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“We’ll go, but you can expect a negative Yelp review,” I say and turn toward Austen.
Her gaze is frozen on the men, and her mind relives the past.
“I’ll pay the check, and we’ll head out,” I explain as I shepherd her to the table.
Goose frowns at me, waiting for the go-signal. She grew up understanding how people wouldn’t respect her if she behaved. Her power came from being a full-blown psycho willing to out-crazy everyone else.
Except we’re a day out from our territory. We also have two traumatized chicks in our care. That’s why Goose doesn’t flip out when I shake my head and explain we’re leaving.
“I’m getting a to-go box,” Goose says as her gaze searches for our waitress. “No way are we wasting all this leftover food. Fuck these people.”
I rest my hand on her shoulder and smile. “They have mullets, Goose. I don’t think they’re right in the head if you get my drift.”
Smirking now, Goose settles down. The waitress doesn’t really want to help get us packed up. She’s likely tight with the assholes lingering too close. The restaurant has gone quiet except for the music and a few rebel kids refusing to be shushed by their parents.
After the waitress finally moves her ass to bring us to-go boxes, Coco hurries to add our leftovers to containers while Goose looks over the bill as if she doesn’t trust the numbers. I stand next to our table, my hand resting on Austen’s shoulder as she stares at the ground. She seems so empty right now.
“No,” she blurts out, sounding loud in the quiet restaurant.
Her gaze is focused behind me. I notice one of the men has erased the space from his group to mine.
Trying to infect her with my calm, I murmur, “It’s okay.”
Despite my tone, I’m considering how hard I should hit this guy. Should I leave him on his ass or break his fucking face?
Austen is suddenly in a panic. She fumbles with her phone and starts taking pictures. I catch her texting and attaching the pictures. She starts dialing Suzanne.
“What are you doing?” the guy barks at Austen.
Keeping my hand on her shoulder as she flinches, I tell the asshole, “Don’t talk to her. Just focus on me. I’m the one who’ll make you bleed.”
“Mom, we’re being harassed at a restaurant,” Austen says, sounding like a freaked-out kid. “I sent you pictures and the address. The men are threatening us. I don’t know if they’ll let us leave. If anything happens, find them.”
I’m a little startled by how scared Austen sounds. Her voice gets high-pitched before breaking as she speaks through sobs. She’s clearly racing toward a panic attack.
“They’re going to hurt us,” Austen whimpers to her mom who is likely losing her shit.
Austen takes a picture of the closest man. “He’s the one,” she tells Suzanne over and over.
“It’s okay,” I whisper to Austen who stares with bright, fearful eyes. “We’re going to leave now. They’re not going to touch you.”
“They’re animals!” she screeches, nearly coming out of her skin. “Why are they threatening us?”
The manager suddenly appears, trying to calm down the shit he allowed to get to this point. Austen immediately takes a picture of his face.
“He’s their father,” she tells Suzanne. “He’s in on it.”
Shaking so badly, Austen nearly drops her phone. Her voice keeps going high-pitched and breaking. She sounds crazed.
Her panic infects the place. The looky-loos get frazzled. The assholes back away. Coco keeps rubbing Austen’s back. The manager offers to comp our meal. The waitress suddenly appears with the bags we requested. Austen’s hysteria has everyone on edge.
We’re quickly outside and in the SUV. Following us, the manager keeps trying to say we don’t need to pay. I’m unclear what the dumbass thought would happen when he let his boys off their leashes.
I sense the manager gets how Austen’s rich. People with money can cause problems. Now, she’s taken pictures of them for an unknown person. He starts literally begging us to take back the cash I left on the table.
Ignoring his bullshit, I start the SUV and glance at Goose next to me. In the back seat, Coco tries to calm a hyperventilating Austen.
“Put your head in my lap,” Coco insists, and Austen obeys. “Take long, deep breaths. You’re okay.”
