Page 71 of Whispers of Obsession

With Derek gone, the tension in the air dissipates, and I’m able to relax once more. But as I glance back at Slater, I can’t help but wonder what his intentions are. Why is he always showing up when I least expect it? And why does he seem so determined to protect me?

As I ponder these questions, Slater catches my eye, offering me a glare that seems filled with anger, before disappearing into the crowd himself to collect glasses. I watch him go, feeling a mixture of curiosity and apprehension swirling inside me. Whatever his reasons may be, one thing is for sure: Slater is definitely not someone to be messed with.

I don’t see Derek again for the rest of my shift, and I’m not sure if that’s because he got bored and gave up, or if Slater tracked him down and had a little word in his ear.

As the night wears on, Slater seems to get angrier and angrier, though no one else seems to notice it. I guess no one else knows my stepbrother quite like I do. Slater may have grown up and changed a lot from when we were kids, but he still has the same tells, and I can sense the frustration coming off him in waves.

When the bar closes, and we work together to clean up before leaving, he won’t even look at me. Attempts to engage him in conversation just result in him grunting like a caveman.

I’m so close to losing my shit with him and demanding to know what his problem is when the sound of breaking glass has me jumping out of my skin.

“Asshole,” I hiss, clutching my chest in fright. Slater just threw all the empties into the bottle recycling and the sound was so ear-splitting I almost shit myself.

He doesn’t grin at me.

“What’s your problem?” I sigh, unable to let it go any longer, but not wanting to start a fight either.

“You are.”

“Me?” I gape at him. I wasn’t expecting him to say that. “Why me? What did I do?”

“I told you I didn’t want you working here. It’s not safe. And that creep tonight just proved it!” Slater seethes.

“That creep tonight started bothering me on campus this morning, so it has nothing to do with my working here!” I retort hotly. I won’t let Slater push me out of this job. I need it, but I actually like it too.

“A busy bar with guys like that isnotsafe.”

“Oh, and you think if I was working in a clothes shop on my own, I’d be safer? Just me and him? Do you think he’d take no for an answer if he got me alone? At least here, it’s busy enough that someone will step in and help me out like you did.”

“I won’t always be around to save you, Cora,” he mutters darkly.

Don’t I know it,I silently reply, thinking of his dad and the masked man. Slater is no hero. Not really.

“I’m not going to quit,” I say stubbornly.

Slater must read the determination in my eyes because after a beat he sighs.

“Fine. When the fuck did you get so headstrong?”

“I was forced to grow up,” I reply with a shrug. “I can handle myself, Slater.”

He snorts. “Course you can. Come on, let’s go.”

“What?”

“I’m not letting you walk home alone, Cora. That jerk could still be out there waiting for you. No fucking way.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Slater growls -freaking growls- at me. It shouldn’t sound sexy, but it does, and I clench my thighs together and swallow.

“Do not even try to challenge me on this, Cora,” he grumbles, grabbing the top of my arm and dragging me out of the bar so he can lock up. “Or so help me God…”

Why do I suddenly have the urge to push him and see exactly what the rest of that sentence entails?

30

SLATER

It’s busy. Always is on a Saturday night. Even though I know she’s not working this shift, I still search through the endless sea of faces of the people here tonight. I find myself doing it often.

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