Christ. Please.
Let me get Hailey back. I can’t go on like this for much longer. I need her.
Please.
Chapter 25
HAILEY
I’ve been thinking non-stop about what MJ told me, and I think I made a horrible mistake.
In my defense, I was traumatized, and learning who Carson really was, came as one hell of a shock.
But now…
I focused on the word ‘assassin.’ I reacted to what I was told. But… if what MJ said is the truth, and Carson is a vigilante, then it makes a hell of a difference.
Deep in thought, I clear the plates from a table and carry them to the kitchen. Walking back into the dining area, it's quiet, and I take a seat across from MJ.
“Only an hour then you get to go home,” she says, her eyes scanning the pavement outside the restaurant.
“Do you ever relax?” I ask as I wiggle my toes in my shoes because my feet are killing me after the rush we just had.
She glances at me before scanning outside again. “I’m relaxed.”
I let out a chuckle. “If you say so. What are we having for dinner?”
“Anything you’re in the mood for.”
“Pizza?” I ask.
“Sounds good. Just no olives. I can’t stand them.”
A guy walks in, and I get up from the chair. Heading to the counter, I grab a menu and take it to him. “Hi, would you like to drink anything?”
He grins up at me. “A coke.”
“I’ll be right back with your drink.”
While I get a can of coke from the fridge, my thoughts return to Carson. I’m nervous about seeing him again. I have no idea how the conversation’s going to go. I also want to know more about Dimpo and how he helped her.
I place the can on a tray, along with a glass and straw, then carry it to the customer’s table. Once I’ve set the beverage down in front of him, I ask, “Have you decided on what to eat?”
“A steak, well done.”
I write it down. “Any side dishes?”
“Potato wedges.”
“Coming right up.” I head to the kitchen and hand them the order.
My eyes glance over all the tables, and I wonder why it’s so quiet all of a sudden. Usually, there’s a steady flow of customers.
“Waitress,” the guy calls me. When I reach him, he says, “Want to go out with me?”
Huh?
Not expecting the question, my brain does a double-take. “Ah… no thanks.”
“Come on, one cup of coffee,” he tries harder.
I shake my head. “I’m really not interested.”
I walk to MJ’s table and take out my notepad, so the guy thinks I’m taking an order from her. “Not awkward at all,” I mutter to her.
“While you’re pretending, can I have a bottle of water?”
I grin at her. “Coming right up, ma’am.”
MJ chuckles, and then her eyes go to the guy, and she watches him like a hawk.
We’ve become such good friends I keep forgetting she’s actually here for my protection. That guy is twice her size, though. I hope he doesn’t look for trouble. I don’t want MJ to get hurt.
The rest of my shift goes by at a snail’s pace, and when MJ and I finally get to leave, the guy who asked me on a date is waiting outside.
“One coffee,” he says, giving me a pleading look.
MJ steps partially in front of me. “She said no.”
The guy narrows his eyes at her. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
“You are now,” she says, her features tightening with warning.
I take hold of her hand and tug at her. “Let’s go.”
As we walk by the guy, he grabs hold of MJ’s arm, yanking her to a stop. “You should learn to mind your own fucking business,” he growls at her.
Slowly, MJ turns her face to his. “You have three seconds to let go of me.”
“Or what?”
Her left arm darts out, and she throat punches the shit out of him. Gagging, he drops to his knees.
Holy crap.
My eyes are wide on my friend slash badass bodyguard.
“I warned you.” MJ grabs hold of me and shoves me forward. “Go. Quicker.”
We’re walking so fast I’m out of breath by the time we reach our apartment building.
“You didn’t have to punch him,” I say, taking a moment to rest before climbing the stairs to our floor.
“That will teach him to not grab hold of women,” she mutters, a deep frown between her eyebrows. “Besides, it didn’t look like he was going to take no for an answer.”
“Also true,” I agree. When we reach the second floor, I stop. “We forgot the pizza.”
“Shit,” MJ mutters.
We both let out a groan, and turning around, we head back down the stairs.
The moment we step outside our building, the guy from the restaurant lunges at MJ, taking a swing at her.
My hands fly up to cover my mouth as I let out a startled shriek.
MJ leans back, avoiding the blow, and then all hell breaks loose. She attacks, moving so fast, he doesn’t stand a chance as she punches him twice before finishing him with an uppercut.