Loving the enemy

Chapter 16

2 years in the future

"Max! Table 13 is still waiting on their orders!" the red faced chef shouts from the kitchen.

"I'm on it, Sebastian! Jesus!" I yell back, making my way over to the obese, sweating bald man to take the plates of food from his hands. He rolls his eyes mockingly at me as he goes back to his frypan, fire shooting up briefly into the air, heating the food well.

I turn and quickly escape from the ruckus of the kitchen, putting on a smile as I walk quickly over to table 13.

"About time." An elderly woman grumbles as I start dishing everyone their plates.

"I'm sorry for the wait, a round of drinks is on the house." I turn around and quickly vanish back into the kitchen.

"What did that lady say? She's a feisty one, here every Saturday night." Sebastian says splashing sauces into the pan.

"She was just mad about the wait. Damn, why are we so busy tonight?" I say starting to pour drinks.

"We are the only sleazy club open twenty four hours." He says with a hearty laugh "are you starting to think twice about weekend shifts?"

"I don't have a choice." I say moving the glasses onto trays and swiping up the alcohol that dropped onto the bench. "I need the money." Sebastian nods, wiping his sweaty brow with a cloth. I go back into the bar, handing peoples drinks. I smile at the bartender as I walk past him, Zeke has been a good friend to me since I came into the city. He offered me a job and helped me get on my feet, I owe him for that. He nods at me hello, before serving a pretty lady who strolls up to the counter.

"Hey gorgeous." a man slurs drunkenly from behind me. I spin around as a hand gropes me from behind. I am tempted to beat the shit out of him, I know I'm capable of it. Sadly, that act would cost me my job.

"Don't you know it's not polite to touch a lady without her consent." I snap, glaring at him. He backs down a lil bit, hands raised in mock defeat.

"I guess I'm in the wrong kind of bar then." he says before vanishing back into the crowds.

Sebastian can tell I'm bothered as soon as I enter the kitchen.

"What's up doll?"

"I'm sick of being groped in this damn place."

"Same." he says, and I can't help but laugh. "Being flawless is such a burden."

"Oh shut your trap, old man." I say playfully. He laughs to himself, thinking he is funniest man on the universe.

•••••••

It's about four in the morning when people clear out, we've stop serving alcohol at about midnight, so most people head home to continue the party there. All the other staff have left. Zekes gone home, his role of bartender no longer needed and I convinced Sebastian to leave, his night shift replacement should be showing up soon and I can handle things until then. The other staff don't socialise much with me, our roles in this place not needing to clash. There are four, waiters, one for each end of the building, two bouncers for each corner, the people who work the bar, two daytime chefs including Sebastian one nighttime chef. Who I'm currently waiting on.

I tiredly wipe the tables clean. Why do people have to make a mess? I'm just about to leave into the kitchen when the door to the building swings open.

"About time," I say "starting to think you'd never show up."

"You were expecting me?" says a voice which doesn't belong to the chef. I turn around to see a different man wearing large dark sunglasses. Embarrassment swamps over me and I flush.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were someone else." I clear my throat awkwardly "what can I get you?"

"Just a glass of water, thank you." I slightly scrunch up my brow in confusion. Who walks into a bar for a glass of water?

"Okay, I'll get that now. Feel free to take a seat." I pour him a drink and bring it to him, he is sitting down in a seat looking at me with a small smile. I pass him the glass. "Anything else?"

"I'd like you to sit with me." I am slightly taken aback, nobody's ever requested that before. I try to think of a response but he continues speaking. "Unless of course your busy with all the other customers." he gestures his arm around the empty bar and I laugh.

"Okay, why not." I sit across from him.

"So, what's your name?" he asks.

"Can't you see the name tag?" I say with a small smile. He swallows and lets out a shaky laugh.

"Max?"

"That's me." He pauses for a moment, staring at my face. "What?" I say nervously. After a long awkward pause he speaks.

"God, I haven't seen you in forever." He says almost silently.

"Do I know you?" He takes of his glasses, looking up at me with the broken red eyes I spent hours staring into that night in the forest.

"Hope you haven't forgotten me that easily." My heart lurches up in my chest.

"Dan," I say almost breathless "how did you find me?"

"We didn't stop looking. Shane sent out huge search parties through the forest. It took him just over a year to consider looking in the cities."

"Do they want to kill me?" Dan shakes his head.

"Some of the pack did at first, but Shane convinced them otherwise. He still loves you, Max. He wouldn't stop, he made sure you knew that. You didn't have to run." I look down at the table, focusing on a small dent in the wood.

"I don't want him to look at me every day and remember his dead father. That's not fair."

"Max-" I cut him off.

"You cannot tell him you've found me here. Not ever."

"I have to."

"If you want what's best for him you won't say a word."

"It's about Able." My gaze shoots up to him at the mention of my little brother. I've been having really vivid nightmares about him these last few weeks, memories of when the cabinet crushed him.

"What about him?" I say, my voice sounding panicked.

"He remembers now. He's killing our people. He attacked Shane." I move my hand to my mouth, shaking slightly.

"He can't, he will get killed." Dan shakes his head.

"Not one of our people have been able to hurt him, he's too strong, too quick." Dan runs a hand through his hair with a shaky sigh. "He's looking for you, Max. He is carving your name in the dirt by their bodies."

"What do you expect me to do? It was hard enough to control him, let alone now he's a murderer." I feel like I'm about to cry, I tried so hard to protect him from having to do that. All that effort for nothing. "I can't talk to Shane, I couldn't bear to see the hurt in his face." Dan places his hand on top of mine, comforting me.

"Max, he loves you. What is it going to take for you to understand that?"

"What would you know about love." I say, regretting the words as soon as they leave my mouth. Without even flinching he responds.

"I loved my sister more than life." His tone isn't angry or offended like I had expected it to be. Its solemn, almost matter-of-fact. "You put her out of her misery, and I am thankful you didn't leave her to hurt."

"Dan, I-" I go to apologise but he cuts me off.

"Max. You need to talk to Shane. He's a wreak without you. I won't tell him where you are if that's what you really want, but I won't tell him I looked here. He will be searching through these buildings tomorrow night. Have time to collect yourself." He stands up and places a kiss on my forehead. "Do the right thing, for everyone's sake."

Then, just as quickly as he arrived he vanishes into the night.