The restaurant had stilled.
‘Ten seconds,’ Sierra said. And when Silas made no attempt to move, she started counting, ‘Nine. Eight. Seven—’
Silas flushed red. His fists clenched at his side. He stepped into Sierra’s space until he was close enough that his rancid breath wafted over her face, making her eyes water. ‘You’re nothing but a whore. My boy is only with you because he likes living the high life,’ he said, his spit flecking onto her face.
Sierra only laughed. Of all the things he could have said to make her feel small, undermining Benji’s love wasn’t one that would work. ‘You don’t know your own son at all.’
Silas raised his hands as if to push her, but Carlyle was faster. He gripped the back of Silas’s neck with one hand, said, ‘And, we’re done.’
Silas thrashed, trying to break out of the younger, stronger man’s steel grip. And in his rage and drunken stupor, he didn’t realize how close Sierra stood.
The back of his hand connected with her face.
Sierra’s head whipped back.
She stumbled.
A collective gasp rang through the restaurant. Several chairs scraped backwards as numerous people in the room prepared to intercede now that things had escalated.
But Carlyle only squeezed Silas’s neck, said, ‘Out we go,’ as he started propelling the drunk towards the door. ‘You can wait outside with the other animals until the cops arrive.’
Sierra sighed. She’d wanted to avoid the police. Not for Silas. He could rot for all she cared. But for Benji, who didn’t deserve the humiliation. And, still, she knew that too many people had witnessed the scene for Silas to walk without consequences. Her guests needed to feel safe.
She placed the call, but because she had grown up with Sheriff Gaffrey’s daughter, Jade, she called him directly and explained what had happened.
He said he was on his way, and as soon as she hung up, one of her event planners, Deb, ran towards her, her eyes filled with concern. ‘Sierra, are you okay?’
‘Yeah. It was an accident.’
‘Maybe, but we both know he would have done it on purpose if he’d had a chance.’
‘It’s over now.’
Deb stepped closer, her eyes scanning the red mark on Sierra’s face. ‘I’ll get you some ice.’ She moved behind the bar to fetch some and tied it in a towel.
Sierra turned to face the restaurant. ‘I’m so sorry for the disruption, folks,’ she said, making sure to keep her voice calm. ‘It won’t happen again.’
Slowly, people started eating again, the only sound the scrape of cutlery on plates and whispered gossiping.
Sierra took the ice from Deb because her face did ache. And then she stepped outside to wait for the cops.
Silas, perhaps finally realizing that he was outmanned and in a heap of shit, slumped against the hitching post outside. He glared at her as she held the ice against her face, but when he spoke, he grumbled, ‘Never meant to hit you.’
Sierra slowly lowered the ice as her temper rose. She met his eyes, looked straight into his soul when she replied, ‘Is that what you said to Benji all those times you used your fists on him?’
Silas didn’t even deny it. ‘Boy needed discipline. Spare the rod, spoil the child.’
‘Keep your scriptures, old man,’ Sierra spat. ‘You’ll need them when I press assault charges.’
Silas paled. ‘It was an accident!’
‘Looked like a backhanded slap to me,’ Carlyle drawled.
‘Lies!’ Silas practically yelled. But when the police cruiser drove up moments later, his panic started leaking through his rage. ‘I’ll leave,’ he promised as the car rolled to a stop. ‘I won’t come back.’ He glanced anxiously behind him.
Sierra stepped closer, and this time it washerwho invadedhisspace. ‘This is the last time you show up on my property,’ she said, her tone cold enough to kill a forest fire. ‘The last time you contact Benji unless he purposefully reaches out to you. Do you understand me?’
‘Yes.’
