So I did the only thing I could. I pulled myself up straighter, lifted my chin, and stared him directly in the face. “Get the hell out of my shop.” My voice was firm and strong, despite the way my hands were shaking and just how scared I really was.
He laughed at me. “Or what?” he asked.
Running on instinct, my hand went to the apron I hadn’t taken off yet. I slipped it into the little pouch at the front and felt around inside. There. Cold, hard metal. I gripped the pair of scissors in my hand tightly and pulled them out. “Or this,” I told him, jerking the tip of the scissors between his legs and pressing them into his thigh right beside his crotch.
He stiffened and I saw a flash of anger in his expression, but then he smiled at me and held up his hands. Still smiling, he took a step back. “Easy, honey, we’re just talking,” he told me and I was reminded of the cop who had called me hysterical.
I gritted my teeth, holding the scissors tightly and not taking my eyes off the stranger.
He headed towards the door, but I could tell in the way he moved that he wasn’t really afraid of me. And the only reason he was leaving was because this had been about scaring me. Check that little box off. He reached for the door, then paused. “Oh, and tell Ethan I was asking for him.”
He left, the little bell tinkling after him, and I released the breath I’d been holding. I slumped against the wall, sliding down to the floor. There I sat, shaking and shocked, wondering what the hell I was supposed to do now.
# # #
It turned out that the thing to do was exactly what the man had said: go to Ethan and inform him he’d gotten a visitor at my shop.
Which was why I was now at Ethan’s Diner, waiting in the back hallway with Louis while Ethan finished up some business. I’d called my neighbor to ask her to watch Cody for a little longer as I was held up at work, and she’d been gracious enough to accommodate me.
“Of course, honey. Cody’s an angel.”
I’d smiled at that and agreed with Mrs. Rogers wholeheartedly. “Can I talk to him for a minute?”
The lady went to fetch him and then I heard the shuffling of the phone, followed by, “Momma?”
“Cody, baby,” I said, smiling broadly. “How are you?”
“Okay. I got a cookie after dinner. Are you coming home soon?”
I took a quick breath, forcing myself to remain calm. All I wanted to do was go home to my son. But what I said was, “I’ll be a little late, but I’ll be home soon, okay?”
I could hear the pouting in his voice as he answered, “Fine.”
Mrs. Rogers came back on the phone and I reiterated that I’d be home soon. Then we’d hung up. That was maybe ten or fifteen minutes ago. Now I was just waiting for Ethan to be done with whatever he was doing to tell him what had happened. It was weird to be here by my own volition instead of being summoned.
I leaned against one wall, trying to keep my shit together, while Louis stood in front of the one opposite me. He had his arms crossed and was wearing the same suit he always wore. He must have a closet full of identical suits. His expression was as neutral as it ever was, but his eyes were expressive tonight. I noticed them as they slid over me, assessing.
After a moment, he asked, “Bad day?”
My brow raised at his question and I nearly laughed, more hysterical than amused. “Feeling chatty tonight?” I asked him, then silently cursed myself when my voice came out shaky.
He frowned slightly. “Trouble with business?”
I swallowed, then nodded. “Yeah. I…I need to tell Ethan something.” I’d already texted Louis to let him know I needed a word with his boss because I wasn’t supposed to talk to Ethan directly. Well, not unless I was making a payment. Yet all that careful secrecy hadn’t done much to keep some scary leather-wearing man from coming to my shop and threatening me over Ethan.
Louis nodded and fell silent again.
We only had to wait a few more minutes, then Ethan’s office door opened. A man—I was strangely relieved to see it wasn’t some woman like the waitress from the Mexican restaurant—walked out. He glanced between Louis and myself, but didn’t say anything. Then he walked down the hall and disappeared around a corner.
I glanced at Louis, but he only shrugged, then gestured towards the door. I headed inside.
Ethan looked up from his desk, genuinely surprised to see me. “Well, well. Are you making advanced payments now?” he joked. It was crude, but not as offensive as it might have been a couple of months ago.