My body straightens. “What friends are those?” I ask, legitimately curious who he could be referring to. I don’t have many friends except…
Oh.
“Your biker friends. It doesn’t set a good image for my diner.”
It takes every strength in me not to roll my eyes. “They’re paying customers.”
“I will not have gang members in my restaurant, Danika.” He stands, making his way around the desk, and places himself between it and the chair I’m currently sitting in. The urge to get away claws at my skin.
“Someone was shot and murdered outside your diner. I don’t think a biker club peacefully enjoying a meal should be an issue.”
Rage flashes across his face, and the same tight expression hardens as he crouches down to my level, inches away. His grimy hand lands on my panty hose cladded thigh.
I freeze and my mind instantly returns to that place—the place I never want to go back to.
“I don’t want them at my diner. Do I need to repeat myself?”
Disgust swirls in my stomach and a sour taste rises in my throat. The scent of too much aftershave invades my nostrils from him leaning over me.
The bell above the door jingles letting me know that both Thomas and Lydia had just left. It’s only me and him now. Alone. Just like before. The body hovering above me, forcing his way inside. I clamp my eyes shut, hoping to magically poof out of this room.
His hand moves higher, now under my uniform skirt.
Tell him to stop, Danika. Tell him no.
“Stop,” I grind out, my breath feeling trapped.
A cocky grin appears on his face. But it’s not my boss snarling down at me, it’shim.The monster who calls me,little rabbit.No. I won’t be a victim again. I amnota victim.
“I said. Don’t touch me.” Pride swirls beneath my skin and despite the current circumstance, I want to smile with confidence for defending myself.
Eric drops his vile smirk and scowls as if he thought I’d let him touch me. “We’re not done here. And if you tell a soul, I will make you regret it.”
I shoot up from my seat, practically knocking him down on the way, and race for the door, shutting it behind me. It was a record time being able to gather my things and clock out, getting the hell out of there. The embarrassment and rage lighting up inside me is too much.
When will it end?
The door to the outside storms open as I palm it with my hand and Lydia steps out from the side. “Shit. Are you okay?”
Her presence surprises me. “You waited for me?” I ask in relief.
“Well, duh. Eric’s a major creep. I wasn’t about to leave you by yourself. Nothing happened, did it? Thomas said he’d turn back around and kick his ass if we needed him to.”
There’s a noise between a snort and chuckle leaving me. But I’m not going to tell her what really happened. “I’m okay. Let’s go.” I have two options. Go to the club and let the burn of alcohol numb me all the way through. Or wallow in pain alone in my apartment and shut down. I’m tired of shutting down. Being numb is way better for forgetting. Forget about tonight, forget about the warehouse where he used my body repeatedly.
I’ve chosen my poison, and I don’t give a fuck anymore.
Hush
We take the stairs up to the VIP lounge where a guy named Alexander waits for us. He’s the owner of this club, and speaking to us directly has been his mission for a while now. With me as the enforcer, Chain sent me and Bullet. But as I climb the stairs the only image swirling my thoughts is Danika. I was a fucking dick to her. When I think about her, the voice haunting me is quiet and that’s scarier than anything I’ve been feeling lately. But I couldn’t look at her this morning, couldn’t talk to her without thinking of Gracie and it’s not fair to either of them.
I laugh at myself.
Wasn’t fair to Gracie? I’m a delusional prick.
It’s better if I distance myself from Danika. But distancing myself from her and making sure she gets home safe every nightare two different things. Which is why my hand flexes at the thought of being here and not at the diner.
Back to the reason we’re here, Alexander and whoever his group of men are, didn’t come out and say it, but we believe they could have been the ones to end Grizzly’s life. Though that’s none of our business, we don’t get involved in having that kind of information at our disposal. Getting into business with these types of men wouldn’t be smart, it’d be endless manipulation deals. Chain knows that but we’re going to feel them out, see what makes them tick. Just in case we ever need them on our side. Friends in all the right places.
