Blurred Lines

Chapter 20 - A Front Row Seat

The club had just closed, the dim lights casting long shadows over the now-empty dance floor as Riley wiped down the last few glasses at the bar. The music had died down to a dull hum, and most of the patrons had stumbled out into the night. The dancers had gone home, leaving Riley alone in the club. Well, almost alone. Lisa, one of the other bartenders, was still with her, stacking glasses on the back shelf.

The bar was eerily quiet as Riley wiped down the counter, lost in thought. She hadn't seen Luke around the club in over a week, but she found herself constantly on edge, like he might walk through the door at any second.

"Are you good with that, Riley?" Lisa asked, yawning as she stretched. "I'm ready to head out."

"Yeah, just about done," Riley muttered, wiping down the bar one last time.

Before they could leave, though, a loud crash erupted from the back room, followed by the unmistakable sound of angry voices. Riley and Lisa exchanged glances, their bodies freezing in place. Riley's heart rate spiked, but she forced herself to keep calm. They had both heard plenty of fights break out at the club, but this one had an edge to it that felt more dangerous.

The door to the back room suddenly slammed open, and two men stormed into the main area. One of them had a gun drawn, pointing it at the other man. Riley's eyes darted to the man with the weapon—he was tall, built like a tank, and had a jagged scar running down the side of his face. The man being threatened was smaller, more wiry, but his expression was one of defiance. Her face paled as she recognized the man with the scar- he'd been the one threatening the hostages when her and Luke first responded to a disturbance here all those months ago.

"What the hell?" Lisa whispered, panic in her voice.

"Shh!" Riley hissed, grabbing Lisa's arm and yanking her down behind the bar with her. They crouched low, hearts pounding in unison as the argument between the men intensified. Riley kept an eye on the situation in the mirror behind the bar.

"Where the hell are the guns, Vito?!" Scarface snarled, his voice filled with rage. "You think you can play me? You're dead wrong." He kicked the man in the ribs.

Just then, another set of footsteps entered the bar. The third man approached the guy laying on the ground. "This guy give you anything yet?" He asked casually.

As his voice reached Riley's ears, and her heart stopped.

Luke.

She froze, straining to hear more. The man she'd barely seen in two months, the man who'd kissed her before leaving for his deep cover mission, was suddenly here, in the middle of this mess. She couldn't believe it.

Scarface's voice cut through the tension. "Finally, you're here. My arm is tired. Remind our friend here how important those guns were."

Riley's stomach churned as she realized what Scarface was asking Luke to do. She could barely breathe as she heard Luke hesitate for a second before the sound of fists hitting flesh filled the air. The thought of him having to hurt someone to keep up his cover made her heart ache, but she knew he had no choice. He had to stay undercover.

Luke grabbed the man by his collar, sneering, and dragged him to sit in a chair before punching him again. Each blow was followed by the man's cries of despair as he begged for Luke to stop.

After a few tense moments, Scarface paused, his voice eerily calm. "Stop. What's that sound? You hear that?"

Riley's blood went cold as she realized what he was talking about. They weren't as hidden as they thought.

"Behind the bar," Scarface said, his voice growing darker. "Ladies, why don't you come out and join us?"

Riley swallowed hard. Her mind raced, but there was no way to escape now. She slowly rose to her feet, Lisa right beside her, trembling. Riley steeled herself, trying to put on a mask of calm, but when her eyes locked with Luke's, she saw the flicker of panic in his expression. He recognized her instantly, and she saw how tightly his jaw clenched.