3. McKenna
McKenna
“ Y ou really think he’s standing out there watching?
” Brynne asked, glancing for the tenth time out the diner’s foggy window—barely an hour after I told her about the night with Austin.
She wouldn’t find him, though. I hadn’t been able to, either.
He nearly blended into the shadows, but I felt him out there. Eyes on me like a hawk to a mouse.
I grabbed dirty plates from the now-empty table, the two men having left minutes ago. “Guarantee it.”
The diner was nearly empty tonight due to the frigid temperatures that had rolled in, keeping everyone home to stoke their fires and prep more firewood for the long winter ahead. There’d be no more going outside without a jacket until spring.
“I’d even bet Booker’s right there with him, watching you,” I added over my shoulder before heading into the kitchen. Moments later, Brynne joined me.
“And you said Austin tried to scare you,” Brynne said, repeating what I’d told her earlier .
I hummed my response, setting the dishes in the sink.
I hated to admit that he’d partially succeeded in instilling fear in me, but I unfortunately understood why he did it.
I was avoiding the issue at hand because I didn’t want to face the fact that someone had actually threatened me with a simple damn note.
Austin was right. I needed to start being more careful if I wanted to stay alive.
He’d snuck up on me so easily, but the moment I’d realized it was him, the adrenaline coursing through my veins turned into something else entirely.
I hated how I’d almost felt safe with him.
Hated the other thoughts that had sprung to mind when he did it, too.
That was, until he fucking choked me.
But I hadn’t panicked because of his hand at my throat, withholding my air. I’d freaked because, in that moment, I realized how easy it would’ve been for anyone to take my life. Austin wouldn’t seriously hurt me. I knew that. But someone else would. Someone with a hit on my life.
Brynne leaned a hip against the metal prep table as I rinsed the ceramic plates. “Sounds like he’s taken some notes from Booker.”
“Must’ve been some shitty CliffsNotes, because it didn’t work.” I set the dishes in the dishwasher and shut it, then turned to find Brynne studying me with a cocked brow.
“What?”
“Really? It didn’t?” She looked like she didn’t believe me for a second.
“No,” I said, a tad too quickly. “What kind of man wears a mask, anyway? Halloween was weeks ago.”
She tilted her chin down, head angled sideways. “You know them. ”
“No, I don’t.” I grabbed a rag from the table she leaned against, drying my hands. “And I don’t want to.”
“Really,” she deadpanned.
“Really,” I repeated, holding her stare.
She shrugged, pushing off the table. I followed her out to the diner.
“I don’t know, McKenna. You two have some sort of riff going on, and that only ends in?—”
“Stop talking,” I interrupted, striding past her to grab my phone from where I’d left it beside the register. “It’ll never be like that.”
“Mm-hmm.” Brynne moved back to her table to check in on her customers. The only other worker here aside from the cook was a fellow waitress, Tasha, who Brynne was closing with.
After checking the time on my phone, I met Brynne back behind the bar. “My time here is up.”
She groaned. “Do you have to leave?”
My fingers worked at the knot on my apron. “Yes, and thank fuck for that. My feet hurt.”
“Yeah, yeah. Complain all you want. I’ll just be here suffering for the next three hours,” Brynne whined.
I paused beside her on my way back to the kitchen and patted her shoulder, giving her my best sympathetic pout. “I’m so sorry you have to endure such torture.”
She scrunched her nose at me before I continued on my way.
I stuffed my apron in the small locker and grabbed my car keys and jacket, slipping it on before heading out the back.
I supposed I should start parking in front of the diner on the street, but I hated parallel parking.
I’d probably rather die than have someone see me attempt it .
Keeping an eye on my surroundings for any sign of Austin, I crossed the lot and made it to my driver’s side door. I guessed he wasn’t showing his—masked—face tonight. Thank fuck, because I was not in the mood to deal with his stupid little antics.
As soon as I was behind the wheel, I locked the doors and turned on the engine to blast the heater. As I rubbed my hands together, my phone buzzed from where I’d set it in the cupholder. A text from Grace popped up when I glanced at my phone.
Grace: Can you come over?
