Me: Where?
West: That’s my brave girl.
Brave or horny was up for debate. Though I couldn’t deny that the idea of sneaking off with West, Langston somewhere in the shadows watching, and getting out of this situation all at once was too good to pass up.
West: Head down the hall toward the bathroom.
West: I’ll find you.
I wet my lips and peeked over my shoulder toward the hall that led to the bathrooms. Heart racing, breathing shallow, I tucked the phone back into my purse and set the heavy bag on my lap.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I murmured, shooting Finley an apologetic smile. “Be right back.”
“Juno.”
Standing by the chair, I gripped the back, knuckles going white with the nervous and excited energy coursing through me and blinked at Kale.
“Be careful. I know I brought Stew.” He ran a hand through his long, wavy hair. “I just want you to be safe, you know. I don’t think he’d hurt you or anything, but I just wanted to warn you, I guess. I feel responsible.”
I smiled at his concern. “I’ll be okay, Kale. I’m not going after him or leaving. Just headed to the bathroom.”
“It’s just, with everything going on…,” he said with a sigh. “And add in Jasper being murdered. We all need to stay on high alert everywhere around town, not just on the trail.” He turned his attention to Finley. “What were you saying about hearing that guy Hudson is calling someone he knows in the FBI?”
While Finley dove into that bit of gossip, I eased back a step, then another, before turning on my wedged heels. The short hem of my sweater dress brushed against my thighs with every quick step, the heels clicking on the polished floor. Slowing my pace, I sucked in a fortifying breath and cast a last look back at Finley and Kale only to stumble in surprise.
What the hell is Dax doing in my seat?
Paused, I debated what to do. Continue my crazy, exciting adventure to find West, or be a good friend, return to the table, and make sure she was okay?
Except I didn’t have to make the choice, because Finley made it for me. Standing so fast that her chair clattered to the floor behind her, she leaned over the table and dumped the full contents of her beer over Dax’s head.
And then stormed off.
Kale sat frozen while Dax said something I couldn’t hear despite the full restaurant going silent at the drama. Then he called Finley’s name and hurried the way she’d disappeared. Knowing she had her car here—we’d ridden together to meet the guys—I pulled out my phone and shot her a quick text to let her know I was good and that she could leave without me.
How did I know that?
Because West and the asshole were here, and they wouldn’t let anything happen to me. Langston was a jerk, but not cruel, never putting my safety at risk, and West wasn’t the type of guy to do all this as a prank or joke. And if I was with those two, I would be safe—from everything, not just the person haunting Anchor Bay.
My phone buzzed in my purse again. I pulled it out and opened the message.
West: Fin is okay. Dax overstepped tonight, but he’ll make sure she gets home safe.
West: Langston says Dax should’ve stuck to recon like him.
A soft snort escaped, and I tossed the phone back into my hobo bag. Hefting the heavy contents higher onto my shoulder, I moved down the hall, gaze flicking from side to side, searching for any sign of West.
With my pulse pounding in my ears, I worked to slow my shallow breathing with every step. I jumped, hand flying to my chest to keep my heart from leaping out of it, when the bathroom door swung open, casting bright fluorescent light into the dimly lit hall.
Hand in the middle of the heavy wooden door, Stew stood as still as a statue.
“Did you follow me?” he accused.
I stumbled back, the wall catching me before I fell on my ass. “What? No.”
His thick brows furrowed. “Then what are you doing? Are you really that desperate for attention? First, you have to ask for someone to take you out, and now you follow me?”
My jaw fell open and my brain froze, unable to come up with a response to his cruel words and condescending tone. Tears gathered in my lower lids as humiliation simmered inside me.
