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“Jackson,” I cried.
“Bailey, get inside. He will not hurt you,” he demanded.
Garrick let out a low chuckle. “This is your boyfriend.” Garrick scoffed. “I could wipe the floor with him.” He said, running his thumb once again across the underside of my breast.
The taste of bile was stronger now, and my throat burned as I swallowed.
“Bailey, now,” Jackson barked.
I didn’t waste any time. I darted from the fence Garrick had created with his arms and pushed by Jackson, slipping in through the back door. Leaning up against the wall, I took a few deep breaths while listening to what was going on in the alley.
“Garrick, you guys have been causing enough trouble in here lately. I suggest you all find a different place to hang out.”
“Fuck off, Walker, or I’ll come after you next.”
I couldn’t move. It alarmed me at the fact that he knew Jackson’s last name when only a few moments ago he pretended not to even know him.
“That sounds like a threat, Garrick. Are you threatening me?”
“Nope.”
“I didn’t think so. Take yourself and get out of here now. Specter won’t be happy to know you are around these parts again.”
“Perhaps I’ll solve that problem, just like I did with the last one who said that to me,” Garrick gritted.
Alarm bells ran through me at his threat. I strained to hear, but just after the words had passed his lips, the outside door was pushed shut, and I could no longer hear what was going on. Panic filled me as the seconds turned to minutes. Finally, the door opened, and Jackson stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and my eyes filled with tears at the sight of him.
I closed my eyes and forced myself to think of anything but what had just happened. It was the only chance I had to keep the sobs from escaping. I felt his hands on me. I’d know his touch anywhere. “Are you all right?” he questioned as I leaned against the wall and covered my mouth to keep from seeing the food I’d eaten come back in reverse. I nodded my head and closed my eyes.
“I am now,” I answered, wrapping my arms around him. The comfort from his touch soothed me and I took a deep breath, blinking away my tears. “What are you doing here?”
“Glenn called. A fight broke out inside, then he realized you were missing. Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t put his hands on you, did he? Other than what I saw,” Jackson questioned, gripping me by the arms and looking me over. “I swear to god, I’ll fucking kill him if he did.” He bit out, his jaw tight.
I shook my head. “No, he didn’t. Just scared me. How does he know your name?” I questioned, meeting Jackson’s eyes.
“Small town troublemakers, Bailey. These guys deal with most of us on a weekly basis,” he said, pulling me against him for a hug.
“You sure that is all it is? Like, he’s not going to come after you, is he?”
“No, he won’t.” He answered, glancing down the hall toward the entrance to the bar. “What time are you finished?”
“I close tonight.”
Jackson met my eyes. I could tell from the look on his face he wanted to protect me. I knew that meant he wanted me to come to his place tonight, so he knew where I was and that I was safe in his arms. I wanted that too, but was too afraid to say that to him.
“Be careful driving home, okay? Don’t walk to your car alone.”
“I will. I mean, I will be careful driving home and I won’t walk to my car alone.” I answered, taking in the sadness in his eyes.
Instead of leaning forward and kissing me, he turned and left me standing alone in the back room. I wanted to call him, tell him to come back, but I just stood and watched as he walked away from me.
Jackson
“Not eating?” Asher asked, sitting down across from me and placing a cold bottle of water in front of me. “You should eat.”
I looked over at Ryan and Dave, who were manning the barbeque, and shook my head. “No, I’m not hungry.”
I looked through the crowd, scanning the scene for the one person I still hadn’t seen today. I’d hoped she’d have been here. I wanted to have a minute with her, to talk to her, especially now that some time had passed. But the more time passed, the more I was convinced that she wouldn’t be coming.
