The Luna's Heart

Bryson

Riley

I drove straight through to Bryson. It was nothing but trees and winding roads for the last several miles. Thanks to my 1995 hooptie not having a radio. I was obliged to listen to my own thoughts for the last two and a half hours. I was making myself crazy. Constantly questioning why I was even doing all of this. Lily would chime in every once in a while to tell me that it will call be as it should be soon enough... whatever the hell that meant. I stopped at a restaurant in the middle of town, right on the main street. By this point, I was starving and thought my bladder was going to burst. I am greeted by a beautiful girl with golden eyes. The smiling waitress takes my drink order before I head to the bathroom. I take advantage of the sink and wash the sweat from my face and neck. One of the many downfalls of traveling in the summer. Thousands of miles across the country in a clunker with no air-conditioning.

As I approached a vacant seat at the bar, she does something strange. As she approaches me with my beverage, she sniffs the air. Then stopped in her tracks and is starting into space for a few seconds. Blinking, she returns to task as if everything is normal. She takes my order, pausing a few times to space out again.

"That was a bacon cheeseburger...no onions, an order of fries...was that with ketchup?"

The entire process took a good five minutes. Sitting there, an uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach as the pretty waitress continued alternate between staring at me in confusion and spacing out every so often. This is too weird for me.

I was about to ask for my food to go when...

Stay put! They're coming!

I visualize a wolf bouncing around and wagging her tail in anticipation of what's to come. Or should I say Who?

With my food being sat in front of me, I force myself to relax as I pick at the fries on my plate.

Half the restaurant was openly staring at me now. My anxiety was at an all time high as I try to focus on chewing and swallowing my food.

The tinkle of the bell above the door signals new customers arriving. Three very large, very handsome men file into the small waiting area near the cash register. They look round the room until their eyes land on me. The leader of the group, sniffs the air and makes eye contact. He has the same golden eyes as the waitress. A brother maybe? He makes his way directly to where I am sitting at the bar. I try to ignore the imposing presence and the sudden racing of my heart.

He leans against the bar, arm propped against the surface, facing me.

"You're not from around here."

A statement rather than question.

"Nope. Just passing through." I say, not looking up.

The hulking jerk reached across my plate and snagged a fry and pops it into his mouth. Was that supposed to intimidate me? Because he's really pissing me off!

"Can I help you with something?"

I turned my full attention to the asshole next to me.

He smiles. "Feisty little thing. I came here to ask you the exact same thing."

Trust him.

She hasn't been wrong yet. I a breath to steady my nerves.

"I am looking for something. Maybe someone. "

"What is it you're looking for, sweetheart. Maybe I can help."

He makes another grab for my food, but this time, got his hand slapped.

The son of a b***h just smirks.

"Keep your damn hands off my food, for starters."

" Look, honey. If you are looking for something or someone in this town. I'm your guy. You may want to be a little more...hospitable." He runs a single finger up my arm sending chills up my spine. My stomach recoils in disgust.

Trust him ,huh?

"f**k you!" I drop a twenty on the counter and stand up to leave.

He makes a grab for her arm. The fight was on. I didn't spend years alone in this world and not know how to defend myself. I land a solid pinch to his jaw and another to his cheek. That's as high as I can reach. It doesn't phase him. He makes a move towards me a second time and I bring my knee up with all my strength into his groin. That did it. The muscled up asshole doubled over, holding his privates. Trying to maneuver around him and make my escape, I am grabbed by the two goons that were with him.

Still kicking and fighting, the lead dickhead recovers from my assault and is standing in front of me.

" You shouldn't have done that, sweetheart."

I am still kicking and flailing like hell. Even though there was no use. And everyone around us just stared at the scene in open curiousity and amusement.

"Suck a d**k!"

He laughed at that. " What you got here?"

He asks, running his fingers along the chain around my neck. His hand disappearing beneath the hemline. Extracting it from between my breasts and and bringing it into view.

Mr. Ass Hat droops it as if it burns him.

"Where did you get this? Who the hell are you?" He seemed somewhere between pissed and panicked.

"It was a gift." Almost the truth. I'm not explaining myself to this s**t stain.

"What's your name?"

"Riley"

"You're full name."

"Just Riley to you."

He looks at goon number one. "Get her to the car. And don't let anything happen to her. If this girl is who I think, we're already in deep s**t. "

Then to goon number two. "Link Alpha Adrian. Tell him We're on the way. I found something that belongs to him."

The next thing I know, I am being hauled out the front door of the diner, one man on each side, holding an arm in a vise like grip. I knew that fighting was useless, but o don't give a damn. I dig in my heels and cuss them all the way to the parking lot.

"What about my car?"

Asshat scoffs at my question.

"Your car is the leash of your problems, little girl."

Now I get to return the sarcasm.

"Now I'm a little girl? Huh, you were just propositioning me five minutes ago. Does that make you a pedophile?"

His lips disappear into a thin line.

"Watch your mouth...Get her in the damn car. I'll drive hers."

He had the nerve to fish the key from my pocket. That feeling of ickieness is there again at his touch. I am not sure what it was about this guy. But I do not want his hands anywhere near my body. It feels...wrong. Even a casual brush of his hand has my insides reeling in revulsion. I don't like it at all.