Page 47 of Acid

“A whole month. That’s a long vacation,” Coby says when I walk past him, and I internally groan.

Why can’t the man just give up?

Clearing my throat, I say, “Yep, I think I deserved it.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but instead, his head shoots to the door as, “Perrie, office now!” is snapped loudly. I turn to see Acid storming into the diner, anger etching off him. Ah crap. I sigh, knowing he knows.

Fricking Piston!

I give Coby a tight smile before reluctantly following Acid, giving Savanah, the new waitress, the coffee pot. She gives me a sympathetic smile, and I sigh again. I head down the hallway and into his office before the door is slammed behind me, making me jump.

I turn and look at Acid wide eyed, but he ignores my reaction and gets in my face, and I raise a brow, not even a little intimidated, until he demands, “Why in the fuck did you tell Piston and not me about that fucking note, huh? Why did I have to find out in church yesterday!”

I roll my eyes and spit back, “Because I didn’t want you involved! It has nothing to do with you!”

His nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth, most likely to tear me a new one, but instead, he growls when his phone rings.

Giving me a pointed look to keep standing there, he grabs his phone while I cross my arms over my chest.

Acid frowns as he looks at his phone and answers, “Bill?” I hear a faint man’s voice before Acid's face hardens, and he demands, “What do you mean you can’t get a hold of Aurora? I was with her not long ago; Piston was going to go help her with her math!”

My mouth parts in shock, and I rasp, “Aurora’s missing?”

Acid looks at me as tears burn my eyes, and he cups my cheek.

“I’ll go find her. I’ll call you back, Bill,” he says before hanging up.

A few tears fall, and he wipes them away with his thumb and promises, “I’ll find her, Tinker, but know this, our conversation is not fucking over, and as for it having nothing to do with me?” His eyes peer into mine. “It has everything to do with me becauseyou are mine, Perrie, you always have been.”

I swallow hard, trying to dislodge the lump that’s formed in my throat as he kisses my head, then turns and leaves, all while my head is all over the place with worry.

It was only yesterday she was telling me Acid loved me, and to claim him. She was so happy when I told her I would, just so I didn’t hurt her feelings.

God, I hope Aurora is alright….

The next day, I’m working—at least I’m trying to.

“Any news?” Savannah asks, and I look at her and smile sadly before shaking my head.

She sighs and heads to the back table, her dark blonde hair swishing.

I called Aurora all night, and it rang each time until five this morning, when it said the phone was switched off.

Ignoring the eyes on me yet again, I head to the coffee pot, needing a cup myself. The diner door opens, I see Acid and Piston walking in, both looking as tired as I feel.

When they get near the counter, I rush over to them expectantly. Ignoring Acid, I ask Piston, “Any news?”

He shakes his head, and my eyes tear up. Acid takes a step toward me, but I turn and head back to the coffee pot.

Where is she? Has she been taken or gotten lost?

Trying to swallow my emotions, I ignore Coby’s eyes and grab two cups, filling them, knowing I can’t hand the brothers off to someone else because they sat in my section. Taking a deep breath, I pick the cups up and walk to the brothers, just hearing Piston say, “He has that look…” as I place their cups down.

Piston smiles and says, “Thank you, sweetheart.”

I give him a small smile and go to leave, but Acid grabs my hand, and I tense at the sparks hitting my skin.

“Can we talk, Tinker?” he asks, and I scoff, glaring at him as I pull my hand back. I snap, “No, why don’t you go talk to your baby momma instead?”