Page 10 of Healer’s Betrayal

“I’m fine, Kayla,” he says quietly. He slides into a small table out of the way and gets out his books. I run my hand over his head and for a moment let regret fill me, regret that he doesn’t have a life like a normal seven-year-old boy.

I force the negative thoughts aside. “I know; I’ll bring you a glass of ice water.” I head to the back to grab an apron and water for Noah and clock in. I haven’t even made it to my first table when Jessie comes towards me, eyes wide. I know what she’s going to say before she says it.

“They’re here.”

Butch appears from the kitchen and cocks his head towards the back door. “Go.”

I glance over my shoulder but can’t see the newcomers from this angle. I look at Jessie and then back at Butch. I can’t leave now; I’ll miss a whole day’s pay. And I just can’t right now, not with the three hundred I had to pay and a looming car payment. I won’t do that to Jessie either. “It’s fine; I’ll deal with them.”

Jessie’s eyes widen. “What if they’re here on your uncle’s behalf?”

“Then he already knows I’m here.” I grab my notepad; my mind is made up. I’ll deal with these guys so nobody else has to.

Butch gives me a slow nod. “You need me; you call for me.”

My heart pinches. “Thanks, Butch. I will.”

Mama May walks over to me. “Those two are here again.”

“I’m going to deal with them,” I tell her.

She gives me one of her looks. “Okay. Don’t make a scene.”

“I won’t.” Then I throw my shoulders back and head over to the tables around the corner. It's high time I deal with them. This has gone on long enough. When I finally get a look at the two men who’ve caused all this trouble, I falter in my steps. The picture I saw of them didn’t quite do them justice. They’re both big guys, but the one on the right looks like he just walked out of the woods. All he needs is an axe. I’ve never been a fan of the mountain man look, but if anybody could pull it off, this guy is doing it somehow. Suddenly, electric blue eyes meet mine; and my feet stop moving. I manage to get ahold of myself and walk the remaining distance to the table, but it feels like I’m walking through quicksand. I finally stop at their table and force my gaze to the other man sitting at the table. He’s no less notable with dark hair and broad shoulders and eyes that are simply brown, not the shocking blue of the guy across the table from him. I remember why I came over here and force my voice to work. “If you’re here on my uncle’s behalf, then you can go right back where you came from. Noah and I are staying here, and there’s nothing he can do to change that. And if he tries, I have friends this time that won’t let that happen. I won’t allow him to hurt us ever again.” Anger builds inside me as I speak, anger at my uncle. “My brother and I will never go back to him, so you can just hightail it back to him and tell him that.” I finally breathe and then remember where I’m at. A quick glance around the restaurant shows that most people missed my little showdown. The two men are silent, but it’s the one on the right that makes me nervous.

“What uncle?” he grounds out in a low, raspy voice. Those two words, spoken in that tone, make me go very still. There’s something about this man that makes me believe he is much more dangerous than my uncle ever was. I find myself taking a step backwards. I glance down at his hand and see it’s clenched around the steak knife so tightly, his knuckles are white. True fear floods me, and I take another step back, ready to flee. He must catch my intent because he suddenly drops the knife and stands, pushing his chair back with a screech. “Wait.”

It’s obviously an order, one that I have no intention of obeying. “We’re not here on behalf of your uncle,” the dark-haired one says. “We have no idea who he is.”

I take in his words and search for any untruth. “Then why are you here? Why are you looking for me? And don’t pretend that you aren’t, because I know you were asking about me.” I cross my arms over my chest, and the red-head tracks the movement.

“What happened to your arm?”

It’s now the second question he’s asked, and this one sounds just as scary as the first one. I drop my arm, moving it behind me. “I’m just clumsy. Now why are you here and what do you want with me?”

“Kayla Darling,” Mama May says, stopping next to me. “You’re not causing a scene in my restaurant, right?” she asks in a voice too soft to be heard by the men.

I swallow. “No. I was just getting ready to take their order.”

“Good.” She moves past, and I take out my notepad. I notice the redhead is sitting again. “Drinks?” I ask, not bothering to be more polite.

“Water and a coffee for me,” the guy on the left says.

I nod and look at the guy on the right. He's watching me with those bright eyes, and I shiver. There’s something about that gaze that’s so unnerving. “Same,” he manages to say.

I spin around and make my way to the kitchen without another word. “Well?” Jessie asks as she fills a cup next to me.

I take a breath, trying to control my breathing. “They said they’re not from my uncle.”

“And you believe them?” There’s no censure in her voice.

“I don’t know yet. There’s something more to them, but I don’t know that they’re from my uncle.”

“Do you want me to take their table?” she offers.

“No, I need to get to the bottom of this. Besides, Mama May already made it clear that I’d better not make a scene.” She winces, and I nod. “Yeah.”

I put the waters and coffees on a tray, but Jessie stops me before I head back out there. “You say the word, and we’re out of here.”