“Hewhat?” Monty growled.
I dropped my head back and groaned.
“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him.”
I faced him. “No, you’re not. I’m good. It’s for the best.”
He grunted and turned back toward the stove.
“Monty, promise me you’re gonna leave this alone.”
He slammed the metal spatula against the grill but didn’t answer me. I sighed and focused back on Dusty who looked ready to burst with rage.
“No,” I said. “People break up all the time. It’s not the end of the world.”
She scowled, grabbing a bowl, and slamming it onto the counter. “No good, son of a bitch. If he were standing in front of me, I’d put his nuts in the blender.”
“Just his nuts?” I retorted, then added, “Don’t answer that.”
“He better never show his face here again, baby girl, or I swear to god, I will cut his dick off and shove it down his throat.”
“Okay, Dusty, take it down a notch,” I said. “He’s entitled to his feelings. If he doesn’t want to be with me, he doesn’t have to be.”
“He’s a goddamned fucking idiot,” Monty said.
“Amen to that,” Dusty responded.
“Yo!” a male voice called from the back door. “Anyone here? I was told to report at seven.”
Dusty walked that way, then I heard, “Oh, hell, no. You walk your ass out that door and tell Scooby we don’t need assholes like you anywhere near this diner.”
I rushed over to the commotion and saw one of the recruits I’d met last night with his hands raised in surrender. “Hey, Rowan. I’m Healy. I met you last night, remember? I’m here to help.”
I shook my head. “We don’t need it. You can go home. And please tell Scooby not to send any more people, okay?”
“The order didn’t come from Scooby,” Healy said. “It came from Rocky.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from screaming. “I don’t care if it came from the pope. Please leave and don’t come back.”
He frowned. “Ah, yeah, I can’t do that. Rocky’ll have my patch.”
“I’ll fuckin’ have your ass if you don’t do what the lady asks,” Monty threatened from behind me.
Healy glanced up at Monty and shook his head. “No offense, man, but Rocky’s a hell of a lot scarier than you.”
I groaned. “Healy, you really don’t know Monty well enough to make that statement, so if you could please go and let Rocky know I said I don’t need you, I’d appreciate it.”
He met my eyes. “I’ll do that, Rowan, but I’m pretty sure he’s not gonna like it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dusty hissed. “Get the fuck out of this diner, you little turd bucket!”
“Did you just call me a turd bucket, ma’am?”
“Did you just call me ma’am, turd bucket?” Dusty hissed, pulling back her arm like she was fixing to hit him.
“Okay, that’s enough,” I said. “This is private property, Healy, so if you don’t leave, I’ll be forced to call the police.”
“Jesus,” he hissed. “Fine. I’ll leave, but I’m warning you, Rocky’s probably gonna show up.”