I checked the time again. Six o’clock, and it was already pitch black outside.
My cousin lived on the outskirts of Whiskey Ridge, which meant the roads would likely be icy thanks to the freezing temperatures and sticky dew in the air.
But I had winter tires. Plus, she was family.
Just like with Brynne, I’d always show up for her.
I just got off work. Give me thirty?
Grace: Yeah no rush
Now that the vehicle was mostly warmed up, I set my phone back in the cupholder and shifted into drive, heading out of the parking lot. I could go home, change into something more comfortable, and then head to Grace’s.
Like last night and the night before, I didn’t notice headlights behind me as I drove home from work, which meant Austin likely wasn’t watching my every move once I left the diner.
The thought both comforted me and sent a chill up my spine, because while I hated him being this protective, concerned asshole, it also meant that once I left my job, I was alone.
But then I’d remind myself that I didn’t need a man to watch over me, and kick that anxiety to the curb.
I turned down my street and parked in the driveway.
I jumped out, jogged to the door, and slipped inside, changing into an oversized gray sweatshirt and black leggings.
I kept my hair up in its typical high ponytail, my pink scrunchie having held it firm all day.
Then I left, locking my front door behind me before getting back in the car.
The heat had already begun dissipating, but as soon as I turned the engine back on, it warmed right back up.
Twenty minutes later, I was pulling up to Grace’s house.
It was a quaint little brown home nestled in a cluster of trees off a long, paved road.
As soon as I stepped out of the warm cab with my phone in hand, the frozen, pine-scented air invaded my senses, easing a fraction of the stress on my shoulders—even though I was standing in the middle of a dark forest, with only her porch light illuminating part of the yard.
I beeped the locks behind me and headed up the stone path to the front door. As soon as I hit the step to the porch, Grace appeared in the doorway. Even in the poor lighting, I could see her puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks. I immediately closed the few steps between us, pulling her in for a hug.
My chin rested on her sweater-clad shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
With a sniffle, she said, “Come inside first. It’s freezing out here.”
I pulled away from her, following her inside where she shut the door behind me.
She must’ve had a candle going, because the distinct scent of vanilla and pumpkin hit me.
In the living room, fairy lights twinkled around the TV stand in place of the overhead light, giving the space a moody feel and illuminating the various plants she had hanging around.
“Are you in mourning or something?” I asked, noting her black sweater over top of black leggings, matching her black, long hair pulled up in a messy bun. The hairdo showed off the tattoos climbing her neck.
Grace’s small laugh sounded thoroughly congested, like she’d been crying for a while. “If breaking up with your boyfriend counts as mourning? Sure.”
My lips pulled into a sympathetic frown as I grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the couch. She plopped down on the dark green cushion, tucking a leg under her. I mimicked her position, facing her without letting go of her hand. “Tell me what that asshole did to make you cry.”
She used the fabric of her sleeve to wipe under her eye, the skin pulling a bit.
“He was just…a dick, you know?” I nodded as she continued.
“He was always pressuring me for sex, wanting more. And listen, we both know I’m open with all of that.
” She let out another nasally laugh. “I fucking love sex, okay?” I nodded again, cracking a smile, because she’d always been very open about that to me.
“But he made it so unenjoyable. Like it became a game of pleasuring him, and never me.”
“What a fucking pussy. He should have been worshipping you, Grace. I mean, look at you.”
She tried to hide her growing smile. “I know. So,” she sniffled before releasing a deep sigh, “I cut it off because I know I deserve better.”
“Hell yeah, you do.” Grace wasn’t one to cry over much, so I got the feeling whatever her ex did to cause them to split was far worse than him seldom dipping between her thighs for a taste—but I wouldn’t press. She’d open up on her own time.
“Sorry I texted you.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve before laying her hand on her lap. “I just didn’t want to be alone.”
“You can always call me. I’m your cousin, but I’m also your friend.” I shifted on the cushion, crossing both legs under me now. “I know we went a while without seeing each other because,” my hands made a weird gesturing motion, “ life , but that doesn’t mean I love you any less, okay?”
She gave another nod, her lips pressed in a firm line like she was trying to hold it together.
