My tension level went down and I went to go grab some freshly-made guacamole to go with the tacos.See? It’s all about projecting an air of confidence.I could handle myself in this neighborhood just fine.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later,my cart was loaded up with snacks and drinks and stuff to make a late dinner when the girls got home. It cost me $30 that hadn’t been in my tight budget, but that was okay. I wanted Bailey and Lily to have a good time.
The hatchback to the Honda was open and I was quickly putting the bags in when that same guy from inside the store stepped out from behind the van that was parked next to me. He was holding the beer, but it was almost empty.
“You ready to party, blondie?”
My stomach lurched in fear. The parking lot was basically empty and there wasn’t anyone around to help me.
“Leave me alone.” I quickly reached up to grab the hatchback so I could get the hell out of there.
“What’s the matter, blondie? You don’t like Mexican food?” He laughed at his own joke and held up the beer bottle. “I saved you a drink.”
My hands were shaking as I grabbed my keys. I’d seen a video where you could punch someone in the eyes with keys that were wedged between your fingers. I just wanted to get in my car and leave, honestly.
My free hand reached out to grab the car door and he slammed me up against the car, facing away from him.
His hot breath was on my ear and I could feel him pressing against my back, pinning me against the car. “You’re being rude, blondie. Don’t be a bitch.”
My mouth went dry with fear. Was he going to rape me right here in the parking lot? “Please let me go.” I didn’t like how scared I sounded.
He grabbed me by the waist and pumped his pelvis into my rear end a few times, like a dog dry humping a pant leg. He took one hand and grabbed my throat so hard I thought I was going to choke.
“Trust me, Blondie. You’d be begging me not to let you go. But I ain’t playing like that.” He let me go, staggered back a few feet, laughing and looking at me.
My whole body was shaking as I pulled open the car door and climbed inside, locking it behind me. I could see him still standing there, just laughing and drinking beer.
“It’s your loss, Blondie. You go and tell all your rich bitch friends that you had some prime Mexican meat and you threw it away.” He then went back into the shadows as I started my car.
I was hyperventilating and crying by the time I pulled out onto Berry avenue. I didn’t want to pull over. I just wanted to get home.
Twenty-Five
Ryder
I opened the door to the floor section of the convention center just as MCR were coming onstage. Because of that, the whole place was sheer madness. Everyone was standing and screaming and holding up phones. The room was dark, except for laser lights flashing. The sights and sounds were intense.
There was no way I’d be able to find Lily and Bailey in this chaos. They did have assigned seats, but every single person in the venue was out of their seat. It was a security nightmare.
I retreated back into the relative quiet of the hallway. I figured I’d try and contact them another way, so I pulled out my phone.
Having fun? Text me and show me how great your view is!
Unfortunately, the reception here was terrible and there was a red check next to the message that told me that the message didn’t go through. I’d have to go outside and retry it, but for now I was just going to have to trust that Lily and Bailey were fine, that they’d made it here okay.
Time to get back out and find Padre to see what was going on. Even though everything seemed to be going smoothly, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen. I didn’t know what, and I didn’t know with whom. But my spidey sense was up.
* * *
The air smelledlike burning rubber when I stepped outside the doors of the convention center. “What’s up?” I asked Swole as I passed her checkpoint.
“That fire is still burning by the waterfront and half of the LPPD are out there. It’s a good thing we’re here, because as of the moment, there’s not enough cops if something did go wrong here.”
“That’s the thing that concerns me, Swole. I can’t help but wonder if the explosion and fire were some kind of diversion for something else that’s about to happen.”
She nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”
