Page 88 of Defect
“Are you stupid? You having a hard time hearing?” Vince snapped at Malachi.
“Come on, Tyke. Let’s go.” I stood up and my stomach roiled. I pressed my lips together and held my hand out for Malachi. Vince stood and held open the gate to the patio for me like he was a gentleman or something.
I pressed my free hand to my stomach and walked out, trying to ignore the seasick feeling attacking me. “Let me give you a ride back to your house, Solana.” Vince’s eyes slid up and down my body and I wished I had on a parka.
“No thank you,” I gritted out. I checked my phone to see if there were any messages from Ezra. I saw one saying that he was in the parking lot. Relief flooded my veins and I scanned the cars for my yellow bug. I saw it near the back of the lot and I broke out into a short jog.
“Where the fuck are you going without a car?” Vince called after me.
“My ride is right here,” I called back. Ezra unfolded himself and got out to stand beside my car with his arms across his wide chest. He was only surveying the area but he looked like he came to fuck shit up. I wasn’t mad.
Vince halted in his stride once he saw Ezra and gawked at him for a few beats. Vince was six-feet even. Ezra had a whole six inches on him. Shit, he had inches on Vince inmorethan one department.
“Solo,” Ezra started to speak then he noticed the little person clinging to my hand with wide eyes. “Oh, what’s up little man? Are you Malachi?” Ezra’s face went from an intimidating scowl to a soft smile in no time.
“Uh huh. You’re huge. You’re like the Hulk!” He had to tip his head all the way back just to look at Ezra.
“Uh thanks,” he chuckled. He opened the door for Malachi and I told him to get in. Vince tucked his tail between his legs and headed back to his car quickly before Ezra could say anything to him. “What the hell is going on?” Ezra asked in a hushed tone. I shook my head at him and rushed over to the nearest patch of grass then I threw up every bit of filet mignon Vince made me eat. I fell to my knees pushing against the prickly grass as I let everything out. Ezra rushed over and stooped down beside me.
“Solana, what’s wrong?” He rubbed my back in circles while my stomach revolted over and over even after everything was gone. Snot dripped from my nose and tears fell from my eyes. I felt like shit. “Baby, do I need to call the ambulance?” I could hear the panic in his voice and I wished I could reassure him that I just needed to get everything all the way out and I’d be okay. I shook my head and tried to force my body to stop pushing bile out.
I felt something cool on my forehead and I realized Ezra was holding my amethyst pendant against my clammy skin. I forgot I gave him the necklace to hold. He must have carried it everywhere with him.
After a few minutes, my stomach settled down and I stopped dry heaving into the grass. It didn’t stop the fact that I felt horrible though. Since my stomach was empty, it cramped relentlessly with the need to vomit again. Ezra’s strong hands lifted me up then he gently set me in the passenger seat.
“You got sick…didn’t you?” Malachi asked sadly.
“I did. I’ll be okay though. Let’s get you out of here.”
Ezra was visibly shaken and the minute I could talk without feeling like the world was swimming, I’d explain everything to him. “Solo, are you okay? I need to hear that you’re okay,” Ezra said. His voice sounded calm but the way he gripped the steering wheel had me concerned for my car.
“I’ll be okay. Let’s go back to Sun Goddess. It’s been unattended for too long. I haven’t boarded up that window yet.”
Without another word, Ezra drove us back to the studio. Luckily, nothing had been disturbed thanks to the police tape. “What happened to your store, Solo?” Malachi asked when we walked in. I’d gotten most of the glass up but there was still a substantial amount crunching beneath my feet.
“Someone vandalized it.”
“Vandalized?”
“Yeah. They trashed the whole place, Tyke. Sometimes people do bad things for no reason and it really sucks.”
“I’m sorry. I can help you clean up.”
“No, baby. Come over here and I’ll order you some pizza, okay?” I sat him behind the front desk and looked at Ezra as he walked in. I knew he wanted answers and I had every intention of giving them.
“Yo, I need to know what’s going on. I feel like there’s a lot you’re not telling me.” I knew from his tone he wasn’t angry. He was frustrated and scared. He put his hands on my hips and pulled me against his body. It was exactly what I needed. I needed to feel his energy.
“I know. Let me get him some pizza and we’ll talk.”
“I want some pizza too,” he said before kissing my forehead.
“Hulk, you like pizza too?” Malachi perked up from behind the desk and smiled at Ezra.
“Yeah I do. Also, I have a name. It’s Ezra.”
“Ezra? Oh. I like Hulk. Not because you’re big but you’re like a superhero. You came at the right time and saved me and Solo.”
I smiled a little even though my stomach hurt. “He’s my superhero too,” I told Malachi.
