Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Shoot. He had her all in a fluster.
She grabbed her napkin, wiping at her mouth as she swallowed the bitter mouthful. Eww, yuck.
As she went to put the napkin down, she managed to knock her fork onto the floor.
Her face went red as several people turned to look at her.
Hello. Yes. Don’t mind me. Just the klutz who’s all flustered because if she leaves the booth, then her babysitter is going to spank her ass in the back of his truck.
Nothing to see here.
A few people gaped at her.
Oh, holy fuck.
She ducked down quickly under the table to hide her flaming face. Had she said that out loud? A small groan escaped her. Was it possible for her to hide under here forever?
Please let it be possible.
A pair of worn sneakers walked up. “Food’s up.” The server left.
Her stomach growled. Damn it. She really wanted to eat.
But she wasn’t getting up from under the table. Nope. Not happening.
A pair of boots appeared. Crap. So much for hiding. Hack crouched down to look at her.
“You okay down there, Tater Tot?” he asked.
“Perfectly fine, thanks.”
“Any reason you’re under the table?” He scowled. “Was someone mean to you?”
That growl in his voice was so hot.
“No one was mean to me. And I can fight my own battles.”
He gave her a skeptical look.
Yeah, she didn’t believe a word out of her mouth, either.
“I’m just getting my fork. See?” She held it up.
“You can’t eat off that now. I’ll get you a new one. Come out from there first, though. I don’t like you being down there. Watch your head. Here.” He put his hand over the edge of the table as she tried to stand.
Then Hack froze and grabbed her shoulder as someone screamed.
“Gun! He has a gun!”
What? What the fuck?
17
“All of you shut up and stay down! Get down!” a male voice screamed.
Someone had a fucking gun.
Terror raced through her.
“Stay down,” Hack told her. “I’ll protect you.”
What the heck? He’d protect her?
“You need to get down here,” she demanded. But her voice was shaky and weak.
Unsurprisingly, he ignored her, turning and facing away from her. Her breath came in sharp pants as she attempted to peek out at what was going on. She didn’t really want to move and yet she had to know.
“Give me all the cash in the register!” a masculine voice demanded. “And don’t try anything funny!”
Shit. Hell.
She wrapped her arm around Hack’s leg, not wanting him to do anything crazy.
He had hero written into his DNA, and she didn’t want him risking his life for what probably amounted to a few hundred dollars.
Hack glanced down at her briefly with a scowl. Then he pointed behind her.
Yeah, she understood what he was saying. However, she wasn’t doing it. Not knowing what was happening was way worse than hiding at the back of the booth.
The poor woman behind the counter was sobbing as she pulled out the money.
“Is this it?”
“Y-yes,” she stuttered. “W-we don’t c-carry much n-now.”
“Fuck! Fuck!” the guy swore, pacing up and down, his gun swinging around wildly.
She got the feeling this might be the first time he’d done this. Shouldn’t he be leaving? The longer he stayed the more likely he was to get caught.
Right?
Then he turned to look at all the customers.
“All of you. Get your wallets out. But . . . but one at a time. And do it slowly.”
Shit.
“Greer. Back. Now,” Hack told her in a harsh whisper.
Shaking, she slid back into the shadows of the table. She could only imagine this asshole’s reaction if he saw her hiding under it.
Then he was in front of Hack.
“Give me your wallet and don’t be a hero, asshole. Ain’t nobody need to die today.”
“Here you are,” Hack said. “No heroes here.”
Yeah, right.
She knew Hack was probably trying to get him to move on quickly so he didn’t see her. Shit.
Her handbag was on the ground. Could he see it?
But no, he walked away.
She let out a shaky breath.
“All of you stay the fuck where you are until I’m gone.”
There was absolute silence until she heard a door slam. And then Hack was crouching down in front of her again. She could barely see him through the stream of tears coming down her face.
“Oh, baby girl. Come here. Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.
People crying and shouting. The sound of sirens grew closer.
Should she feel something more? Fear? Anger?
Instead, she kind of felt numb.
“Is anyone here a doctor? I think Marge is having some sort of attack!” someone yelled.
“Fuck,” Hack muttered. He drew back and looked over at the counter where the man was standing, then down at her.
“Go. Go!” she told him. “I’m fine.”
He gave her a skeptical look. “Sit down. Stay right here.”
“I will.”
He rushed off behind the counter.
Poor Marge. Greer hoped she was okay. She sat there, staring at nothing, as around her people kept talking.