Page 29 of Sunflower Persona
Chills run down my spine at those fear-filled words. My dread is mirrored on Nathan’s face.
“What do you mean, something’s wrong?” I ask.
The timid woman flinches at my harsh tone, but I can’t find it in me to care. I’m sure Karis will give me an earful about it tomorrow.
“I—she—well—” she stammers without ever getting to the point.
My fingers clench at my side in impatience. Nathan catches my eye and gives a subtle shake of his head.Fuck.I bite my tongue and let him handle it. All too easily, he slips on that carefree mask he wears like a shield and gives her a charming smile. It’s a good show, but there’s still tension coiled under his skin like a snake ready to strike.
“Hey, take a breath and try that again,” he says as he puts a comforting hand on her arm.
She follows his instruction and, after a moment, tries again, more grounded than before.
“She was acting like she was drunk or high or something. Her words were slurring, and she could barely walk straight. But I know she hasn’t had enough to drink for that.”
Fear grips my throat in taloned claws, ripping away my ability to breathe. Nightmare scenarios flash through my mind, getting worse with each scene that plays out, but the themes are all the same—my sunflower getting plucked from the soil and torn to pieces by malicious hands.
“Thanks, Evelyn,” he says, and starts in that direction.
At least one of us is thinking clearly.
His departure spurs me into action, but I only make it a few feet before the whole world tilts on its axis.
Yellow stumbles—no, she’s dragged out of the shadowy alcove by a strange man who has no fucking right to touch her. The edges of my vision fade as the storming cloud of rage rolls in, stronger than before.
I don’t know who this fucker is, but he’s going to regret the day he decided to mess with my girl.
I vault over the counter, and I’m on them before he even realizes what’s happening, ripping her from his slimy hands and pinning him against the wall.
“Gage?” Kori whimpers.
She clings to me, her legs barely stable enough to hold her up.
“What the fuc—” His words are choked off as my forearm digs into his windpipe.
“What did you give her?” I growl in his face.
“I didn’t give her shit,” he wheezes, and beads of sweat form on his forehead as he swallows deeply.
“Don’t fucking lie to me,” I snarl.
Thunder bellows in my head, urging me to inflict as much pain as possible on this bastard. Without a hand free, the best I can do is put more pressure on his throat. Sick pleasure fills me ashe starts to claw at my arm, his face growing more and more red with each second that passes.
“Hey, man, that’s enough.”
I whirl around as someone touches the back of my arm. If I had a hand free, he’d be meeting my fist.
“Fuck, Gage.” Nathan takes a step back and raises his hands in surrender. “I know you care about her, but you need to let him go.”
Let him go?As if. He’ll be lucky if he leaves this bar conscious.
“Seriously, man. Don’t fuck up your life because of this asshole. Think about the consequences here. You could lose your job or get arrested, and you know you won’t be able to work with the kids anymore with a record. Focus on your girl. She needs you right now.”
Goddamnit all. When did he become the rational one?
With great effort, I pull my arm away. The creep sags onto his knees and sends my friend a grateful gaze.
“Thanks. I owe you one. This psycho—”
