“Okay, darlin’, whatever you say.” He grins at me and I get in my car. I roll my window down because he’s still standing there, waiting for me to leave.
“Thanks. You can leave now. I’ll be safe and sound in ten minutes,” I stubbornly tell him so he will stop staring at me like that.
“If you ever need anything you tell Darla and I’ll be there. You understand?” he says, and I’m a little taken aback by his possessive tone, but it’s also turning me on a bit.
“I can take care of myself, thanks though.” I start to drive away and as I look into my rear-view mirror, his eyes follow me into the night.
The next day I start my shift early. Darla had asked me to help out for the breakfast rush and I can’t afford to say no to the money. Another waitress, Maliaca, is working one half of the diner while I tend to the other half. We work well together. I have yet to meet the other two waitresses, but I’m sure I will soon. The morning goes by fast and it’s already noon. My feet and back hurt because I’m not used to this work, but I push through it. I probably slept three hours last night. All I could think about was Jared’s piercing green eyes and the way they studied my every move.
Every time the door rings I look to see if it’s him, and when it's not I’m oddly disappointed.
“Honey, thank you for your help. You saved me once again,” Darla praises, and it feels good to be needed for once.
“Anytime, Darla. I could really use the money,” I admit softly, and she grabs my hand gently to sit at a corner booth.
“You will eat something now. You are withering away in front of my eyes.” I give her another timid smile because honestly I have curves in all the right places, and yes maybe I have lost a little weight since moving here, but I can tell Darla is just wanting to feed me and watch me relax a bit.
“Okay,” I say, and she smiles big and orders food for me.
“Now I don’t mean to pry, but are you all right, honey? Is everything okay at home?” My heart thuds in my chest. My mother’s voice rings through my thoughts. I can’t get close to anyone for fear of them coming after me and after anyone who associates with me.
“I’m okay. I live with my mother and she’s wonderful.”
“Your father?” she queries.
“My father is no longer in the picture.” I shake my head and look out the window. Tears fill my eyes because, as much as my father did get us into this mess, I did love him. He was a good dad for the most part. Suddenly I picture his cold dead body on the ground and my hands start to shake. I instinctively place them in my lap.
“I’m so sorry. Just know that Mama Darla is here if you ever need anything,” she coos, and gets up to leave me with my thoughts. A lone tear escapes my eye, and I’m really trying to hold it together.
The door chimes just as my food arrives, but I don’t look this time. My eyes stay glued to the pile of food in front of me. I honestly haven’t had a meal like this in what seems like forever.
My first bite of the warm fluffy pancake makes me groan.
“Oh, how I would love to be that pancake right now,” a deep voice rumbles, and I know it’s Jared. I swallow and look up at his face.
He changes his expression from playful to serious when he sees my appearance.
“What’s wrong?” he asks quickly, like he’ll kill anyone who made me upset.
“Nothing,” I rush. “I’m just tired is all. I haven’t been sleeping good lately, and this is the first good meal I’ve had in a while.” I don’t know why I’m telling him this but he seems to take in what I’m saying.
He sits across from me as I eat.
“Are you going to watch me eat this entire meal?” I quirk one brow up to challenge his response.
“I’m going to make sure you eat every last bite, then order you more.” I cover my mouth with a laugh.
“I couldn’t possibly eat anymore, Jared, but thank you. Darla is wonderful, she really is. She has been so kind to me,” I tellhim, feeling extremely grateful having met her and her sexy nephew.
He then slides a card over to me. It reads ‘Vipers Motorcycle Club’.
“If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to go there,” he tells me in all seriousness.
I will never go there, but I nod and place the card in my pocket. I go to pull out some money for my food and he raises his hand.
“Your money is no good here.” When he says that I start to get pissed. Slapping a ten-dollar bill on the table, I get up fast. His eyes follow my every move.
“My money is good here. I pay my own way, Casanova.” I give him a glare and he gives me a grin. Rolling my eyes I leave him at the booth, grabbing a hold of my locket and repeating the words ingrained in my brain. “‘Beating as one,’” I whisper. Hope fills my chest when I think of someone genuinely caring about me, and then the feeling is squashed when I picture Luca’s menacing face and how he used me for his own personal toy. Men are pigs, I’ve seen what they do to women. I watched Luca and his friends and how they were.