Carrying the drink to the counter, she handed it to the man waiting.
“Thanks.” Rock took the drink, giving her a smile.
“You’re welcome.” He always stopped by at the end of each night to give her a ride home. Jane appreciated him offering. She had hated to call Killyama when he was already here, so she had accepted the rides. “I won’t be much longer.”
“Take your time. I’ll sit at a table until you’re ready.”
“Okay.” Jane gave him a smile as he moved away.
“Jane, can you box up the rest of the chicken?” Corra, the manager, asked.
“Sure.” Jane turned her back to the counter and started boxing up the fried chicken that hadn’t been sold.
Corra let the workers take home what they wanted, and Jane could now say she was sick of her favorite meal. She couldn’t choke down another piece of chicken if someone put a gun to her head.
She was almost done when she heard the bell ring over the door.
“Hold off on boxing the chicken. We may need to drop some more.” Jane turned around at Corra’s order, seeing the mass of large bikers entering the restaurant.
“Call the cops and tell them to do a swing by,” Corra muttered under her breath.
“It’s okay. I know them.” Jane’s words didn’t take the frown off her manager’s face.
Dozer was the first in line to place his order, but Jane’s attention was on Cade who stepped to the counter in front of her.
“We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.” Jane ignored him, going to stand beside Corra.
Looking at the screen, she began filling Dozer’s order. She boxed his chicken and sides, placing them on a tray to hand to Corra. She continued to avoid Cade who was standing grimly in place when she went to fix Dozer’s soda. Her hand shook as she snapped on the lid. Carrying it carefully, she placed it down on the counter, afraid she would make a fool of herself and drop it. Cade merely stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited while she filled the orders.
The small restaurant was practically filled with the bikers. Jane was sure no other customers could come inside with the parking lot filled with motorcycles.
She went back and forth behind the counter, noticing that Corra was becoming more agitated with Cade watching her.
“Will you go away?” Jane hissed at him.
“No.”
“Jane,” Corra called to her as Jane shot Cade a nasty look. “You can go ahead and leave. Jake and I can finish up.”
“But I have fifteen more minutes.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll clock you out. Just go.”
Jane could tell she was better off not arguing. She went to the back and grabbed her purse before returning to the front. Stepping out from behind the counter, her path was blocked by Cade as he took her arm.
“Let me go,” Jane protested.
“We’re going to talk.”
“Let her go.” Rock came to her side.
“Back off, Rock. Jane has something she needs to tell me.”
Jane went white at his words. He had found out. One of her big mouthed friends must have told him about the miscarriage.
“I did have something to tell you, but now I don’t. I don’t know why you’re upset, anyway. It’s not like it would have mattered to you. You’re too busy getting laid and riding that bike around town with the brothers.”
Cade flinched at her words.
“It matters. It was my baby, too.”
“Not anymore,” Jane choked out.
Rock placed his arm around Jane, and she leaned against him for support, suddenly feeling dizzy.
“Take me home, Rock.”
“Brother, I’m giving you a warning. Take your arm off her, or we’re going to have a problem.”
“The only problem I see is a man who wants something back he threw away.” Rock didn’t take his arm away as he moved Jane so she was on his other side, farther away from Cade.
“I didn’t throw shit away. I screwed up.”
“What’s the fucking difference?”
“This is a talk me and Jane need to be having, not you and me, Rock.”
“Do you want to talk to him?” Rock questioned Jane.
“No.” Jane only wanted to get out of there and go to bed. She was exhausted. She needed to get some sleep before she had to be back at work at the hospital at six a.m.
“That settles it. Move, Cade,” Rock ordered.
“Make me.”
“Cade, stop it. I’m tired—” Jane began.
“Are you always going to hide behind someone, Jane? When are you…?”
Jane felt his words fade out as the room began spinning. The last thing she heard was Cade’s shout.
* * *
Jane moved her head on the pillow, staring at the man lying next to her. She was in her bedroom at Crazy Bitch’s apartment, having no idea how she had gotten there.
“Good, you’re awake.” Cade sat up on the bed, staring down at her.
“What happened?”
“You passed out.”
“I did?”
“Yes. Thank God Killyama came in when she did. She got the gel out of your purse. Why didn’t you tell me you’re hypoglycemic? Why didn’t I notice in Mexico?”