The day passed slowly, the sun dropping lower until the streets were washed in pale evening light. By the time Nikolai finished up and clocked out, the moon was already creeping into the sky.
He didn't head home. Instead, he turned toward the bar.
It wasn't a plan set in stone, but he needed information. The bar was where talk moved, men bragged, whispered, and let slip what they shouldn't.
If he wanted to learn about the local underworld and who really pulled strings here, it was a good place to start.
He adjusted his jacket, kept his head low, and set off down the street.
As he walked, Nikolai wondered if the man he owed money to had any real connection to the gang running this part of the city.
It seemed likely, no gang would let someone lend and collect debts so openly without some sort of protection.
Still, it was strange that after all this time owing, he had never once met the man himself.
He reached the bar and pushed the door open. The sound hit first, loud talk, bursts of laughter, the scrape of chairs. The air smelled of beer, sweat, and smoke.
Inside, most of the crowd was older men, a few middle-aged, and just a scattering of younger faces like his.
No one even looked his way when he stepped in. Nikolai walked straight to the counter.
A man was already leaning across it, talking too loud at the bartender, a brunette with her hair tied back in a clean ponytail that showed sharp, clear features.
"Come on, sweetheart," the man said, grin wide and sloppy. "Don't pretend you're busy. You're too pretty to be stuck behind a counter all night. Bet you'd look better on the back of my bike."
She gave him a flat look.
He smirked, pushing a little harder. "What? You shy? I can fix that. Just need a drink or two in you."
As soon as she noticed Nikolai step up, her expression shifted, quick, professional. "Sorry, I've got a customer," she said, brushing the man off with a short smile and turning toward Nikolai.
The man scowled for a second, then followed her gaze and saw Nikolai standing there.
He looked Nikolai up and down, smirked, and raised his beer in a lazy mock salute before turning away and heading to a table.
Nikolai slid onto a stool and gave the bartender a small grin. "Looks like I walked in just in time to save you from a tragic pickup line."
She let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "You have no idea. Some guys don't know when to stop."
"Seemed like he was about to propose marriage and a bar fight in the same sentence," Nikolai said dryly.
That got a real laugh out of her this time. "You're a new face here. What can I get you?"
"Whatever you recommend," Nikolai replied, relaxed. "Figured I'd finally check this place out."
She turned and started mixing a drink, quick and sure with her hands. When she came back and set the glass in front of him, she studied him a little closer.
"What made you stay away or decide to come now? I've got a bad memory for names, but I remember most faces that come in here."
"Curiosity, that's all."
"I see." She gave a small, amused smile and moved to serve another customer.
Nikolai turned on his stool and scanned the bar while sipping his drink. In one corner, a small group of men sat together, loud but not rowdy. Among them was the same guy who'd been leaning on the counter earlier.
The man was staring right at him now, a crooked smile on his face and a drink in hand. When he caught Nikolai's eye, he gave a small wave.
Nikolai looked away with a quiet chuckle. He could already tell the guy didn't like him, and from the way he stared, he was probably a little unhinged. Nikolai had always hated dealing with unpredictable, crazy people.
"Well, I've never seen any drink I've made make someone laugh alone," a voice said.
Nikolai looked up and saw the bartender had come back. He smiled faintly. "Well, I guess I'll be the first."
"I'm Brenda, by the way."
"Nikolai."
"So, Niko," she said, leaning slightly on the counter, "people usually come here to drown their emotions and run from their problems. You don't look depressed."
"I might just be good at hiding it," he replied with a small grin.
"I'm pretty sure you are. I'm good at reading people."
Nikolai had to admit, she wasn't wrong. Not that she could see through him, but she had an easy, natural way of talking that made people open up.
Bartenders like her were dangerous, friendly, chatty, and sharp. Drunk customers probably told her more than they should. And she clearly knew how to use her looks when needed.
But Nikolai was good with words, talented with his mouth in more ways than one.
He smiled. "Well, maybe I just heard there's a pretty bartender here and had to see for myself."
She gave him a quick look and stepped back a little, amused but guarded. "A few more drinks and you'll start to sound like Lewis."
"Lewis?"
"The drunk guy from earlier," she said with a small roll of her eyes.
"First-name basis, huh?" Nikolai teased lightly.
She laughed and made a face. "Never. Everyone just calls him Crazy Lew. It's better to let him be. But yeah, plenty of people here talk and flirt. Harmless, though. They don't do much."
Nikolai caught the hint in what she'd said. If this "Crazy Lew" was really that unhinged, he would have tried something long ago. Yet Brenda seemed relaxed, confident. Someone was probably keeping an eye on her.
Interesting.
He filed the thought away and smiled easily, keeping the conversation going, careful to stay light and casual while watching how much she gave away.
"How about another drink? For you too, of course," Nikolai said with a grin.
"Nice try," Brenda replied, shaking her head. "But I don't drink on the job."
"Well, my loss then. Make it two for me, I guess."
She laughed as she reached for a glass. "And you said you weren't here to drown anything."
Nikolai smirked and leaned back slightly, letting her words roll off while watching her work.