The Seven Cities Saga (Book 0): Survival in the Seven Cities by Jay Brenham Page A

ordering a Smithwick's. That's when Eddie came up to their table. Eddie was an old mistake, a rough guy Gloria had dated a few years before. He’d had a hard life and, as a result he knew his way around a fight. The part that bothered Gloria most was that, deep inside, she liked a man who knew how to fight.
    Roger was an engineer. Not exactly the bar-brawl type. Gloria spotted Eddie from across the room and accidentally made eye contact. She quickly looked back down at the table.
    "Let's get out of here," she murmured.
    "We just got here,” Roger protested. “We haven't even ordered." "I just want to-"
    Roger followed her eyes and saw Eddie walking towards them. Roger gave Gloria a knowing glance and reached for his wallet as they stood up, but Eddie was too fast.
    "Hey, don't leave on account of me," Eddie said as he walked up to the table. Gloria was still sitting and he stared down at her. “I just wanted to say hi to Gloria.”
    "Hi Eddie," Gloria said, her eyes cast down.
    Roger had given her a puzzled look; he’d never seen this side of her before, deference to a man like Eddie, as if he had power over her. Even Gloria didn't know why. It was how she acted with men like Eddie, and Eddie knew some things about her past she would be embarrassed for Roger to know.
    Eddie was bold on your average day but tonight he was bolstered by liquid courage. Not drunk, but he’d had enough to loosen his tongue.
    "We were just leaving," Roger offered.
    "Your beers are full, you can't be leaving. And Gloria you didn't introduce me to your friend." Eddie grinned. She’d seen that grin before. Eddie turned to Roger with his hand extended. "The names Eddie."
    Roger didn't take Eddie's hand.
    Eddie squinted down at Roger. "What's your problem, man? I'm just trying to meet Gloria's new friend." Then, without skipping a beat, Eddie turned to Gloria. "You know I've missed you, Gloria."
    Gloria looked nervously at the ground. "Ummm, I don't know what to say Eddie."
    "You don't need to say anything. Why don't we go someplace together?"
    She didn’t look up. "Eddie, ummm, I don't think, ummm-"
    Roger cleared his throat. "I don't mean to speak for you, Gloria, but I don't think she wants you here, Eddie."
    "Then don't speak for her,” Eddie said. “Gloria knows what she wants and it sure as hell isn't some L.L.Bean model mother fucker." He turned back to Gloria. "Isn't that right, honey?"
    The memory of that night was just that and as Gloria walked toward Roger, the warm ocean breeze blowing on her face, she remembered how she’d felt at the pub. She’d been scared, not for herself, but for Roger. For God's sake, Roger was an engineer. And Eddie was right: he did look like an L.L.Bean model, the type of guy you might cozy up to with a good book and a yellow lab in Maine. He wasn't made for bar fights.
    Roger shook his head. "Eddie, please, we’re trying to have a nice evening. I'll get a couple of beers for you. Just let us enjoy the night."
    Oh shit, Gloria thought. If Roger wasn't at the point of no return with Eddie, he was now. Eddie would see Roger's attempt at defusing the situation as weakness and go on the offensive.
    "Oh I see what you're doing here, Richie Rich,” Eddie sneered. “You think you’re better than me? You think you can buy me with a beer?"
    Roger shrugged, seemingly blind to what was happening. "No, I was just hoping to have a nice evening with Gloria."
    Eddie tipped his head back and let out a fake laugh. "Oh, now I get it. You think you can flash your money and Gloria will be impressed."
    “I would love to meet some of Gloria's friends but I can tell that Gloria wants you to leave."
    The fight was inevitable. Gloria could read it in Eddie's posture.
    Gloria stood up to leave with Roger, but Eddie took a step toward her and grabbed her by the arm. "You think you know what Gloria wants, but I could tell you some stories about-"
    Roger shoved Eddie away from Gloria. Eddie released his grip on her bicep,