"I'm the guy from..." Todd mumbled something I couldn't make out. "...remember that time..."
If you sit around a group of guys long enough, every single one of them will have you convinced they are experts on women. Hell, most might even believe that bullshit. Either way, nothing sends a man spiraling into insanity faster than a woman.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Carina
The place was empty, and the bar was closed. It had always creeped me out a little to be alone in the restaurant. Harley and Fox had taken off early for another race, so I had been left all by myself to clean and lock up. It was only fair. Harley had done me a favor by covering my shifts for the past two nights. I had needed time to think, to get my head on straight. The best way to do that was to get away from everyone, especially Brando. My time off had brought me back to my original plan. With my resolve in place and my priorities remembered, I had been prepared to see him that night, to end it before things went too far. It was the best option for both of us. It would save me the pain of losing him once he discovered the truth about me and decided he wanted no part in it. When ten o'clock roll
ed around, I started Brando's coffee with a lump in my throat. Except he never showed, and I tried to convince myself I wasn't bothered by that.
I hummed along to an oldie playing on the jukebox, while my mind wandered in a million different directions. Out of nowhere, loud banging against the glass door made me shriek. I jumped probably three feet in the air before I whirled around to face the door, my hand clutching my chest. Brando was standing on the other side of the glass, motioning for me to let him in. The hard look on his face conveyed that it wasn't a request. My relief was instant as I went to him.
"Jesus, Brando. You scared the shit out of me," I said, moving aside as he entered then locked the door again.
"We need to talk." He came to a stop just inches away and stared down at me. His mouth was drawn into a frown as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"About what?" I played dumb, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. An overwhelming sensation ran through me and squeezed at my heart. I had missed him. Before he could respond, more tapping sounded on the door, much lighter that time.
Brando turned around, the irritation on his face replaced with alarm. I didn't have to look. I already knew who it was.
"It's Hunter. You can unlock it." Brando blinked a few times, as questions began to pile up in his head.
"You mean Hunter Knight?" he growled. I'd forgotten about the bad blood between the King brothers and Hunter Knight.
"Yes, it's fine. He's my cousin." My words didn't make a bit of difference to him. Brando didn't want to open the door, but he did it anyway.
Hunter stepped forward, but Brando blocked him from coming inside. Hunter only had enough room to step over the threshold.
"What the fuck do you want?" Brando had no intentions of budging as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, if it ain't the sidekick." Hunter flashed a grin at Brando that was meant to taunt. "I'm surprised your daddy lets you stay out this late."
Brando's expression went from hard to murderous as he stepped closer to Hunter.
"Enough," I shouted and hurried forward. "Hunter, quit it! Brando, please." Both men were squared up, chest to chest. Nostrils flaring and fists tightly clenched.
"Hunter?" I repeated. Slowly he shifted his gaze to me.
"She wants to see you." Then he returned his glare to Brando. I nodded, knowing exactly who "She" was. "I'll be outside," Hunter said before backing out of the doorway. "I love it when they hate me, man. It means they're thinking about me." His lips pulled into a slimy grin, then he spat on the concrete and walked away.
Brando slammed the door and spun around.
"What the hell is going on? Don't give me any of that bullshit about not being able to tell me. Hunter Knight is a piece of shit, and if you hadn't been here, he'd be on his way to the fuckin' hospital right now."
I ran a hand over my weary face as I tried not to cry. When had I asked for any of this?
With my shoulders slumped, I took one last look around the dining room, untied my apron, and pulled the restaurant keys from the pocket of my jeans.
"I have to lock up," I said, void of emotion. Brando's mouth dropped open, and his face grew so red that his head looked like it would pop off his shoulders.
"That's it? That's all you're going to say?" The veins in his neck bulged as he followed me outside. I set the alarm and twisted the key into the lock then gave the door a hard tug for good measure.
A black SUV with dark tinted windows was parked right in front of the entrance. "I'll be right back," I said to Brando, putting a hand to his chest to stop him from following.
"Wait a minute," he said as soon as he recognized the car. "Isn't that the same car you got out of the other night? No. No fuckin' way." Then he moved to stand in front of me as if he were trying to protect me and block me from going at the same time.
"It's fine," I said, nodding to the car. "That's my mother."