Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Autumn

The sound of gunfire and manic laughter has me bolting upright in the middle of my bed, my body soaked in sweat.

"It was just a dream," I whisper to myself, looking around the room to see I'm still in bed. I have a new bed I bought for the apartment I rented all because I couldn't stand to go back to that house.

Clenching my teeth together, I shake my head, releasing a breath. I throw the covers off me and move to the bathroom as I have every other time the nightmares come for me. There's no escaping them now, just as there was no escaping them when Rick killed Avery in front of me. The only difference now is that the nightmares of that day are mixed with those of when I found myself kidnapped and held by a man who intended to auction me or sell me.

I didn't know exactly what he was intending to do. But his laughter stuck with me. It haunts my dreams, right alongside the images of Rick killing my sister. The sound of his gun going off still rings in my ears.

Not many people know about what happened. I don't talk about it. My father had called in favors to keep it out of the papers. We didn't need the attention of it all. Dad had wanted me to move back home, close the café, and leave it all behind. I couldn't do that. I couldn't upend my life here.

What I did do was sell off the other café to the manager there. She'd taken to it, and last time I talked to her, business was booming. I also changed the name of my sister's café to Autumn's Café.

It was hard telling our friends what happened to her. I didn't tell them right away. I didn't know how. It was a struggle. I'd gone home long enough for us to bury her. Once I got back, I threw myself into the café and avoided people when I could. I guess you could say I hid. I needed to.

Only when Emerson, Izzy, and Kenny confronted me about what was going on did I tell them what happened. They were pissed I hadn't told them about Avery being killed. I felt terrible, but I honestly didn't know how to tell them. They still don't know I witnessed it first-hand. It's something I don't intend for them to find out.

Unfortunately, the nightmares are not going away.

A shiver rushes down my spine as I step under the spraying water. It feels good, but it doesn't fully phase me. The only thing I can think to do right now is wash my body, get ready for the day, and head to the café. Just as I've done every other day for weeks. Truth be told, since Avery's murder.

Since that day eight months ago, I don't think I've had a good night's sleep. I'm always on edge. Haunted by it. My kidnapping only enhanced my feeling. If I didn't take something at night, I wouldn't even get the little bit of sleep I do as is.

Finishing my shower, I shut the water off, get out, grabbing a towel off the rack, and dry off. I don't bother to look in the mirror. I can't stand to see my own image. Any time I do, it feels like I'm looking at Avery.

I think that's one of the reasons I stay away from my folks. I don't want them to have to look at me and be reminded of what they lost. I know they love me, they haven't hidden it. They call me constantly to check in and tell me to come visit since I won't move back home. My mom even suggested they come for a few days. Each time, I've made excuses of being swamped at the café.

It's true that I'm busy there. Business is great enough so that I hired two people.

One of them being Athena. The other is a part-time mom, just looking to fill some time during the day while her kids are in school. It worked out for me this way. If I wanted to take a bit of time, I could, but I don't. I stick to a schedule where I'm there from open to close. Or I should say well before opening until after closing.

I dress in a pair of jeans that conform to my bottom and flare out at my feet. My shirt is a white tee fitted to my breasts with the logo for Devil's Nirvana strip club on the front. Athena had given it to me just after starting at the café. It was a day I accidentally spilled coffee all over my shirt and didn't have an extra one in the office.

I remember when I did it. It was when I saw Brass and Striker come in with a few other members of the club. I hadn't been able to speak. I mean, I did, but not to Striker. Every time I see him, I lose all train of thought. I embarrassed myself that day, but Athena had been to my rescue.

When it comes to Striker, I find myself far more nervous. Just as I have since I first saw him at the clubhouse during Kenny and Horse's wedding. They were already married, but Horse had surprised Kenny with a beautiful wedding for Valentine's Day. I thought it was super sweet and couldn't help but wish I could find a guy like Horse.

I wanted it to be Striker, but I've heard the stories about him. He's not the settling-down type. He's also not the type to go for someone like me. I'm shy and know it.

