Wyatt glanced back atLilou. For a second I was afraid he was going to tell meno. “Can you call Killian? Or text him. Tell him what’s going on and that I’mgoing to help you for the rest of the night. I left my cell in the kitchen.”
I nodded, afraid that if I spoke, Iwould crack.
Derrek’s eyes narrowed on Wyatt andthen me while I unlocked the door with shaky fingers and let Wyatt in. “Thankyou,” I whispered when he stepped inside. As soon as he closed it, I reachedpast him to lock it.
“That guy is bothering you?” heasked in a low voice.
“Yes. He won’t leave.”
“You text Killian. I’ll deal withhim.”
Sending a quick message to Killianthat explained I needed Wyatt’s help for a few minutes, I whispered a silentprayer of thanks that he’d intervened when he had. Derrek wouldn’t havelistened to me. He would have stuck around until I gave in. Or called the cops.
I hovered in the corner of thebrightly lit truck, wishing I could hide. Wyatt stepped up to the window,blocking Derrek from my sight. He was every inch of intimidating, huge male.Derrek might not have been intimidated, but he was forced to step back whenWyatt shoved the upper half of his body through the order window.
“Sir, you’re going to have to leave.This window is for paying customers only.”
“I have been trying to ordersomething,” Derrek insisted. “I just needed to talk to Vera first. So, if you’dmove out of the way—”
“Nope. Not an option. She has theright to refuse service to anyone, and unfortunately, she doesn’t like yourface. You’re going to have to leave, or I’m going to call the cops and have youescorted from the premises.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I can and I will.”
Derrek’s voice turned to stone. “Doyou know who I am? Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?” He must havenoticed Wyatt’s chef’s coat because he changed his tone from arrogant accoladesto vicious threats. “You’re finished in this industry. Done. From now on you’llbe lucky to get a job bussing tables.”
“Is there a problem?” I couldn’t seehim, but I heard him. Killian.
“This guy won’t leave,” Wyattexplained.
Now I wanted to throw myself on theground and curl into a ball. I didn’t need Killian involved. Or witnessing myhumiliation. Wasn’t he needed in his own damn kitchen?
“This guy is Derrek Hanover,”Killian growled. “What are you doing here, Derrek? Why are you harassing a foodtruck three hours from your kitchen?”
“You’d be wise to stay out of mybusiness, Quinn,” Derrek warned.
Oh, God, they knew each other. Couldthis night get any worse?
“Not going to happen,” Killiancountered. “So, unless you want the cops called and this headline splashed allover every blog on the internet, I suggest you leave now.”
“You wouldn’t—”
“Have you forgotten who I work for?One tweet from Ezra and your shit is viral. Do you really want to push me?”
A heavy silence followed Killian’sthreat. Eventually, Derrek gave into the threat of public humiliation. At leastfor tonight. “I’ll talk to you later, Vera,” Derrek shouted at me. “This isn’tover.”
I couldn’t see him, but he must haveleft, because Wyatt eventually stepped back. He stood in the middle of mygalley, arms crossed over his chest like the bouncers that stood outside ofGreenlight and Verve.
“Thank you,” I told him. My voicehad yet to recover, but a tiny bit of the panic had receded.
Killian’s face appeared in thewindow. “How quickly can you close up?”
It took me several moments before Icould answer him. I wanted to leave everything and lock the doors tonight. TBDif I would ever return. But I couldn’t do that. Food was everywhere. I hadfryers to turn off and messes to clean up.
“An hour. I can come back for mostof it in the morning.”
Killian’s glare swung to his souschef. “Wyatt, help her shut it down.” To me he said, “I’ll be back in thirtyminutes to take you home.”
