Devil's Bargain

17

Melissa

Hawk will not let this go. And he’s going to find out. One way or another, he will find out.

The man at that party, all those people watching us. They will be curious. They will ask around. Hell, all they need to do is ask that man.

How many people saw those videos? How many others will recognize me?

And what will I do when Hawk finds out? How will I stand the way he’ll look at me?

I shake my head. I have to think about my options now because Sean Boyd isn’t the only threat.

When we reach the shop, the driver pulls up along the curb and I get out. He climbs out too, but he doesn’t follow me inside. Every time he’s brought me, he just waits outside for me.

I guess Hawk’s still not sure if I’ll run or not and right now, I can’t say that I won’t.

There’s one thing I do need to do today, either way. I need to be prepared in case I need to leave in a hurry, and I need two things before I can do that.

Deirdre is ringing someone up when I get inside. Her glance is worried when she sees me and she quickly makes change. A few moments later, the customer is gone and we’re alone.

“How are you doing, Deirdre? The pink-eye all cleared up?”

“Yep. But I’m sure that little germ magnet will bring something else home next week,” she says, and even now, I can hear how much she loves her granddaughter. It’s heartwarming, the way she talks about her.

“Listen hun, something strange happened when I got here to open up shop.”

I feel myself grow cold. “What?”

“Some man was waiting outside. Said he’s an old friend of yours and asked when you’d be here. Seemed a little odd since you hadn’t mentioned any friends being in town so I told him I wasn’t sure when you were coming in.”

“Who was he?”

“Didn’t say. He had dark hair, tall…”

She trails off and I stop listening. Because it can only be one man.

“Did he say what he wanted?” I interrupt.

“Just that he was dropping by to say hello. Left before I’d even unlocked the door. It just felt strange that you hadn’t mentioned anyone.”

I nod, start to walk away, stop. “He didn’t say who he was?”

She shakes her head.

I need to think. I need to figure out what to do.

“Are you taking care of yourself, hun?”

I nod.

“Sure is a nice car you came in.” She gestures outside.

“My car is messed up. Turns out duct tape doesn’t hold it together after all,” I say anxiously. “I need to run an errand, Deirdre.”

“You sure you’re okay, Melissa?”

I nod too quickly.

She studies me. “You’re not in some sort of trouble?”

I shake my head.

“You can talk to me, you know that, right?”

I nod again. I need to get out of here. I’m on the verge of tears.

“Go on and take care of your errand. I’ll be here.”

“Thank you, Deirdre.”

“You’re welcome, dear.”

Glancing once at Brian outside who is scrolling through something on his phone, I walk through to the back of the shop and out into the alley behind. Two of the workers from the sandwich shop with whom we share the alley are outside smoking. When they see me, the one leans in to whisper to the other.

I recognize the one doing the whispering. She was there the day of the credit card debacle but I don’t care about that right now. I just look away and hurry through the alley and out to the other street where I see the bus coming. I just make it—charging across the street to cars honking their horns.

The driver gives me a shake of her head as I get on and take a seat.

In fifteen minutes, we’re at my stop. It’s another five on foot from here and soon, I’m turning the corner to my street.

Throughout the bus ride, I think I should just have asked Brian to bring me here. He would have and if Hawk questioned it, I’d tell him I needed a pair of shoes or a book or something. But it’s too late for that now and if I’m quick, he won’t find out anyway.

Besides, lying to Hawk is hard. I feel like he knows every time I do it and for some reason, I don’t like lying to him.

I give a shake of my head. What I’m doing, it’s not any of his business. It’s not as if it’s a part of our agreement. And he doesn’t need to know about my private life. My past. He wouldn’t want to.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice the stranger on my porch until I turn onto the walkway and stop short. But then I remember what Hawk said about fixing the lock when I see his van and realize he’s a locksmith. He’s working on the door. Hawk said he’d have that done, I don’t know if I didn’t expect him to or what, but he’s actually having it done.