Page 100 of Fragile

Having come to the end of my shift, Susie appeared and demanded to take over waiting at their table. Something about amazing tips. I didn’t fight her. The way the man kept glancing over at me gave me goosebumps.

He looked rough and dangerous and very much like some type of gangster.

As I changed out of my uniform in the staffroom I recalled the girl Ava’s words, something about me being OK and that only makes it harder.

Makes what harder?

The next couple of hours went by quickly considering the place was dead and Felice said I could leave early due to it not being busy.

Changing out of my uniform, I pulled on black skinny jeans with rips in and a tight pink tank top, I then pushed my feet into my signature ballet flats and collected my phone and rain jacket.

After checking for messages, I smiled as I read one from Gabriel. A lion.

I scrunched my nose, that was random. Sorry? I texted.

Your last note. Ah yes, my note asking him what animal he would be.

Any particular reason why? I responded.

King of the fucking jungle baby.

Well, that doesn’t surprise me. I suppose I’d have to say a kitten for myself?

Spot on, kitten. Gabriel texted with a smiling emoji and the question; I’m cooking for us tonight. I need to talk to you. What time are you home?

I thumbed in my reply. On my way.

He then sent me a kissing emoji which so wasn’t like him. It made me smile. I was pleased he’d said he wanted to speak with me. I had things to say myself.

Yes, we were good together as friends but I wanted more than that. Waking up in my own bed had felt so wrong after having such a great night together at Max’s party. My body craved Gabriel and I could no longer hide from it. I wouldn’t allow him to either.

I just hoped to hell that whatever he had to tell me was good news.

After I said goodbye to everyone, I left the restaurant and headed towards the bus stop. The breeze was cool and the sky overcast, suggesting it might rain and I was pleased I had my coat.

I smiled as I walked, realising that Gabriel hated my rain jacket, threatening to bin it and buy me another one, but the coat held memories for me. I’d bought it from a charity shop when I’d had nothing. Now I was working and building up my own pot of money. My finances were not and never would be in the Knight League, but who cared? Money had nothing to do with my feelings for Gabriel.

I’d left the restaurant via the rear staff entrance which led out onto a back street where the rubbish bins were. Deliveries were also made there and the road was only just wide enough for a lorry. It was a bit creepy but Felice preferred staff to leave by the back exit.

I was about to check my phone when the feel of something cold and hard jutted into my side. It made me catch my breath.

A large figure loomed beside me and I attempted to move away, but a firm hand curled around my upper arm. My hip bounced off the hardness of his as I was yanked against his masculine body.

“Easy, little fairy. Don’t scream and no sudden moves. Just smile and keep walking,” a gravelly voice instructed. I attempted to pull away but a hard object was dug against my ribs. It didn’t take long for me to register that it was some type of weapon and my legs wobbled slightly. This caused the man who held me to tighten his grip. I didn’t look at his face, I didn’t dare as terror snaked its way up my spine.

“You’re OK. Nothing will happen if you do as you’re told,” he said. His voice was familiar.

I raised my head at those words, sliding my gaze along a large, muscular torso and a neck thick with veins. It was a tanned throat and terrifying male.

As my eyes came to rest on his face which was angled forward, I immediately recognised the man from the restaurant, Kai. The hostile one who had been with the girl. I remembered what Charlie had said about him being mafia and my gut clenched.

His expression was harsh, again like he was born with that permanent scowl on his face and I glanced around but the girl was now nowhere to be seen. OMG, had he done something to her and thought of me as a witness that he needed to get rid of? I bit my lip, forcing my feet to move in the direction he was leading us.

“What do you want,” my voice was barely a squeak.

“For you to keep walking. We’re going to get into my car and then we can talk.”

The shops we walked past were closed apart from a laundrette which had people in it, they were way too busy to care about us. He seemed distracted by them and I took the opportunity to slide my phone carefully from my coat pocket with my free hand and stuffed it down my bra.

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