Page 143 of Love Bleeds Red
Please.
I sprint again, reaching his car in seconds.But I don’t realize Baseball Cap is right there behind me until I’m fumbling with the handle, trying to get inside to safety.
He reaches for me, his hand grazing my shirt, and everything shatters.
I’m not in the parking lot anymore. I’m back in King’s house, hands reaching for me, voices telling me what they’re going to do, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide?—
“Don’t touch me!” The words rip from my throat, raw and desperate.
I’m so loud that he jumps back, startled. So I use that moment to throw myself into his car and slam the locks. My whole body shakes as he pounds on the window. Within seconds,the other two join him. They’re laughing and talking to each other in loud drunken voices.
“What the hell?” I hear through the glass. “Crazy bitch!”
“Open the door! We’re just trying to talk!”
I can’t breathe. My vision tunnels, dark spots flicker at the edges. Derek’s car smells like weed and pine air freshener, and I’m hyperventilating so hard I might pass out. My hands shake uncontrollably as I pull my phone from my pocket.
I don’t want to call Leon. That’ll just prove that he was right. I’m not ready for this. I’m not strong or capable or?—
Before I can dial a number the sound of an engine rumbling and bright light streaming into the window pull my gaze up.
Holy shit.
A motorcycle roars into the parking lot, headlight cutting through the darkness. The guys step back, suddenly looking less confident as the bike pulls up close. The engine cuts off, and through my tears and panic, I see a familiar figure swing off the bike.
Leon.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
LEON
I’ve been sittingon my bike in the shadows of the adjacent parking lot for twenty minutes, engine off, watching the Burger Palace like a fucking stalker. Bailey would lose her shit if she knew I was here, but I couldn’t help myself. The thought of her walking out to an empty parking lot alone at night makes me sick to my stomach.
When I see those three assholes walk from the front lot to the back and corner her, every rational thought in my head evaporates. Pure rage floods my system as Bailey backs away from them, and retreats into some other car like a trapped animal.
So much for giving people the benefit of the doubt. Too often my instincts are spot on. If it looks like a predator, walks like a predator, talks like a predator… it’s usually a predator.
I start the bike and roar into the lot, not giving a damn that Bailey will know I was here. The three pieces of shit back away as I cut my engine.Not so confident now, are you?I take off my helmet slowly, giving them an extra second to wonder who the fuck I am.
It takes everything in me not to lunge for them right away. Especially that tall one in the cap… I saw him run after Bailey first. He’ll fucking pay.
“Is there a problem here?”
The tall one holds onto the car for balance. Wasted, I knew it. “Nah, man, we’re just having some fun with our friend.”
“Your friend?” I take a step closer, and the three exchange glances. Through the car windows, I can make out Bailey’s silhouette. She’s pressed against the opposite door, clearly terrified. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve got her trapped in that car. That’s notfriendlybehavior.”
“She’s being dramatic,” the shorter one says, backing away. “We were just trying to be nice.”
My laugh is cold. “Nice. Right.” I look directly into the window, somehow finding Bailey’s eyes through the smudged glass. “Bailey, you okay in there?”
I hear a muffled sob, and something inside me breaks. That sound flips a switch and gone is the semi-calm version of me. I need violence. But not now… not with her watching, scared out of her mind.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” I say, making my voice razor-sharp as I memorize each of their faces in the dim light. “You three are going to get in your car and drive away. Right now.”
“Or what?” Baseball Cap tries to sound tough, but there’s uncertainty in his voice now.
I take another step forward and lift the hem of my shirt, flashing my weapon. I’m close enough to smell the beer on their breaths, as I spit venom in their faces. “Or I make sure you regret ever coming near her.”
