She's avoiding me.Won't look in my direction, won't come to my end of the bar.Just stays busy with other customers, moving with tight, controlled efficiency.
And I let her.I don't try to catch her eye.Don't call her over.I just exist in the space, keeping her in sight but giving distance.
Protecting her without pushing.
An hour passes.The pub fills up slightly with the Saturday lunch crowd.Enya's busy, pulling pints, taking orders, keeping her head down.
Then the door opens.
A man walks in.Thirties, maybe.Grimy jacket, twitchy hands, and eyes that scan the room too quickly.Something about him sets off alarm bells immediately.
He moves to the bar.Not my end, the middle, where Enya's working.
And he stares at her.
Not a normal stare.Not a customer waiting to be served.But a focused, intent stare that makes my whole body go tense.
Enya notices.I can see the way her shoulders hitch, the way her movements become more stilted.She approaches him cautiously.
"What can I get you?"
"Just water."His voice is rough.Too rough.And he's still staring at her like he knows her.
Like he's looking for something.
Enya pours the water with shaking hands and sets it in front of him."Anything else?"
"No.Just water."
He doesn't drink it.Just sits there, watching her.
Every instinct I have is screaming.This fucker isn't here for water.He's here for her.
I shift in my seat, making my presence known.Making sure he sees the patch on my jacket, the way I'm watching him.
His eyes flick to me.Hold for a second.Then he looks away, downs the water in one go, and stands.
"Thanks," he mutters to Enya.
Then he's gone.Out the door like he was never there.
But the damage is done.Enya's white as a sheet, hands trembling as she grips the bar.
And I know, I fucking know, that man was connected to whatever's scaring her.
The rest of the afternoon drags.Enya never looks at me once.Just keeps working, mechanical and tense.
When her shift ends, she grabs her jacket and leaves without a word to anyone.
I wait two minutes then follow.
Same routine as yesterday.Stay far back, keep her in sight, watch for anyone else tailing her.
And there, across the street, leaning against a wall: a man watching her walk past.
He doesn't follow.Just watches.Then, when he sees me, he ducks into an alley and disappears.
My fists clench.Someone's definitely watching her.Multiple people.
