Page 35 of The Monster and the Masochist

Jerry scoffed and shrugged.

“Depends. Kid’s got some demons, Miss Walker. Sometimes they catch up to her, and it’s usually a bitch to get her back on track. I suspect she’ll be here once she sorts herself out.”

What the fuck did that mean?

“Demons?” I asked dumbly, and Jerry’s scowl intensified.

He looked me up and down critically and shook his head.

“Listen, Miss Walker. I’m gonna be frank with yuh.”

I blinked at him and nodded.

“Please do.”

He eyed me warily before clearing his throat.

“Unless you’re planning on helpin’ that kid, you’d do well to stay away from her, you hear me? I have my hands full enough keepin’ her head in the game without watchin’ her pick up the pieces of a broken heart. I don’t know what she’s got going on, but whatever it is, she’s barely hanging on as it is. You’re either helping her, or you’re hurting her, and I don’t take kindly to anyone who doesn’t have that kid’s best interests at heart. You hear me, Miss Walker?”

‘I like him,’ my beast purred, and I blinked again, unsure how I felt about being threatened by someone’s grandpa. After a moment of consideration, I decided it was endearing and not worth getting bitchy over.

It was nice that Theo had this man looking out for her.

I found that I approved.

“Understood, Mr…”

“Just Jerry is fine.”

My lip twitched.

“Understood, Jerry. Thanks for taking the time to speak with me.”

“It ain’t nothin.’” He shrugged before settling heavily back into his seat.

I left the cafe, feeling even more stressed than I had when I’d come in.

Demons? What demons?

As far as I knew, Theo had a great childhood. Both of her parents had loved the shit out of her. She was a certified badass who hadn’t taken shit from anyone in school.

Ryan had told me she used to protect him all the time from kids who tried to bully him.

Theo was the strongest, most confident person I’d ever met. So much so that I was honestly a little bit threatened by her. It was a big reason why she rubbed me the wrong way sometimes.

She was just so calm and cool… It made me feel like an out-of-control psycho in comparison.

How could somebody like that have demons?

And if she did… Did that mean someone had hurt her?

Like, really hurt her? More than all the cuts and bruises that always marred her perfect face?

The second that realization tore through my mind, my grip tightened hard enough on my coffee that the lid popped off.

Shit.

Holding the cup away from me so I wouldn’t stain my blouse, I cursed as I struggled to get the lid back on without messing up my outfit.