I struggle with talking to new people, I always have. It takes me a while to warm up to people. A friend back in high school told me once that I needed to let go of being shy and get out there. Make new friends.

I couldn't do it then, and I definitely couldn't do it now. Not after . . .

I shake my head, not allowing myself to go there right now. I need to finish getting ready, get to work, and busy myself for the day because if I don't, I'll keep going down the rabbit hole, and that's not somewhere I want or need to be.

"Autumn, we need more of those cream-filled puffs," Athena calls from the door that leads from the front to the back.

"Okay," I shout back. I'd just come out of my office to help Tiffany. The morning crowd all but cleared us out, and we were in the process of getting things restocked before the lunch crowd came.

During the mornings, I carry everything from donuts with different looks to them to biscuits and croissants that are buttery and light and fluffy. We also have a variety of different pastries.

Lunch is a bit different; you can get anything from a meal to different types of already premade sandwiches. I carry different options. Some of them are just meat, some meat and cheese, and others are fully decked out. I'm a picky eater, so I like the idea of appealing to everyone and not having them turn their noses up at the sandwiches.

Besides the cold-cut sandwiches, we offer subs and burgers, all served with the option of fries, sweet potato fries, or zucchini fries.

Dinner time is all about the meals. Though it could be a burger or something like that, we give the customers a choice of different sides, all country style. A big hit is my bacon squash. That and my red potato mash.

Nothing served has or is cooked with nuts.

If I make anything that consists of it, it's cooked totally separately, and with a pan I use solely for that purpose. It seems silly to do when we live in a town that has a peanut butter plant, and you find peanut fields everywhere, but still, there are those who have nut allergies. It's bad enough for them when it's peanut season or going to a restaurant and worrying about what is and what isn't cooked with nuts or peanut oil.

Throughout the day, though from morning until night, there are always treats. Including the cream-filled puffs Athena said we needed more of.

"I've got them ready to go," Tiffany announces, pointing toward the rack where we place pastries when done and waiting to go out front.

"Thank you." I smile at Tiffany, getting one in turn. I grab the tray and make my way toward the front of the café.

I barely get through the doors when my feet falter beneath me. This being because Striker was standing on the other side of the counter, a beautiful dark-haired beauty next to him, his arm around her. His eyes come to me for all of a split second before dismissing me.

It's all I can do to keep moving. I could hear my own heart in my ears. Everything becomes hard to focus on with him here.

I carry the tray the rest of the way to Athena, who opens the back of the display case for me.

"Autumn, this is Lila, the girl I was telling you about," Athena states, motioning toward the girl with Striker. "She's Striker's sister."

I nod, remembering her telling me about a high school girl who was looking for a job. I glance back at the girl, seeing her for the beautiful girl she is. She shares similar features with Striker, though they're more feminine. Which makes her the beauty she is whereas Striker is gorgeous, almost god-like with those striking eyes of his.

"Hey, Lila, I'm Autumn," I greet her, smiling at her while doing my best not to look toward Striker.

"Hey, I know you. I've been in here a few times. Great food," she compliments.

"Thank you," I murmur and move closer, though staying behind the counter. "So, you're looking for a job?"

"Yeah," she says, pulling away from Striker and stepping forward. "I'm saving up for when I leave for college."

"That's a ways away," I announce.

"I know, but even if books, tuition, and my dorm are paid for, I still have to be able to take care of other expenses. Plus, I like shopping, and having my own money means I don't have to call jerkface here," Lila states, motioning with her thumb over her shoulder toward her brother.

"Jerkface," he mutters, sounding amused.

I don't look in his direction to see if that's the case.

"How about you come on around? We'll go in my office to chat about the job while Athena can keep jerkface company."

Oh God, I did not just say that. I did not just call Striker a jerkface.

Lila laughs as I turn tail and all but run toward the back, hoping she follows me and I don't have to turn back for her.