Page 153 of Mayhem
Erin did as requested, and Paetyn kept his eyes on the man. Today was not his lucky day, but when you played stupid games, you won stupid prizes.
“Do you know him?” he asked once Erin was off the phone.
“His name is Stu. He was a regular in Florida. He told me he’s been stalking me.” At those words, Paetyn was tempted to start round two.
Stu coughed where he lay before trying to roll over and groaning. Stalking was a serious offense, and if he’d told Erin that, then the two cameras in the central area of the shop would have caught it, and he’d find himself behind bars.
The police came, and after viewing the video from the cameras and listening to the conversation Stu and Erin had, they had enough to arrest him for stalking, breaking and entering, and harassment. Once statements were taken and charges were pressed, they were left alone.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Erin asked as she held the cold can to his face. She didn’t have any ice, and even though he’d insisted it was fine, they’d ended up on the couch.
“I’m fine, Angel. I promise.” He ran his thumb along her cheek before giving her a soft kiss.
“I would have never guessed it was Stu,” she stated. “It makes sense, but I didn’t think I’d see him again when I left Florida. Until the rose petal incident, I’d thought the whole thing was some teenager or college student taking a prank too far.”
“Was he a problem when you were there?”
“He was bothersome, but nothing like this.”
Paetyn listened to her fill him in on how she met Stu and their interactions before and after she’d turned him down when he asked her out. He watched the camera footage with the police, and he knew the other man was mad because he considered Paetyn, a client, and Erin was now dating him.
Paetyn didn’t remember seeing Stu the day he’d gotten his tattoo. There hadn’t been too many people in the shop since he’d gone close to closing after the expo. He thought he would have remembered seeing him if he were there. It made him wonder if Stu had been stalking Erin before she left, but then, if he were, he would have known as soon as she had.
“You don’t have to worry about him anymore, and if jail doesn’t teach him a lesson, I’m willing to put him in his place again. He might not be so lucky and run into both of us next time.”
The bell went off, but Paetyn knew who it was. He’d locked the door after the police left, and only the three of them and the two other artists had keys. A few seconds later, Cruz rounded the wall, and Paetyn took the can from Erin as she was pulled into his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” Erin responded.
Paetyn called him after Erin had phoned the police.
“And you, Paet?”
He shrugged. “It probably won’t even bruise.”
Cruz pulled his phone out, and after a minute, the audio from the video filtered into the room as he watched it. Once he finished, he chuckled, shaking his head.
“The situation isn’t funny, but you locked this man inside so he couldn’t escape while you beat his ass,” he said. “It reminds me of when we were younger.”
“I feel like there’s stories I need to hear about that,” Erin stated.
Paetyn stood. “We’ll tell you some over lunch.” He took her hand and led them out of the shop. Cruz locked the door and set the alarm behind them.
44
Cruz kissed up Erin’s spine, attempting to wake her. She stirred slightly, shifting away. He kissed along her shoulder blades before nipping her earlobe.
“Wake up, Maly.”
She turned her face away from him, whining into the pillow. Followed by a mumbled, “I’m sleeping.”
He chuckled. “I can see that, baby, but I need you to get up. Paetyn is making breakfast, and we have to visit Mom and Ancel in a few hours.”
“I don’t need breakfast.”
Cruz knew that wasn’t true, but he decided not to push and let her sleep. They’d gotten with their friends the previous evening to exchange Christmas gifts since they were all celebrating with their families for the day. The festivities lasted into the early morning hours, and he couldn’t blame her for being tired. He kissed her shoulder a final time before exiting the bedroom. When he entered the kitchen, he sat at the island, and Paetyn glanced at him.
