Chapter Three

Annie

By the time I got to the diner, I knew I was in so much trouble. Not only was I not appropriately dressed, but I was sweating and still covered in the suntan oil the other candidates had slathered on them. Yeah. I was a hot mess.

I parked my bike next to the light pole in the back of the small parking lot out of the way of customers. Marge had told me to park next to the building on the corner, but there was a parking space there and I didn’t want my bike to be in the way of anyone needing to walk on the sidewalk where I’d have to park.

There was a back entrance and that’s where I went. That way, I could use the bathroom and freshen up quickly. I had a clean shirt and shorts in my locker as well as some underwear. Might seem a little odd, but I’d learned to always be prepared. If that meant I had to keep a backpack ready to go everywhere I had a hidey hole, that’s what I’d do.

I hurried in, panic and worry squeezing my chest. Yeah. I knew I was in trouble. Thankfully, there was only one vehicle in the parking lot. A motorcycle. Which reminded me of my hero. Was that why he’d been confused about my bike? Because he rode one? Only a real one.

“Annie! There you are!” Elena met me at the bathroom door when I exited. I’d put my long brown hair into a bun at the back of my head. I hadn’t been able to do much about all the suntan oil, but I’d washed as much as I could in the bathroom sink.

“I’m so sorry, Elena. I’ll stay late and help with closing. I can even come in early tomorrow. Whatever you need.” I was trembling, my stomach churning. Elena was the sweetest woman I’d ever met. She and Marge had taken a chance on me and given me a job. Marge had given me a room at the motel across the road at a discount. The very last thing I wanted to do was let either of them down.

“Relax, preciosa . It’s fine. We were worried, is all.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “You’re still learning and that’s fine. Marge and I promised to help you and we will. Now take a deep breath. Have you eaten today?”

“Yes.” The answer was automatic. It was a lie, but I’d learned that people who asked that question were usually fulfilling a requirement. They didn’t actually care. They just wanted it to seem like they did. I was really growing to love Elena and Marge. If I said that, no, I hadn’t eaten, and she made light of it or told me to make sure I ate before I came to work, I’d probably shatter. It felt like I was holding myself together with spit and glue as it was.

Elena pursed her lips. “Everyone tells little white lies from time to time, pequena , but you’re no good at lying.” She reached out and cupped my cheeks between her hands. “You will eat, preciosa . And not give me grief over feeding you, sí ?”

“ Sí , Elena.” I took several deep breaths, trying to keep the tears back a little while longer. If I could get through eating in the back, where I was sure Elena would stay with me, I could get to work and not think about any of this. “ Prometo .” Elena and Tito were trying to teach me Spanish. I wasn’t good yet, but I was picking up a few things. I practiced every chance I got because, if they were good enough to try to teach me, I wanted to make sure I gave it my all.

She had Tito make me a burger and fries while I went back to the bathroom and did a little better job getting more of the suntan oil off my skin. I still felt like I stank, but I thought I smelled better than before I started. Progress!

When I came out of the bathroom, Elena was setting my plate down on the counter, pulling me up a chair. “Come. Sit.” She smiled as she set a chocolate milkshake beside my plate.

“A milkshake too?” I couldn’t help my smile. Of all the things I’d discovered after leaving the camp, Elena had just put in front of me my three favorites. Cheeseburgers, French fries, and ice cream. Any ice cream.

“Of course. Ice cream makes everything better.” Her smile was so beautiful. The thing about Elena was her kindness. There wasn’t a mean bone in her body. She was like everyone’s mother. She knew her customers and their families. Those of us she employed? Well, she treated us like family.

There were only a couple of us. Tito, Marge, and Elena could easily run the place without me and Caroline, but I needed the job and Caroline was a people person. She was at her happiest during the lunch rush. I wasn’t even sure she got paid. Or, rather, that she kept the pay Elena gave her. Caroline had told me her father was the doctor for a club called Salvation's Bane. If all the men and women in the clubs around the area were like the ones I'd met at Tito’s, then I had no idea why MCs had such a bad rap.

Most of the time, I was pretty sure Caroline bought new clothing or food items for a homeless camp close to us. The people I’d met at Tito’s had opened my eyes to so many things. Not the least of which was true compassion. Not submissive compassion either. These people weren’t trying to gain anything, or get on someone’s good side. They didn’t care if people liked them or not. They did what they thought was right and treated people the way they wanted to be treated.

“Ice cream does make everything better.” I grinned as I dug into the burger and fries.

“Is everything all right, chica ?” Elena asked her question in a tender, caring voice. I could see the worry in her eyes.

“ Sí , Elena. I’m lo lamento for being late. I promise to get a watch as soon as I can. I can probably get a kid’s one for ten bucks or so. That’s all I need. Right?” I hated that I sounded so unsure about something so simple. I also made a point to answer her with the few words of Spanish I’d remembered. Not trying to get on her good side or anything. I genuinely wanted to learn the language. I found that stress sometimes forced me to learn quicker than I normally would have. So I used at least some Spanish when I spoke to Elena or Tito, even when I was struggling with the current situation. Owning a watch was such a small thing, but I’d never owned one. Or anything else for that matter. In the camp, no one really owned anything. Well, other than the Divine One. I grinned as I dredged a crispy, golden fry through some ketchup and popped it in my mouth.

