“What do I get if I say yes?” I had to ask. There was no way I was going to let the opportunity pass to make some sort of wager.
“Blowjob?”
Ezra didn’t hesitate. She simply threw the offer onto the table.
“Deal.”
I’m not a stupid man and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start down a path of idiocy with a blowjob in the balance.
She giggled and shook her head like I was the one losing out. Maybe I could have gotten more, but I think it’s a fair trade in the end.
Now I feel this unease in my gut as we move through the grocery store. I want to hurry them along, but every time I try, Opal shoots me a look. She and Ezra have been chatting away steadily. Sidewinder has been dawdling, at least it’ll look that way to anyone watching us.
If anyone is.
Every time I catch his eye, something passes between us. The same unease. The same feeling as though something is about to happen.
Ezra’s steps seem to slow, like she can feel it too. We’re almost at the end of an aisle at the front end of the store when Bobby steps into view and lunges at Ezra. He grabs her arm and pulls her to him.
“Ezra,” his voice is ragged, “I need to talk to you. Right now.”
“Bobby,” Ezra shrieks and tugs her arm out of his grasp. She pushes him slightly and both of them stumble before righting themselves. Her voice is incredulous, but with more than a hint of fear, “What are you doing?”
I reach toward Ezra, but I’m a step too far away. Before I can close the distance between us, Bobby pulls a gun out of the back of his pants and points it right at my woman.
Everything freezes. Not just Ezra and Opal, but everything. The air feels charged, like it’s waiting. Then it speeds up again and I look at my prey. Really look at him.
He looks panicked; I can see the wildness in his eyes. He’s walked into this situation and he already feels cornered.
Ezra lets out a ragged breath and takes a step back. She freezes when Bobby snarls, “You need to come with me.”
“That’s not going to happen, Bobby,” I speak up.
For the first time, he looks at me. His eyes widen, but I already know he’s not giving up. The way his hand tightens on the gun tells me everything I need to know.
“You have to,” he looks at Ezra again, a touch of pleading in his voice. “I need to know what you said and to who.”
“What she said about what?” My question lands hard in the aisle.
I already know Sidewinder will be clearing the other aisles and coming around to flank him. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s moving around where I can’t see him.
I’m pissed Bobby caught us where he did. It’s a natural bottleneck. It’s not like pushing over one of these dividers is easy. Shit like that isn’t how it is in the movies.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. He called me. He told me you saw us,” his words are on the verge of panic.
“Bobby,” Ezra starts and my gut tightens with her words and the way she softens them, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Opal looks confused, but she kind of curls in on herself as she grips the shopping cart. I don’t think she’s afraid, I think she’s just trying to take herself out of the equation as much as possible. She’s not shrieking and the grip she has on the cart’s handle is tight enough for her knuckles to go white.
“Yes, you do,” Bobby growls. “Either tell me who you told about what you saw or come with me.”
“I don’t,” Ezra’s voice is shaky this time.
I want to reach for her, but I’m not sure I can. The idea of setting him off makes me hesitate. I can only hope we can keep this calm. For now.
That doesn’t mean Bobby is going to survive.
“You do,” Bobby screams and I can hear the collective gasp from the people who are still in the store. “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” he snarls the words.
