Holy shit. I’ll be graduating from Harrison-U.
Those six words are the reason my face blooms with a brilliant smile. I haven’t been this excited in years. Maybe never.
I’ll have to borrow a laptop from Dax, or maybe Sylvie. Perhaps I’ll request a library day tomorrow to get signed in. I’m sure Dax will let Cas take me out again. Today proves they’ve got me covered.
I swing open the door and step out into the hallway and find Mr Trainor standing opposite the ladies’ room, fumbling with his mobile phone.
He looks up as I step out and shoves his phone into his pocket. “Ah…Miss Feelan.”
I show I’m leaving with a clipped nod and a polite, if brusque, “Mr Trainor.”
“Wait! I’d like to apologise!” he calls, as if that gives him the right to ambush me outside the bathroom door.
“No need,” I tell him curtly.
“And yet, I feel like a horrible fool for trying to hold you back today.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him why. Why did he really say and do everything to block my transfer? But he surprises me with a distraction and my question goes forgotten.
“Your driver came in looking for you,” he adds hastily. “Tall lad, floppy hair, muscles, and grumpy.” He loosely describes Cas. I hesitate and let him finish. He takes a second over his phrasing before he explains. “He said traffic was bad, and he’d pick you up out back.”
“Okay…?”
“I told him I’d wait and tell you. I needed the opportunity to apologise.”
That’s the second time he’s said that, and not once has he attempted to say the actual words,I’m sorry.
“Right. Well, thank you for telling me. I think I’ll walk around.”
He takes a step towards me. His voice is loud in the cramped hallway. “No, Miss Feelan. The exit is right there.” He directs me to the steel fire escape door. The large green exit sign confirming that he is telling the truth. But just because it’s true doesn’t make it right and something about Mr Trainor and his urgency feels totally freaking wrong.
“And I said I’d rather walk around. Thank you for your concern, but it’s unnecessary.”
“You don’t understand…” He reaches out and grabs me by the wrist, pulling me towards a door.I pull back, but the old man grunts and yanks with zero intention of letting go.
“Juliet! There you are!”
Trainor and I both spin around at the loud cry. I recognise who it is, but I can’t figure out why he’s here.
“Ben?”
He strides towards us, wearing his hood up and keeping his head tucked low, yet I can sense the uncertainty behind his falsely confident facade. “Hi, sweetie! I thought I said I’d meet you out front?”
“Miss Feelan is just leaving,” Mr Trainor snaps, yanking me hard. I stumble and concede three steps. Three steps closer to the exit and three further from Ben.
Ben doesn’t wait for an explanation. He charges forward, takes my free hand in his, and pulls me closer to him.
If they keep this up, I’ll be on my arse with the next tug.
“Stop pulling her!” Trainor bellows. “We’re leaving now.” Trainor tugs again and both Ben and I stumble forward just as Trainor gets the emergency door open. He squeals,“She’s here!”as it swings wide and my stomach sinks into the ground.
They’re here. Right outside. Waiting for me.
Barry Franz and at least four brutal looking men. In the split second I see them, they see me. I watch Barry’s face light up and then I’m towed backward with a strength I never suspected Ben had in him.
Time slows. The café’s bustle fades to silence. Ben’s expressions crash like lightning flashes. Shock. Fear. Anger. Determination. He hauls me toward him and, using the same momentum, swings and catapults me towards the front of the café.
“Run!”
