Chapter 1 #2
But, again, I should’ve known better.
A hand snagged my wrist, halting my steps. I was whipped around until I was face to torso with a mountain of a man.
At barely five-one, I was used to being shorter than pretty much everyone. But between his towering height and muscular build, I felt infinitesimal as the suited man eclipsed me.
I craned my neck to look up at the behemoth with buzzed hair and a full blond beard. His hazel eyes were far too sharp as he stared down at me and repeated, “Return it.”
“Return what?” I tried.
He arched a brow, not buying my innocent bullshit. “The wallet.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now let me go before I scream.” I tried to tug out of his viselike grip, but it was impossible.
“Good idea. I’m sure security can help get to the bottom of this.”
I swallowed hard. “Security?”
He tilted his head toward where a handsome Black man stood against the wall, an authoritative air about him as he surveyed the expansive room. I didn’t need to see the details on the ID badge clipped to his suit jacket to know he was in a position of power.
The bearded man gestured again, that time to where three men were converged, all wearing the typical security guard uniforms.
His focus returned to me. “Go ahead and scream, little girl.”
As insulted as I was by the condescending name, I was more terrified at the threat of getting busted. If getting fired had screwed me over, getting arrested would fuck up my entire life.
“I’ll return it,” I said quietly.
When the man released me, I didn’t try to run. He’d have caught me in two of his long-legged steps, alerting security in the process.
My mom was the one who thrived off making a scene, not me.
I slid the wallet from my pocket and backtracked to where the couple still lingered near the restaurant.
Pretending to pick it up, I stood and tapped the mark’s shoulder. “Excuse me, is this yours?”
His eyes dropped to the wallet and then narrowed on me.
It didn’t matter what trumped-up image I’d tried to project to make it seem like I belonged in the fancy casino.
It didn’t matter how easily and skillfully I schooled my features into the picture of innocence.
To the people who actually belonged in the luxury resort, I still looked like exactly what I was.
Poor trash.
Shit, this is going to be bad.
I braced, my thoughts racing for excuses if he accused me of… well, of the truth.
His gaze went over my head just as I felt someone behind me. “Do you work here? This… girl,” he spat, making it clear that wasn’t the word he wanted to use, “stole my wallet.”
“The wallet in your hands?” the behemoth asked.
“Yes, but—”
“The one she just picked up and handed to you?”
“Yes, but—”
“Is anything missing?”
My failed mark opened his wallet to check his cards and count his cash.
An obscene amount of it.
He wouldn’t have noticed five bucks missing. He probably wouldn’t have even realized if a couple of hundred were missing.
He tucked the bills away. “It’s all here.”
“Then what’s the problem?” the man behind me asked, his voice dripping with impatience.
“No problem,” my mark said, even as he eyed me with distaste—like my mere existence was an insult to him. Without another word, he and the woman walked away, not even thanking me for finding the wallet.
I mean, I was also the one who’d taken it, but still. Rude.
Not turning, I quietly muttered, “There, it’s returned.”
I tried to continue on my way to hell in a flaming handbasket, but a large hand encircled my wrist again. That time, he didn’t have to whip me around. I did it myself so I could glare up at him. “I will scream, and it doesn’t matter if security hears now.”
He didn’t seem worried. “Why’d you take it?”
There was no animosity in his tone. No judgment. No ridicule. It was just curiosity, like he was asking what my favorite food was.
Any.
Any was my favorite food.
When I didn’t answer, he twisted my arm in his hold, and his gaze darted down.
I’d grown up in Vegas—and not the Moonlight side of it that was all glam and luxury. I knew what he was looking for.
That he’d caught me stealing was embarrassing.
But watching him inspect my inner arm for track marks killed.
I’d long ago given up caring about what others thought of me. The assumptions they were quick to make. But for whatever reason, I didn’t want this stranger to think I was a junkie.
Turning both my arms so he could see they were unmarred, I kept my voice low as I shared my shame. “I’m just hungry. I was going to take enough to buy a cheap burger and then drop the wallet with an employee. That’s it, I swear.” Tears blurred my vision as I repeated, “I’m just hungry.”
“Then let’s feed you,” he said simply.
My stomach ate away at itself. The burn of reflux and cramps caused a constant ache that I couldn’t escape. Not while I worked. Not while I dealt with a behemoth. Not even in sleep.
But I shook my head, my stupid pride unwilling to accept his charity. “I need to get home.”
“I didn’t ask. Let’s go.”
