Evolution

CHAPTER 28 | once a bogan, always a bogan

📎A/N. I turned out that when I posted this chapter, it didn't actually publish. Whoops. Sorry about that. On the bright side... you get two in one day.

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"Bloody hell, that bogan is going to be the death of me." Joe took a deep breath and counted to ten.

Bradley and his mates were, once again, breaking everything in sight. Anyone would think they owned the place.

A large cheer went up from the crowd. Glasses smashed together in a toast, then shattered on impact.

Marie winced. "I just swept up the last mess."

Joe placed a hand on her shoulder. "Leave this to me." He reached for the broom that was now kept close at hand, behind the bar, and headed towards the bar flap.

When Michelle, the bounty hunter who had turned up a couple of nights ago, pulled away from the raucous group and headed towards the bar, he held back. While standing with Bradley and the others, the metal heavy sheila had joined in the festivities. However, the moment her back was to them, her expression dropped and turned stony.

He blinked and the expression was gone, replaced with a neutral one that he couldn't read. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Something is wrong with this picture. He placed the broom back where he'd retrieved it, reached for a glass, and waited for her. "What can I get for you, Luv?"

She slid onto one of the bar stools and let out a deep breath. "Coffee. And it better be fucking good and strong."

After pouring her a cup he slid it across the countertop. "I didn't take you for a groupie."

She scowled at him and her lips set into a thin line. "Watch your fucking mouth or I'll rearrange it for you."

He raised his hands. "I didn't mean anything by it. Just making conversation."

Michelle grunted at him and took a long gulp from her cup. When she finished, she pushed the cup towards him. "Fill it up, I think I'm going to need it."

Without saying anything further she reached for her phone and focused on the small screen.

Not wanting to aggravate the tiny dynamo any more than he already had, he wandered back to where he'd left the broom and stopped in his tracks when he noticed it wasn't resting on the back wall. Where the hell did it go?

He scanned the room and his eyes rested on Marie heading back towards him. Her hand clutched on the broom so tightly her fingers were white. Strewth. I said I'd do that.

Joe shrugged his shoulders. He'd learned not to argue with a pregnant woman. Without thinking anything of it, he served the next punter who came up for a refill. Some dodgy bloke from down south who heard Elise was going to lead them to the promised land and decided to make a beeline for the city of brotherly love to join her ever-growing army.

He'd hauled another tray of glasses out from behind the counter when he noticed Marie clutching on to her stomach with one hand, and the bar countertop with the other. The broom had been abandoned and now leaned against a stool.

Shit, it's the baby. She can't possibly be going into labor. It's still got ages to go yet.

"You okay? Is it the little one?" he asked as he rushed towards her, the counter still between them.

Marie shook her head. Her eyes, wide as Ayers rock, had transformed from shock to terror.

A cold chill ran up and down his spine. "What's the matter then?"