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"Oh." He looked away, his lips pursed tightly together. "Well, then. Have a seat."
I sat down gingerly, trying to hide my confusion.
"So, what do you like?" He asked, peering over the menu.
"I-I don't know," I stammered.
"It doesn't matter," he snapped. "You can't order anything until you tell me what you want. We're too busy to wait on you."
"I'm sorry," I apologized, "I haven't eaten in a while."
"Fine," he huffed, leaning back in his chair. "Whatever."
I tried not to stare but I couldn't help noticing the way his mouth moved when he talked. He always seemed to be clenching his teeth or grinding them against each other. The sounds distracted me, making my heart pound in my chest.
I shifted uncomfortably as I looked at the menu, trying to ignore the creaking noise.
I glanced around the room briefly, noting the old men in their suits. They were seated at almost every table, talking quietly amongst themselves.
The waiter finally showed up and took our orders. When he came back a few minutes later, my meal was already prepared.
I watched him as he placed the plates in front of us, my eyes darting between him and the other customers. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something was off.
Even though the food was delicious, I barely tasted it. Everything about the place was strange. It was six am, why were these men at an old rundown restaurant dressed in suits? Where did they work? And why was the owner so rude to me?
"Is everything okay?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Fine." He grumbled, not even bothering to look at me.
"I better get going. I need to find someone to look at my car. How much do I owe you?" I asked, wanting to get the hell out of the place as fast as I could.
"You don't live in Shadow Crest?" He asked, looking up at me for the first time since we sat down.
"No, I was just passing through, but I think something is wrong with my car."
His demeanor seemed to soften instantly and his body relaxed.
"Shadow Crest is up the road, about another half an hour. When you get to town, there is an auto shop not far from the bar in the middle of town. I suggest you get your car fixed and keep moving, for your safety."
"Thank you," I said, standing up from my chair, "How much do I owe you?"
"Oh, it's no charge. You just take care of yourself and if you get into any trouble, come right back here. We can help."
I looked around at the group of men and had to bite my tongue. From the looks of them, I couldn't see how they would be of any help. With a smile, I thanked him once more and went back to my car. I would have to find somewhere to wait that was just outside of town. The bar would be a great place to get answers, but I couldn't go too early. People talk more freely after a few drinks.
I decided to pull over at a rest stop and sleep before heading into town. Sleeping in a car isn't ideal and thoughts of my father were swimming around in my head. It wasn't going to be easy to fall asleep, but I refused to give up. Walking around like a zombie was not an option for me. I had to stay vigilant of my surroundings, the way my father always did when we left Mountain Crest. There was never a time he wasn't prepared for a fight, which made his disappearance even more confusing to me. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about my dad and hoped that he was still alive.
Chapter Three
Drako
Even in the dim light of the bar, she was gorgeous. I had to know who she was. Her ember hair fell just above her waist, bringing out her pale skin. I moved closer to her and caught a glimpse of her face, delicate and perfect. Her eyes were a pale blue, almost gray. She was wearing a short skirt with a little black tank top. It was obvious from the way she carried herself that she was a strong woman. She looked so confident and sure of herself despite being in an unfamiliar place. I studied her for another moment before my eyes met hers. They were filled with sadness but also hope. The question came out before I could stop myself. "Who are you?"
She seemed surprised by the question. "Excuse me? Is there a problem?" She asked as she smiled at me.
"No," I replied, shaking my head. I wasn't about to let this beauty go without knowing who she was. I wanted her name and number. If she didn't give it to me willingly then I would have no choice but to take it from her.
"My name is Scarlett," She answered. "I just got into town, and I think there might be something wrong with my car."
