Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
CLARA
M y shift at Joe’s passes in a euphoric haze. I am in love. I may not have known Atom long, but I’m convinced I love him. My feelings are strong, which makes me powerful.
I don’t wish to hide something so beautiful and I’m aware I will have a lot of explaining to do when my father learns of my new love interest.
I don’t care.
I have a plan and will use it if necessary because for the first time in my life, I am doing something selfish. For me. To bring me more happiness than I’ve ever had, and it’s all because of Atom.
Alice shakes her head as I drop another laden tray on the counter.
“You’ve got it bad.”
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“Atom.” She chuckles. “I mean, I totally get it. That man is sex in leather, and I’m more jealous of you than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“He is rather gorgeous.”
My expression causes her to laugh softly. “Go and take your head out of the clouds. Table five has just left.”
As I work, it’s with a permanent smile on my face and it merely broadens when Atom heads in with his club.
They take their usual table but he hangs back and heads my way, dropping a light kiss on my hungry lips and whispers, “When do you finish?”
“I’ve just got here.” I shake my head. “But you know that already because you brought me here.”
He shrugs. “That was ages ago.”
“One hour, Atom and I’m working another four.”
“Then I’ll be collecting you in four hours.”
“I can’t wait.”
He drops another kiss on my lips before winking and heading to meet his friends and I sigh inside.
I’m not sure Atom realizes how sexy he is. He walks with eyes trailing him wherever he goes. Men admire him and women want him. It’s a powerful combination and I’m not surprised he is the leader of his MC club.
They will do well. He has a plan in place and if I can help in any way, I will. I must still attend college, but I get weekends and time off and it’s only two hours away from here. We can still be together, just not all the time and who knows, things may change between us. But right now he is fast becoming my world and if I had to make a choice between him and college, I know what I would do in a heartbeat.
But somehow I doubt he would ask. He values education and wants me to be happy. Despite his rather frightening appearance, with his battered leather jacket and tattoos, the bandanna he wears decorated with a skull, I feel safer with him than any of my so-called respectable friends.
Alice heads across and waits at their table and I fix my attention on my job instead.
It must be thirty minutes after Atom arrives that the door swings open and my heart sinks. Michael heads through it with a man I’ve never seen before and I hate him on sight.
Unlike Michael, this guy is creepy, with his slicked back hair and dark, turbulent eyes. He has a scar edging from his eye to his cheek and his black suit is worn with a black t-shirt beneath it. The huge gold chain around his neck screams of bad taste and the huge rings on his fingers adorn a hand that is awash with black ink.
A shiver runs down my spine as they take a booth near to Atom’s table and as Michael raises his eyes, they collide with mine.
He smiles and waves his hand in acknowledgement, and my heart sinks when I realize I must go over.
As I walk, nerves are churning up my stomach and I force a smile on my face as I stop by their table.
“Clara. I thought it was you. I hoped you’d be working.”
“Um, hi, Michael.”
I smile at his companion, who studies me through hooded eyes.
“Have you met Emilio, Clara? He’s a business associate of mine.”
“No, I don’t believe I have.”
Emilio nods but doesn’t offer me his hand and I’m grateful for that.
“So, this is where you hide away.”
Michael’s tone is light, and I smile briefly. “For my sins.”
I cast a nervous glance at the next table and notice Atom watching the scene, his expression grim.”
“Well, um, it was nice to see you again, Michael. I’ll send a server over to take your order.”
“Why can’t you?” He shrugs. “You work here.”
“I clear the tables. That’s all.”
He raises his eyes. “Maybe I should discuss this with the manager and ask why his best asset is wasted in this way.”
“Please don’t.” I inject some steel into my voice.
“I am happy with my job as it is, thank you. Anyway, have a good day. I should carry on with my work.”
I turn to leave and am surprised when Michael catches my hand and tugs me back and says smoothly, “I’m having a party on Saturday night. I hope you’ll be there. I’ve invited the others.”
It’s as if he is part of my friendship group and referencing that and my skin bristles when Emilio adds, “He won’t take no for an answer, so you as may as well accept that.”
It’s as if my worlds are about to collide as I watch Atom clench his feet and half rise and I say quickly, “I’ve got plans. I’m sorry. I hope you enjoy the night.”
Before he can say anything else, I move swiftly away and shake my head as I pass Atom, rolling my eyes as a way of communicating what I think of Michael and his invitation. Atom sits back down but his expression is hard and my heart thumps as I head to the counter to direct a server Michael’s way.
Alice is waiting and whispers, “What the hell was that? I could almost touch the tension from here.”
“A new guy in town. Michael Santobello. My mom’s preferred choice as boyfriend of the year and my last one.”
“Wow.” Her eyes widen. “No wonder Atom looked pissed. I had one hand on the alarm because if looks could kill, that new guy would be dead by now.”
My earlier euphoria vanishes quicker than my heart dropped when Michael walked in and I hate the bad vibe crushing my happiness. There is a storm heading my way. I’ve felt it for days and it’s on a collision course to destroy any happiness I’ve found and pull me back into a world I desperately want to escape.
“Well, that’s interesting.”
Alice interrupts my depressed thoughts and I glance at the door that is swinging closed behind another customer.
“He doesn’t usually eat here?”
I hold my breath because Dominic Riley heads inside Joes and scans the room. His gaze rests on Michael’s table and as he heads over to them, I wonder what the purpose of their meeting is.
Dominic Riley is a crook in a designer suit. He runs a huge business in town but has his sight set on the governor’s office. Many consider him to be the most powerful influential man in the entire state and here he is in Easy Joes bar, meeting two men whose vibes are way off. Something extremely ominous is happening, and I hate the premonition surrounding my soul that this will not end well for me.