“There she is.” Tito popped his head around the corner from the back, taking his place behind the counter where Elena had me eating. It wasn’t the first time she’d done it, but it always took me by surprise.

I started to reply to Tito when the judge from the bikini contest followed him into the main part of the diner, moving to a seat next to me. I sucked in a breath… and nearly choked on a French fry.

“Easy, girl.” His gruff voice went straight to my insides and heated them. What was wrong with me? I’d never had these impulses before. Quite the opposite. I’d been doing everything I could since I’d turned sixteen to not be noticed by the men in the camp. Especially the Divine One. Now, for some reason, I really, really wanted this guy to notice me. I was also more than a little nervous of him. I might be simple and ignorant of life on the outside and how people truly interacted with each other, but I knew enough to know this was a man who would chew me up and spit me out. He was the type of man the Divine One would seek to make an ally because, otherwise, he’d be a threat.

“Sorry,” I choked out. I coughed a couple of times. A glass of water was held under my nose and I took it gratefully. A few seconds later, I was fine. Elena rubbed and patted my back gently, like she might a child after they got something down the wrong way.

I probably should have taken a couple more seconds to get myself under control, but honestly, there was just no preparing for the effect this guy had on me. So I looked up at him before quickly lowering my gaze. It should be a sin for a man to look like he did, and I was certain everyone in the camp would tell me I was going to hell for sinful thoughts.

“Hey. No need to be sorry, girl. I’m sure you thought you’d never see me again. Though, to be fair, I did tell you I was comin’ here to smooth things over with Marge. Remember?”

“Yeah.”

“Her name’s Annie, Dominic.” Elena frowned at the big man. Wow. She was brave. I couldn’t imagine anyone looking at this man that way and not peeing themselves when he focused his attention on them. “Not ‘Girl’.”

To my surprise, the big man looked appropriately contrite. He ducked his head slightly, then winked at me. “I’m sorry, Annie. She’s right. I never meant to insult you. I was simply trying to remind myself of our age difference.” He said the last part with a wry grin, though I didn’t really understand why.

“And that age difference is not something you will forget, hombr e.” Elena wagged her finger at Dominic, like she might chastise a child. Dominic merely gave Elena a sexy grin. “You know, our age difference isn’t as big as mine and Annie’s. What say you and me run off together, Elena? I’ll treat you even better than Tito.”

If anything, Elena scowled even more at Dominic. “You’re charming, Dom. But you’re not that charming. Besides, no one could treat me better than Tito. But you’re welcome to try.” She raised an eyebrow. “Just not with me.” Elena glanced at me before smiling once more. “Take her to my office so she can finish eating in peace.”

“Wait!” I called out to her, glancing from Elena to Dominic and back. “I need to… I mean, I’m sorry, Elena. You’ve been really good to me and I’m always messing up.”

“Oh, pequena .” Her face softened as she gave me a warm and understanding look. “Everyone messes up. And you’ve had a lot thrown at you in a very short time. You’re doing wonderfully and I’m so very proud of you for trying so hard.” Elena reached over and took my hand and squeezed. “You are a precious, caring, and compassionate woman, Annie. You deserve to be happy.” For some reason, Elena gave Dominic a hard, meaningful look. Like she’d just given him an order and expected to be obeyed. Dom narrowed his eyes, giving Elena a confused look back but said nothing.

“I need to get to work,” I mumbled as I took one more bite of French fry. And ketchup. Lots of ketchup. Ketchup was the nectar of the gods!

“You'll come with me and finish your food,” Dom said with a growl. He took my hand and led me back to Elena's office, then stood between me and the door and raised an eyebrow, daring me to challenge him.

My first impulse was to give in immediately, but the whole point of leaving the camp was to make my own decisions. For good or ill. I wanted to be my own person.

Instead of backing down, I put my shoulders back. “I’m finished.” But I still reached for another fry. With ketchup. “And I’ve put Elena out enough today. The least I can do is get out there now and help her.”

He stepped farther inside the door and shut it. Then he pointed at my food. “Sit. Eat.”

“I don’t have to do what you say.” I was afraid I didn’t sound nearly as confident as I needed to be. In fact, I was pretty sure there was a quaver in my voice.

Dominic’s face softened. There was a hint of amusement in his face. “No, honey. You don’t. But why cut your nose off to spite your face? You’re hungry. Elena had Tito make you some dinner. Do you really want to waste his hard work?” He sounded so reasonable! And he had a point.

“No.” I sank back into the chair in front of Elena’s desk where she’d set my plate. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

“Yes. I am.” When I gave him an annoyed look, Dom winked at me again. Yeah. So in over my head it wasn’t even funny. This guy could -- and would -- chew me up and spit me out if I let him get away with anything. “Eat.” Grin. “Girl.”

I huffed, giving him my best, most annoyed look, but I couldn’t hold it. I started giggling, then just let it all out. What was the point in holding it all in? Hadn’t I left so I could feel safe expressing myself when I felt the need? It felt good.

“Now, that’s the sound I want to hear from you.” Dominic nodded at my food before giving me a pointed look. “Eat up. I’ll let Tito know you loved it so much you’re eating every single bite.”

Yep. I was definitely in trouble.