Page 20 of Relentless Touch

“Time to hit the road,” Vaughn casually said.

Ameer’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t challenge them. He kept his gaze steady as he stepped back, pivoted on his heel, and strolled out the door. The restaurant stayed silent moment longer before customers finally remembered their food was getting cold.

Outside, Ameer crossed the street in a lazy swagger. Quinn was climbing out of his SUV, a shit-eating grin on his face. The two men sized each other up as they passed, then Quinn tossed what looked like mail at him. Ameer picked up the envelopes then slipped into his ride and pulled away.

Quinn watched him go then headed for the restaurant door.

Rio sighed, scrubbing a hand over his head. He glanced down the row of booths toward his mate.

But Kevin was gone.

* * * *

Kevin had no idea who that stranger was, but the guy was setting off alarm bells in Kevin’s head, a warning to get his ass out of there. He slipped from the dining room while everyone postured at the door, and didn’t stop until he reached the single-occupant bathroom. Closing the door, Kevin twisted the lock.

For a good ten seconds, he pressed his back flat against the door, willing his heart to slow down. Once his heart obeyed, Kevin moved toward the sink, catching his reflection in the mirror. His hair stuck up from where he’d raked fingers through it about a thousand times. Sweat beaded on his brow, and his face was flushed.

He splashed water on his face, watched it drip off his chin, then scrubbed hard with a wad of paper towel until his jaw stung.

“Why can’t I have a normal, boring life?” He rested his palms against the sink’s edge.

The moment that slab of muscle walked through the front door, Kevin had panicked. He didn’t know the man, but the look Rio had leveled at him and the way the stranger had stared back, told Kevin all he needed to know. That goon worked for Izan.

“All I’d wanted was to dance and get laid. I can never catch a fucking break. God, I’m so tired of this bullshit.”

He wanted to pull his hair out or punch something. So he slapped the paper towel dispenser.

“Ow! Fuck that hurt.” Kevin shook out his stinging hand. “Stupid dispenser.”

A knock sounded at the door. “Kev?”

Kevin froze, like he could disappear if he stayed completely still.

The lock clicked with the sound of keys rattling. Rio had a master key. Of course he’d use it.

Rio slowly entered the bathroom, like he was approaching a cornered animal. Kevin wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. What he didn’t want was Rio’s constant concern or the way his mate hesitated at the door.

“I didn’t give you the signal for bathroom backup.”

“I figured you’d appreciate the privacy. But I also figured you’d try to climb out the window, so here I am.”

The words landed somewhere in Kevin’s chest, thick and sticky and too close to real.

Rio was never going to let that go. Kevin had run one time, and now every time he panicked, Rio assumed he would take off.

“Do you see a window in here?” He pointed at the solid wall. “Or maybe you thought I’d use the toilet as an escape hatch into the sewers.”

“It was a lousy attempt at levity.”

“At my expense.” Kevin shot forward and shoved Rio in the chest, but his mate didn’t budge. He just stood there, hands tucked into the front pockets of his slacks.

Kevin tried again, only this time Rio caught his wrists. Even now, he handled Kevin like he was something precious, not a threat to be managed.

“Let go,” Kevin hissed.

“I won’t let you hurt yourself, Kevin.”

“Fuck you. My life isn’t a joke, Rio. You’re only experiencing a sample size of what I deal with. If it’s not an asshole who thinks bottled water equals ownership, it’s a boyfriend trying to strip away my identity, or a father who blamed a small child for adult decisions.