Page 13 of Demons

“If you aren’t here to order anything, I am going to have to ask you to leave,” I said with what I hoped was a firm tone.

The blond leaned closer and then reached out and grabbed the neckline of my shirt, jerking me forward until I was bent over the counter. I heard Mandy gasp as the other guys began to laugh. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, panic hitting me.

Mandy, please go get Barbara, I silently pleaded.

The door chime went off again, and I wanted to weep with relief that someone else had walked in. However, the blond guy didn’t seem to care. His grip tightened on my shirt, and he sneered at me.

“Deck,” one of the guys behind him said, then slapped his back.

The blond ignored him, and I swallowed hard, wondering if whoever had come in was going to call the cops or leave.

“You’re gonna need to let go of her.” The deep drawl was one I recognized.

The blond looked pissed and amused at the same time. He didn’t let go, but instead tugged on me again.

The guys I could still see called Deck’s name again with clear concern in their tones.

“Fuck, man, let her go!” one of them begged him.

“I’d like to see—” he started to say, but Thatcher Shephard’s hand wrapped around his neck, stopping him from saying anything more.

Thatcher leaned close to the blond, and the look in his eyes made me shiver. He was angry. Really, really angry.

“Let her go,” he said near the guy’s ear.

The blond released me so fast that I stumbled back. Thatcher jerked him away from the counter, and when the guy realized who had grabbed him, he instantly paled. His sneer was gone, and in its place was pure terror.

“I, uh, I didn’t know it was you,” he stammered.

Thatcher pointed at the door. “Don’t come back.”

The others with him hurried for the door, leaving their leader behind. He nodded before following them. When they all left, Thatcher turned to look at me. The darkness in his gaze was unsettling.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, uh, thank you,” I replied.

He didn’t say anything more but turned and left. I watched him go as I tried to calm my racing heart.

“Holy shit,” Mandy said behind me. “That was Sebastian Shephard’s older brother. He is, like, super dangerous. I can’t believe he came in here and kicked them out. Do you know him?”

I kept staring at the door even though he was out of sight. Did I know him? I wasn’t sure really. We’d spoken twice. I was almost positive he’d given me a box of my favorite cookies, but it seemed almost unreal that he would. Then, today, where had he come from? Was it just lucky timing?

“I, uh …” I shook my head, trying to clear it and say words that made sense. “Kinda. Not really.”

She was staring at me, wide-eyed, when I turned to finally look at her.

“He’s, like, a murderer—you know that, right? He only got away with it because his dad is so rich and owns the town.” She glanced at the door, then stepped up closer to my ear. “I’ve heard rumors they’re, like, the Mafia or something.”

I laughed then. Everyone had heard those rumors. She and my mom could gossip about it.

I shook my head. “That’s ridiculous. This is Georgia. Not Boston or Chicago. The Mafia doesn’t reach down here.”

Mandy shrugged, still not looking convinced. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I kinda think it makes sense. They own everything.” She waved her hands around. “They own this building we are in. They probably own the governor too.”

I shifted my gaze to the clock. It was closing time. “Let’s lock up and get this place wiped down so we can go home.”

“Yeah, okay,” Mandy said. “But he is dangerous. He did kill a guy. That’s the truth. So, be careful around him.”

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