Big Daddy

It had to be tough, but hearing him wish himself dead was surprising to hear. He seemed so strong. But even the strongest have their limits as I well knew. Losing my baby had made me wish I was gone too. I’d often dreamed we be together in heaven.

The mention of his home life had seemed to quiet him. “Yeah? How so?” I hated to keep prying, but I craved more knowledge of this man who had proclaimed his desire to murder my ex.

“I was married at the time, and she couldn’t handle it.”

“Looks like we’ve both got demons in our past.” I let loose a sigh, and he corned me against his counter, placing his hands on both sides of me.

“Right, but your demons are still lurking around, and I don’t like it.”

“You can’t save me, Chance. If he finds me this time, he’s going to kill me.”

“Then we have to make sure he can’t find you.”

“I’m afraid he’s going to hurt Liza and Brady, but there’s nowhere else for me to go. I had hoped to the use the extra cash to eventually get my own place, but now that I think he’s here in town, I’m not sure it would do any good. If he’s found me, he knows where I’m staying. Maybe the best thing is to just move on and find another city. I could go completely off the grid this time.”

“You shouldn’t have to do that. You deserve a normal life, just like everyone else.”

“I’ve begun to believe that’s not possible for me. There is no silver lining on clouds or a pot of gold at the end of their rainbow. That kind of stuff is for fairy tales, and I stopped believing in happily ever after years ago.” I let out a nervous laugh and turned my head. Having him so close was a bit uncomfortable, and only because I wanted him to kiss me.

“If you’re worried about your friend, you’re always welcome here. I have a guest room, and I could take you into work as needed. I’m off the beaten path and well-trained. No one is getting past me up here.”

I shook my head and stepped out of his arms. “That’s sweet, but I couldn’t put you in that position, or bring any danger to Star. I’m going to keep moving on.” That was only part of it. The rest was that I knew I was falling for him and that wouldn’t end well for either of us.

What I needed was a place to hide; a place where no one could find me in a new town, with a new job.

“Don’t worry about us, I’m more than capable of handling assholes like your ex.”

“I think you should just take me home to Liza’s. I’ll figure something out from there. Besides, maybe I was wrong about the whole thing. Maybe he’s not really here and doesn’t know where I am.”

“If you really believed that, you wouldn’t have dived behind the dumpster.” He touched my arm and raised his brows. “How much longer are you going to run?”

It was sweet of him to want to help, but it was too dangerous. “Take me home, please.”

CHAPTER 11 – CHANCE

I’d been working hard to get the piece finished, and after staying up all night, I’d finally pulled it off. I wrapped it up and boxed it, and was about to make my way out to mail the prosthetic before closing when my phone went off.

I figured it was Austin but was surprised to see the number for the diner. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Dream. Could you come to the diner, please? Nick’s in the parking lot. I know he’s waiting for me to come out. I’m scared to call the police because he’s one of them. He’d convinced people I’m crazy before, even my parents, he could do it again.” Her voice was breaking, and I got up and found my keys as I kept her on the phone.

“I’m on my way. I’ll come to the back, so be ready.” I hurried to the truck and continued talking. How long has he been there?”

“I saw him about ten minutes ago. It’s like he knew I was about to get off.”

I wondered if there was any way he could have seen a schedule, but he’d have had to have gotten into the diner for that. She did say he had his ways about him.

I pulled the gun from beneath my seat to be prepared. If he happened to see her, I knew he was packing heat as well. I wasn’t going to show up to a gun fight unprepared. My leg might be virtually indestructible, but I wasn’t.

When I’d dropped her off at Liza’s the afternoon before, I’d done it on the condition that she’d call me if she felt like she was in trouble. Her ex might be a cop, but I was a SEAL, and I wasn’t scared of a douchebag with a badge.