Page 4 of Until Landon
Wes takes the shot.
I give the guy an extra push back.
“We know who you are, where you live. Got it?”
He answers with a smirk and I spit in his face. A flash of rage appears. Then it is gone. Hidden.
Wes comes a step closer, boxing in the guy’s only way out. “He asked you a question!”
The man’s cold stare says he isn’t intimidated. Not even by the baddest guy here.
“Yeah, I got it.”
It’s the calmness that bothers me most. He holds my gaze in his dead eyes. Spittle runs down his cheek. He does not wipe it off, even as it creeps closer to the mouth. Then over closed lips. He wants us to understand who he is. This would be the chilling part of the movie. I’m not showing any sign of fear, but it is a fucking bluff.
Wes has had enough. He grabs the man and drags him out of the bathroom.
“Fuckface!”
CHAPTERTWO
Kim
Take a breath!
The bartender with kind brown eyes takes my trembling hands and surrounds them with steady ones.
“I’m Landon. This is my father’s bar. What’s your name?”
My heartbeat’s pound begins to slow. Squeezing his hand, I plead.
“Don’t tell anyone about this right now. Please. I don’t want to ruin my brother and Dominique’s night. I’ll tell them tomorrow.”
Landon puts an arm around my shoulder.
“Tell me your name.”
“Kim.”
“I won’t say anything, Kim. The guy is already gone. Wes took care of it. You okay?”
“No.”
“Let’s go into the office,” he says, guiding me out the door and through the one across the hall. It is left wide open.
Tears spill onto my cheeks. The trembling bottom lip I am unable to control adds to the ugly cry. For the first time in my life, I don’t give a damn who sees it. I am so tired of the random drama that keeps finding me.
The tender expression on Landon’s face is just what I need. Opening his arms, he lets me decide if a hug would help. I’ll take it. One step forward and I rest my head on his shoulder. I know it is ridiculous looking for this sort of comfort from a stranger, but I ignore my stricter self’s rules of behavior. Strong arms wrap around my back. The crippling fear goes from a ten to a five.
“Thank you. I’m still a bit drunk. Although if that didn’t sober me up, I may be dead.”
The last word is punctuated by a Fireball whiskey hiccup. I give zero fucks.
“How were you planning on getting home?” he says over my shoulder. “Will you let me take you? Or maybe my dad if you would feel more comfortable. I just want to make sure you get there safely and no one follows you.”
What?I had not thought that far ahead. I pull back and look into his concerned face. What should I do? The decision is postponed for a moment by the arrival of Wes who shows up in the doorway. He is covering the knuckles on his right hand. Was there a fight?
“He’s not coming back. We have friends in high places at the police station.” Then to Landon, “I sent the license picture to Cobi.”
