"I'm good." I flash him my signature smile and allow him to open the door for me. "But I will take a rain check on dinner."
"Sure thing," he says with a wink. "See ya later, Cora-bora."
I chuckle. "Is that the best you could come up with?"
Magnus clutches his chest with his tattooed hand. "It's not my fault you hate every single nickname I come up with."
"Psh. Hate is such a strong word." I slip out of the diner and onto the sidewalk, calling over my shoulder. "Catch ya on the flip side, Magpie."
Magnus hangs out the door. "You'll be happy to know I googled what that meant and according to the internet, Magpie are highly intelligent creatures, so I'm going to take that as a compliment."
I raise my hand and wave at him without turning around. "Whatever you say, Magpie."
One of the things I love about June having four boyfriends is that I have a different relationship with each one of them. It's like I have four brothers, and I either pick on them, or they pick on me. Magnus is probably my favorite since he's the most easy-going, but that doesn't mean I like any of the others less. They all have their redeeming qualities, and because they keep June happy, they're winners in my book. Don't get me wrong, their relationship has had ups and downs, and that's coming from an outsider, but whatever dynamic it is that they're working with, it fits them well.
I never thought I was anything other than the monogamous type, but I'd be lying if I said what they have going on isn’t appealing. I love the idea of loyalty and commitment, only having it with a group of people instead of just one person seems fun and appealing. And more than likely totally out of reach for me.
I can barely find one person who is interested in me, let alone multiple—and then to get them to agree to share me...now that screams impossible.
But if June can get four of the most brutal men in this town on board with sharing and not killing each other, who’s to say I couldn't figure it out too?
Maybe if I weren't destined to some disgusting loan shark I could explore the possibilities of making it happen.
The second I step onto the next block and out of range from Bram's Diner, my shoulders slump and the act I was putting on dissipates. The smile, the one that hurts my cheeks, fades, and the doom and gloom cloud that was once hanging over my head returns. I feel the comfort of Alec's arms around me and June's presence fading with each step I take away from them.
I swallow harshly and put my own arms around my body, rubbing my biceps and walking aimlessly in the direction of my parent's house. A place I don't want to be. A place that no longer feels like home. A place that isn't safe.
Nowhere is safe. Not home. Not Bram's. Not my own mind.
I'm trapped in my thoughts so much that I don't even notice the man who viciously latches onto my arm and drags me off the main street and into the alleyway. I trip over my feet and fall onto my hands, scuffing the skin in the process.
"For fuck’s sake," the guy spits out and grabs me again, yanking me up and farther into the dark alley.
Tears well in my eyes as they adjust to the dimness. I guess this is it. The clock has finally run out.
So much for going to that fucking baseball game.
"Well, well, well," Ricardo says from his spot leaning against the brick wall of the building we're beside.
A chill creeps over me, and I'm not sure if it's from him or the coolness of this dark and dreary space.
"Let her go," Ricardo tells the brute who's manhandling me like he has the slightest sense of consideration for how I'm treated.It’s all a part of his act, though. He doesn’t care about me.
The man complies yet remains within a step of me as if he's waiting for me to run away from him at any moment.
I rub at the spot he had touched and wince a little. It's going to turn into a bruise tomorrow. Does that matter though? Now that my time is up.
"I'm pleased to see you haven't tried to evade me, yet." Ricardo rubs at his beard, and even in the darkness I can feel his stare trail my frame.
"You told me you'd kill everyone I loved," I blurt out.
Ricardo laughs and I do everything I can not to let it startle me. "I did, didn't I?"
I do something bold, something I'm not even sure I'm aware of until my feet move on their own and step toward him. "Can I have a word alone?" I glance behind me at the man who ripped me off the street.
"Hmm." I can't quite tell if Ricardo is entertaining my request or simply entertaining himself.
After what feels like a small eternity, he dips his head toward the man. "Check her first."
