Yeah, actually, I’m finding that I really do. “I do, indeed. Be safe on your way home.”
He pulls his coat on, then gives me a little wave as he walks out.
I grab the mop bucket and drop a tablet in the bottom, then turn the water on, leaning against the wall while I wait for it to fill up.
When it’s done, I pick it up and step back into the dining area. I’m halfway through mopping when the door dings behind me. A smile blooms across my face. “You’re early. I wasn’t expecting you for another few minutes.”
“You were expecting me? Isn’t that sweet.”
Ice fills my veins, freezing me where I stand, mop clenched in my hand, body tense. I close my eyes for a second, then two, before opening them and turning around. “What are you doing here?”
Damien raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow, his lips twisted into a scowl. “I think the real question, love, is what areyoudoing here?”
Panic tries to take over as I stare into his icy blue eyes, but I won’t let it. I’ve trained for this. I can fight him off. I can protect myself. Besides, Austin is coming. “I work here.”
He laughs—cold and cruel. How the fuck did I ever think this man loved me? “I know that, love. Did you think you could hide from me?”
I swallow hard. “I’m not hiding.”
Damien takes a step toward me, and my pulse hammers in my throat as I resist the urge to step back.
Be aware of your surroundings. Be loud. Take up space.
Jasper’s words echo in my head as Damien takes another step, then another. With each one he takes, my heart beats harder and faster. He’s close. Too close.
“Back up.” The words are meek even to my own ears.
Damien ignores me, taking another step in my direction. He’snot close enough to grab me, but he’s getting there. “Back the fuck up!”
This time I shout the words, and for a split second, he pauses. The sickening smile that spreads across his face has dread coursing through my veins. “Austin really fucked up all my training, huh? That’s okay, love. I can beat it back into you.”
Austin. Austin is coming.
“How did you find me?” I just need to keep him talking. Keep him distracted long enough for Austin to show up.
He laughs. It’s bitter and terrifying. “I’ve known where you are the entire time, Luca. I had your phone tapped. How do you think I knew you were talking to Austin? It was pure luck you didn’t delete those messages. I wouldn’t have had proof otherwise.”
My throat convulses. If he’s known I’ve been here from the start, then… “Were you in the woods?”
He turns his nose up, sneering at me. “You think I’m going to hang around in some hillbilly’s woods to track you down? No. I have other means.”
“The man who was here asking questions,” I say. Not a question. A statement.
His lips curl into a sickeningly sweet smile. “He’s been watching out for you. A favor from an old friend.”
My stomach sours. He’s been watching me the whole time? Why did he wait until now to confront me? Why didn’t he do something sooner?
Damien takes a step toward me while I’m distracted. I open my mouth to scream again, but before I can, he’s in my space.
He’s too close. Too fucking close.
Sweep his leg. Sweep his fucking leg, Luca.
My body doesn’t listen. It freezes instead. But only for a second.My fingers tighten on the mop handle, and my muscles coil and bunch as I swing it through the air. It hits Damien in the face with a sickening crack that makes his head snap to the side, and my stomach damn near revolts.
I swallow back a gag, eyes widening when he slowly turns to look at me. He’s bleeding. There’s a trail of blood dripping from his nose onto his lip.
Oh God. Oh fuck. I made him bleed.
