. And pathetic, so pathetic that he was letting those words spill out of his mouth even when all of the blood in his body had abandoned his brain in favor of his cock. He couldn’t afford to show affection in other ways, lest Jessica get the wrong idea about the two of them.

 

It’s not serious, Pax told himself as Jessica looked up at him with wide, concerned eyes, eyes that just begged him to reach down and take care of her. It’s not serious. It’s just a casual thing. We’re just fucking. We’re just fooling around. We’re friends who mess around with each other. That’s all it is. Really.

 

But he still had to bite down hard on his tongue to avoid asking Jessica to come sleep at his place again. He would hold off for tonight, deny himself what he wanted, just to keep both of them safe.

 

After all, someone like Jessica deserved better. She could do better than a car crash walking around pretending to be a person. That’s all Pax was, underneath it all.