Page 63 of Stay Toxic

The man’s face went funny as he said, “Have fun.”

I slipped out of the foyer of the hotel we were staying in, then jaywalked across the street to the place called Eggs Bitch.

When I got inside, there was not a single soul either behind the counter or in a seat.

I frowned and looked around, my gaze settling on the menu by the cash register.

I picked it up and scanned the menu, loving all the names of the sandwiches.

I finally settled on a french toast “Sammie” and found the bell at the counter and tapped it.

There was a sound from the back and then a scuffle.

I frowned and looked toward where I heard the sound.

I waited for a good while before I started to let my imagination get away from me.

What if something was wrong?

What if there was a person hurt back there, and that was why they weren’t answering?

I knew that I should probably stay right where I was, but I couldn’t help it.

I skirted around the counter and allowed my eyes to dart around.

I was in an industrial kitchen.

I…

“Where is he?” I heard a man seethe.

Words that were said between clenched teeth.

And whomever had said it was mad.

Likemad, mad.

A choking sound, somewhat like someone trying to talk, and being unable to.

I moved more cautiously toward the sound now and came to a sudden, abrupt halt when I got to what looked like an office.

In that office were two men.

One of those men had his back to me.

The other man had a hand wrapped around his throat, was dangling a foot off the ground, and was looking a little purple.

“Now, I’ll give you one last chance to tell me…where is Cayden?”

That voice.

It was…

I gasped, the voice finally hitting its mark.

The man doing the strangling turned, and a pair of angry, navy-blue eyes met mine.

They were also spitting fire.

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