Page 48 of The Devil's Redemption

I watch his strong, overbearing, and devastatingly gorgeous frame exit the diner. Cap has moved into the passenger seat, and Blade joins him in the cab. He gives me a nod as they vacate the parking lot.

I miss him already.

I wasn’t lying when I told him I would miss him, but I honestly didn’t think I would feel this empty and apprehensive without him by my side.

“Well, I’m going to go have a seat,” I tell Ellie.

Just as I’m about to tell Kid to follow me, he speaks up.

“I’m gonna go take up some real estate at that table right there,” he states, pointing to the first booth inside the front door of the diner.

I guess that’s so he can see someone coming. The thought causes my hair to stand on end. Just like it did yesterday when Blade and I pulled up to my apartment.

“I’ll have one of the servers bring you a menu,” Ellie calls after him. “Order whatever you’d like. On the house.”

Kid nods before responding, “Thank you, ma’am.”

I can’t help the meager smile that tugs at my lips when Kid calls Ellie “ma’am.” She absolutely loathes being called that. It makes her feel like her Grandmother Ellie, who she was named after.

“You go ahead and sit, I’ll get one of the girls out here to wait on him.”

“Thanks, Ellie.”

As I take my seat, I cautiously look at the only other patron in the diner at the moment, Mr. Brady. He’s in his nineties, and I’m not even sure he knows his own name most days. I doubt he knows who I am. I’m thankful it’s him who’s here and not someone else.

Especially not Ms. Rose.

Suddenly, I’m questioning whether or not it was a good idea to come here. People are going to start flooding in very soon, and I know they’re going to want to talk to me. My bruises have mostly healed, but there is still some yellowing around my eye and over the bridge of my nose. The cut on my lip has narrowed significantly, to where it now only appears as though my lips are chapped.

A moment later, Ellie exits the kitchen with Toni and Whitney in tow.

“Hello again,” Whitney greets me as Toni continues over to the table where Kid is seated.

Ellie takes her seat across from me with this week’s inventory checklist.

“Hi.” I offer her a tight smile, still not ready to just bury the hatchet.

I’m glad they’ve changed their perception of me, but it never should have gotten to the point where it was in the first place. However, life is short, and I know just how close I was to losing mine. Whether from death or imprisonment, I didn’t think I would ever set foot in this diner again. We won’t ever bebesties, but I suppose I can attempt to be civil if they are.

“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, a soda?” she asks me.

“I’ll just take a water for now, please. Thank you.”

“Sure thing. Will you be eating? If so, do you know what you want?” she questions.

“You know, for now can I just have a pack of crackers? I may opt for a sandwich in a little while, though.”

“You’ve got it. Ellie, can I get you something?”

“I’ll take a refill on my coffee whenever you get a chance. Thanks, Whit.”

Once Whitney walks away, Ellie places her warm hand over mine. I try to keep the tears from my eyes as they lock onto hers, but when a lone tear drops onto her cheek, it triggers my waterworks to begin.

“You have no idea how happy I am to see you sitting here.”

“I know what you mean,” I agree.

“What happened, Sash? Blade told me a little, but I know he left out the majority of it.”

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