“How about we watch a movie?” I was already reaching for the remote, not giving her the option. She could talk about her breakup when she was ready, but it seemed more like she just needed a distraction right now.
“ The Parent Trap ?” Grace questioned.
“Duh. What other movie would I dare put on in a time of distress?”
As I got the movie ready, she pulled the black blanket over us from the back of the couch. I scooted in next to her before hitting play, thankful I could forget about my own problems for a couple hours and focus on someone else’s.
We’d barely made it an hour into the movie before Grace was dead asleep.
Her head was resting on the pillow shoved up against the armrest, the blanket pulled up around her shoulders.
I’d shifted away from her thirty minutes ago, my arm having gone numb from the way it was bent to curl up beside her.
With no plans to spend the night here, I carefully slid off the sofa that felt more like a cloud than anything else, quietly getting to my feet. I turned the movie off and left one string of fairy lights on so that if she woke, she wasn’t entirely in the dark.
Grabbing my phone off the glass coffee table, I sent her a text explaining I’d left, but if she needed me for anything, I could stop by tomorrow. Then, I grabbed my keys and locked her door behind me on my way out. I had a spare for her house, same as she had one for mine, just in case.
Ignoring the creepy feeling of being in the woods at night, I crossed the front yard to my car and got inside, immediately blasting the heater to ward off the chill. Though I didn’t think the goosebumps on my arms had anything to do with the cold at this point.
The entire time I lay on the couch, my mind kept wandering to that note.
What did they mean by “they took from us”?
Was it referring to when Booker killed the boss of the gambling corporation Brynne’s ex was involved in?
Or was there something else someone took, and now they were looking for a way to make it even?
A way that included me? It was hard to believe someone would want me dead, and I couldn’t help but think the note could lead to some sort of ransom situation—but what did I know?
My hands squeezed the steering wheel as I stared at the way my headlights lit up Grace’s garage door.
Brynne wasn’t directly showing her emotions because she didn’t want to be overbearing, but she was worried.
Hell, they all were. Booker, Henley, and, unfortunately, Austin.
I shouldn’t be pushing him away for looking out for me.
I should be thanking him. But for some reason, every time he was around, all I could remember was him holding me back when I wanted to pummel Henley into the ground for being the reason Brynne was in danger.
Austin should’ve been equally as pissed. Booker should have killed Henley for putting his woman in those men’s sights, but some fucking brotherly promise they had to each other stopped him.
They should’ve let me at him that night. I didn’t have any promises with anyone.
A figure appeared in my headlights, snapping me out of my thoughts. A scream caught in my throat as my heart surged, pounding against my ribs like a bullet.
The being lifted its head to reveal that it was only a deer, now staring right through my windshield. I forced a full breath down to the depths of my lungs.
“Just a deer,” I told myself, my clammy hands slick on the leather wheel. “Not an axe murderer coming to make good on their promise.”
But fuck, it could’ve been.
I clicked the button on the door to engage all the locks, then shifted into reverse and headed down the road.
My paranoia was getting the best of me. Being scared over a fucking deer?
I’d seen the damn animal and knew what it was, but it hadn’t stopped my immediate panic.
I was almost more pissed at the asshole for leaving an ominous note rather than taking action and killing me on the spot.
But I supposed that was the point—to make me overthink.
As my car dipped and bounced over small bumps in the road that would take me to the highway leading back to town, another pair of headlights appeared behind me, almost out of nowhere. The light was blinding—it was clear they had their brights on, but that wasn’t unusual out here during nightfall.
Grace also wasn’t the only one who lived down this stretch of forest, so I passed it off as one of her neighbors. I wasn’t going to keep freaking myself out for no reason. I was fine.
My car approached the stop sign, and while I signaled to go right, the other car went the opposite way, turning left. I hadn’t realized I’d been gripping the wheel so hard until I pulled out onto the road and my fingers began to ache.
I wiggled them over the leather, attempting to ease the tension that had settled in my bones. But it seemed futile as I watched their taillights fading into the night behind me, chills skating over my spine.
Maybe it wasn’t them, but someone was out there. Someone who wanted to scare me.
And it wasn’t just Austin.