Her sigh was heavy. “I’m going to be watching them. Shit, I have a customer at the counter. Come get me or Roger if you need us.”
“I’ll be fine.” Like hell I would. I finished preparing the Cokes, trying to steady the tray as I headed toward them.
While they didn’t bother me when I placed the glasses in front of them, one took a deep whiff, even sucking on his lips. I simply gave him a nasty look laced with another smile.
“What do you do for fun, Valentina?” the leader asked.
“Sadly, I’m too busy making a living to have any fun.”
“What a shame. A beautiful woman such as yourself.”
I couldn’t figure out if he was trying to tell me that I’d lose my beauty or that he and his buddies had plans on sparking my love life. Either way, my skin continued to crawl.
“Just a working girl who prefers living a simple life of following the rules and laws of the land.”
There went my mouth again, but as my mother used to tell me, give them an inch and they’ll want the whole ruler. Not this girl.
“Good to know.” Mr. Scar Face finally opened his mouth.
When I turned around, I noticed a single man sitting at the counter. The connection was immediate and so electrified I was thrown by his presence. Whereas he’d appeared comfortable in his home and in his skin the night before, now Hudson appeared ready to face anything that came his way.
With dark jeans and a white shirt, a thinner suit jacket than I’d seen him in before and even wearing boots instead of shoes, he could blend in easily at any club around town. The man was hot.
However, he wasn’t trying to make a fashion statement. He was simply trying to blend in. While he acted as if he wasn’t paying attention to what was happening behind him, my instinct told me he was hanging on to every word and every nod of their heads.
Hudson didn’t try to call me over, nor did he even look in my direction. He was simply here to ensure I was protected. While I tried to ignore him, it became impossible. With a rag in my hand, I shifted closer, pretending I didn’t know him.
Meanwhile, the assholes were happily chatting amongst themselves. “What are you doing here?”
Hudson casually took a few sips of his coffee before answering. “I thought I told you to wait at the house.”
“And I thought I told you that I needed to work.” He remained quiet and I realized that my tone had been too harsh. “I’m fine. Someone was sick and there was no one else to come in.”
He lifted his gaze, turning just enough on his stool that he could catch a glimpse of the men at the table. “Do you realize who is sitting in your section?”
“I have a fairly good idea.”
“Do you understand what those four assholes are trying to do?”
Huffing, I threw the guys a quick look. “Intimidate me.”
“Maybe I wasn’t clear or maybe the attorney wasn’t clear as to their methods. While I’m not trying to terrify you, Valentina, I am trying to force you to realize that you should be very frightened of them.”
“They haven’t done anything except be jerks.”
He took a deep breath. “And they won’t while you’re inside this diner. They will follow you after you leave, eventually forcing you off the road. At that point, both you and your car will disappear with no sign of any disturbance. The only reason Jacob Jones was caught a year ago was because he shifted away from his method of operation. In other words, he got careless. I assure you that won’t happen again.”
“What am I supposed to do at this point?”
“You’re going to do exactly what I say. Word for word. Do you understand me?”
It wasn’t as much the words he’d used or the tone. It was the lack of emotion in his voice that was freaking me out. Enough so, I was perspiring more than before. “Okay. Whatever you say.”
“You’re going to deliver their food. I assume there’s a way out the back of the diner?”
“Yes.” I continued cleaning the counter then turned around on purpose fiddling with the coffee machine.
“Once delivered, you’re going to slip out and leave and you’re going to get your daughter and return to my home. You’re going to write down the address of where Bella is being watched because I’m going to have someone shadow you while you pick her up. Under this napkin is a key. You know the code to the house. Do not go anywhere else. Tell whoever is locking up that as soon as our friends walk out that door they should go into lockdown.”
