Page 5 of The Coffee Shop

Fantastic.

“Ward wants to talk to you,” Luke says, handing me his phone. I take a deep breath, trying to control the anger that always accompanies speaking to this man.

“What the fuck is going on?” I demand. Manners be damned.

“Leena, honey, are you okay? Campbell said you were shot?”

“No, I’m not fine,dad. And yes I was fucking shot! Thanks for checking in,” I grit sarcastically, glaring at Luke for not only making me talk to him, but for already filling him in. “Now who did you piss off this time?” I ask. William Ward didn’t get to be the highest rankingmob bossin the city without making a few enemies.

“I… I don’t know who called the hit. But we’re working on it. In the meantime, stay with Chase and Campbell, they’ll keep you safe while my guys figure this out.”

“Are you kidding me? No. Absolutely not. I don’t want bodyguards, I need you to stay the fuck out of my life! Just let me go pack up my shit and I will get myself out of town,again.”

I amfuming.

“No, it’s too dangerous. I just need you to hang tight.”

“Hang tight?! I am not going to-” I yell, then stare at the phone. He already hung up.“Agh!That fucking bastard!” I shake my head then toss the phone back to Luke. He smiles, apparently amused by the entire situation.

Then I look between the two men, think about how long they have been coming into the coffee shop. How long my father has been keeping tabs on me.

We sit in silence for several minutes and I let it all sink in.

I don’t know why I’m surprised by this situation, because it makes sense. No one as built at them has any business spending their Fridays in a little hipster coffee shop.

I think about all the flirty glances and sidelong looks, realizing that it was because they already knewexactlywho I was. They werepaidto be there. I don’t know why that makes me feel sad, but it does.

For the past year, Fridays have been my favorite day. They were the only thing that kept mesanein that goddamn hellhole and there is a tiny part of me that hoped they were coming in forme. I know how ridiculous it sounds. They both probably have a lineup of supermodel hot girls, so there is absolutely no reasonthey would be interested in me. I’m a fucking mess, but they must already know that.

“How long have you been following me?” I ask.

“Lucas Campbell, pleased to meet you,” Luke says so politely that I roll my eyes and ignore his outstretched hand.

“So you must be…” I say, looking at our driver.

“Sebastian Chase,” he says in the rearview mirror, giving me a little wink.

“Well at least your names weren’t a lie. How long?” I say again and Sebastian chuckles.

“So youdoremember us?” He smirks, laying it on thick.

“A while,” Luke says, but he doesn’t turn around and his clipped tone tells me the conversation is over.

I want to scream. But I know that won’t do any good, so I glare at them and get as comfortable as someone who’s just been shot can be in a moving vehicle and stare out the window, wondering what the fuck I did to deserve the dumpster fire that is my life.

—

I open my eyes and sit up. I must have slept for several hours, because we’re well outside of the city.

Luke turns in his seat, his light blue eyes locked on mine.

“Are you okay?” he asks in a softer voice than I’ve heard from him before, but I’m not having it.

“No, I’m not fucking okay! I was shot, kidnapped, then Sebastian nearly killed us with his reckless driving. Idefinitelylost my job and now I have to move.Again,” I spit back.

“Kidnapped, huh?” Luke smirks. “Want us to pullover? We can let you out right here. Those nice gentlemen from your work are probablyalreadyat your apartment. Maybe they’ll help you pack?”

I don’t give him the satisfaction of a response.

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