I nod and slip out from under his arm, hurrying toward the bathroom. I can feel Eddie’s eyes burning into my back as I walk away, my heels clicking rapidly against the pavement. I’m tryingnot to run, trying not to draw attention, but my heart is racing a mile a minute.
The women’s bathroom is empty when I push through the door. I lock myself in a stall and press my back against the wall, trying to steady my breathing.
This isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.
After months of hiding, of being careful, of looking over my shoulder, what are the freaking odds I’d run into him here?
“Shit!”
I close my eyes. I need to think. I need a plan to get out of here.
Maybe I can convince Rambler and the others that I’m not feeling well and we should leave now, that we need to head back to Jacksonville. But that would only delay the inevitable. Eddie knows where I am now. It’ll only be a matter of time before he shows up in Jacksonville.
“God…” I groan, banging the back of my head on the graffitied blue wall. “What the hell am I going to do?”
My hands are shaking so badly I can barely get my phone out of my pocket. I don’t even know who I’d call. Memphis is my only real friend, and she’s in California with Killer.
Taking a deep breath, I unlock the stall and step out.
Get it together, Savannah.
Going to the sink, I splash some water on my face. I need to pull myself together before I go back out there. As I’m washing my hands the bathroom door open behind me. I glance up in the mirror, half expecting to see Cleo or Demi coming to check on me. But the man looming in the doorway is no friend of mine.
“Hello, Savannah,” Eddie says, his voice like acid.
I spin around, pressing my back against the sink. “What are you doing in the women’s bathroom?”
He smirks, moving closer. “Is that any way to greet the man you ran out on?”
“I have a restraining order,” I spit, surprising myself.
His face darkens. “You think a fucking piece of paper can keep me away, Savi?”
I swallow hard, fighting the urge to vomit. “What do you want, Eddie?”
“You know what I want.” He’s close enough now that I can smell the alcohol on his breath. “I want what’s mine.”
He reaches out, his fingers grazing my cheek. I flinch away.
“Don’t you fucking get it?” he snarls, getting right up in my face. “You’re my property, Savannah.”
“I’m—” The words die on my lips when the bathroom door bursts open and Rambler appears. His eyes lock on mine then slide over to Eddie before coming back to me. Hot fury etches across his face and like a man possessed, he grabs Eddie by the collar and yanks him away from me.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Rambler growls, tossing Eddie like a ragdoll.
Eddie stumbles but quickly rights himself, his face twisted in rage. “Who the fuck are you?”
His eyes dart between Rambler and me, then narrow. “This who you’ve been fucking, Savannah?”
I find my voice, anger replacing fear as I step forward. “I don’t belong to anyone, Eddie! Especially not you!”
Rambler’s eyes narrow at the confirmation that I know Eddie.
Eddie lunges toward me again, but Rambler steps between us. His fist connects with Eddie’s jaw with a sickening crack, sending my ex stumbling backwards.
Eddie spits blood onto the floor, his eyes murderous. “You have no idea who you’re messing with, old man. I’m Dirty Devils. You touch me, it’s war.”
“I don’t give a fuck who you are,” Rambler snarls. “You touch her again, and I’ll kill you with my bare fuckin’ hands.”