“Really, it’s—”
“Now, little girl. Or I’ll talk to security. I’m sure a place like this is loaded with cameras that caught your trick.”
It was the wrong thing to be cocky about, but I knew it was unlikely any camera had detected my pickpocketing. My movements were trained to be minimal. At most, it would look like I’d brushed by the man.
The behemoth as a witness changed things, though.
I wasn’t sure whether he’d actually turn me in, but I wasn’t anxious to find out.
“Okay,” I relented.
A slow smile spread across his lips, making deep dimples appear under his blond beard. “Good.”
I had no idea what was good about any of it, especially for him.
I didn’t trust his smile or words.
Or him, for that matter.
Despite my agreement seconds before, I dug my heels in. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because you’re hungry.”
“Okay, and? What’s that got to do with you?” I snapped—partially to mask my embarrassment but mostly because I was exhausted and starving.
“Are you always such a ray of sunshine?” he shot back instead of answering. Still holding my wrist, he walked through the milling crowds, not hesitating or dodging out of the way like I did. He didn’t have to. Everyone got the hell out of his path, likely for fear of being mowed over.
We followed the signs for the food court, and my eyes landed on an exit.
When we pass, I’ll duck out and run my ass off.
I barely finished my thought when he said, “Don’t even think about it.”
I forced my voice to be light and confused. “Think about what?”
“Running. You wouldn’t get more than a handful of steps before I caught you.”
“I predicted two steps.”
“I was being generous.”
“Nice of you,” I deadpanned.
He smiled down at me, but he didn’t say anything further.
There was no reason for him to be mindful of my ego. Getting caught stealing and then becoming a charity case had already destroyed what little, tattered one I’d started with.
It was officially DOA.
We walked in silence for a couple of minutes before reaching the food court. So many mouthwatering scents hit my nose at once, I worried I’d start to drool.
“What’re you in the mood for?” he asked.
Everything.
Anything.
All of it.
My choices were Mexican, chicken, burgers, and a deli sandwich place. I scanned the prices before sticking with my original—and inexpensive—plan. “A burger.”
He lifted his chin and guided me over to that register. “Order what you want.”
“Can I have a junior burger, please?” I asked the wide-eyed cashier.
Not that I blamed her reaction. Shame-spiral or not, even I knew the man at my back was hot.
Maybe she thought I was a juvenile delinquent out for lunch with my social worker.
Or parole officer.
“Make that a double,” the behemoth said.
“Cheese?” the cashier asked.
I shook my head. “No—”
“Yes,” the behemoth answered for me.
“Bacon?” the cashier asked.
“No—” I tried, but again, the behemoth contradicted me.
“Yeah. And a large fry, a large drink, and a chocolate milkshake.”
Oh duh.
He must be eating, too.
“And a salad,” he added, rounding off the meal with something healthy. Like some lettuce would cancel out the thirty million calories in the fries and shake.
He’s well over six feet of solid muscle. He probably needs a ton of calories to fuel a body like his.
My cheeks flushed at my thoughts. I had no business thinking about his body.
And I certainly shouldn’t have been studying it the way I was.
When I dragged my eyes up to his face, I saw he looked down at me expectantly.
My face burned hotter.
If he’d noticed me checking him out, he didn’t say anything. “What dressing?”
“Ranch,” I answered without thought before realizing why he asked. I’d assumed the salad was for him. It would be in the end because I had no intention of eating anything other than the burger.
After the behemoth paid a far from cheap total, we moved over to the pickup area to wait.
Between the various smells and the heat emanating from the kitchens, my stomach began to churn. My appetite quickly faded, leaving nausea in its place. Saliva filled my mouth at an alarming rate.
At least I won’t embarrass myself by throwing up huge chunks… There’s nothing in there but stale black coffee and stomach acid.
Spots floated in my vision before it tunneled suddenly. My hands shot out to grip the counter as I fought to remain standing, but my movements were slow despite my panic. Everything shifted, and the world went sideways.
“Hey, whoa.” The behemoth caught me around the waist as I slumped, keeping me upright. He pulled his phone out, likely to call for help.
That was enough to jolt me out of my daze so I could force out, “I just need to eat something.”
“I’m calling an ambu—”
“No, no. It’s just low blood sugar.”
If he called an ambulance, I’d have to explain that I had no insurance and no money to pay the hefty bill for their trip. I’d be in debt for the rest of my life, all so they could tell me what I already knew.
I needed food.