The Alpha Protection Program

Chapter Two

Charley's Bar: Midnight

Officer Levi had left finger marks from where his grip was too tight on her wrist. Was she supposed to tell someone? The bouncer was currently hauling out a middle aged man trying to pick a fight, and she decided her small incident wasn't worth it. He probably didn't realize how tight his grip had been.

Sophie busied herself with other tables, too afraid to ask another waitress to deliver his food even after he had been so rude. He requested her specifically, and she had to follow Charley's orders. She needed this job, and honestly didn't want to cause any trouble or draw anymore attention to herself than at all necessary. Sophie was cursed with giving everyone the benefit of the doubt; maybe he truly had a bad day.

Liz ended up delivering the food to Officer Levi's table when Sophie was stuck cleaning up a few broken glass bottles from one of her tables. Crouching on the floor a few feet away, snippets from their conversation were caught when the roar of the bar dulled on occasion.

"I didn't mean for this to get out of hand," Liz snapped.

"It isn't in your hands now... did the right thing... You won't have to worry about it anymore."

"I was never worried, she can't harm a fly. What if the test was wrong?"

"You're defending a dog?" His chuckle was as cold as his words.

"She's human too... hasn't done anything wrong."

"Yet. Fucking yet. You don't even know what they're capable of," his voice lowered, and Sophie found herself inching a bit closer to hold onto his words, unintentionally curiosity making her feel sick, even if he was talking to Liz. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your mouth shut. You understand?"

Liz never responded. She walked back behind the bar and act like the conversation and threats never happened. Sophie wiped her shaking hands on her apron and stood up- how could Liz not be bothered by the way Officer Levi talked? He had threatened her.

Granted, Sophie had no idea what they were talking about and it obviously was not her business, but Liz had been nice to her since the day she began training when the other waitresses ignored her, so to a certain degree, she felt she should attempt to comfort her only acquaintance.

When the couple from earlier emerged out of the women's bathroom a few minutes later, Sophie tried to shake away whatever nerves were eating away at her and the bartender by telling Liz about the exhibitionists. Liz laughed and laughed at the bright red blush on Sophie's face, grinning genuinely at the younger girl. "You're a real sweetheart, Soph."

"I just never thought people actually did that," Sophie giggled, glancing back at B5 only to find the Officer Levi glaring at her. Liz followed her gaze pityingly, as if trying to console her.

"How do you think I got this one in my stomach?"

Liz had one of those boisterous laughs that could carry above everyone's conversations and tickle someone even if something wasn't really funny. The remainder of the hour passed on without incident.

When Sophie braced herself for other scary encounters with Officer Levi to offer refills or leave the bill, he merely ignored her, having returned to either texting intently or playing with his phone to avoid interaction with her. Thankfully, the fight on television had drawn to a close and bar was in an uproar over the close as the patrons made their way outside or were calling cabs. It was already 2AM by the time she finished her closing side-work, running by booth B5 one last time to pick up the final bill and tip so she could finally clock out.

She really should have known there would be no tip.

Sophie was drained physically and mentally, her feet feeling like lead weights and her back aching in places she'd never thought possible. At least he paid?