Standing By (Road House) (3 page)

Pan hurried into the small bathroom and felt bad when she heard sniffling from one of the stalls.

“Oh, Iris, I was just teasing.” She tried to open it up, but the lock was in place.

The click sounded and a red-eyed Iris opened.

“I know.” She sniffled loudly. “I just can’t seem to stop crying.”

Iris laughed, which only made the sniffling louder.

The two laughed.

“Ugh. All these hormones are making me crazy.” Iris walked over to the mirror to check her eyes.

Slightly pink, but she looked completely in control.

“All better?”

Iris slicked back her hair. “Yeah, sorry about that. We should get back though.”

“That’s what sisters are for.” Pan winked and gave Iris a quick hug. “Go on and head back. I’m going to go while I’m in here.”

Pan quickly finished her business and hurried to rejoin the group. As she rushed out of the bathroom, she ran into a solid wall of flesh.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Pan looked up to meet Emilio’s deep brown depths.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he barked.

Pan stepped back at the hostility. “Doing? Uh, going back to drink.” Pan shifted her eyes from side to side. Damn, all alone.

“With Tyler.” Emilio took a menacing step forward.

Pan narrowed her eyes at him.

“Whatever the fuck I feel like.” Pan crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“You can’t be with him.” Emilio stepped forward again. This time they were toe to toe. His breath floated across her face.

“Why’s that?” Pan took in a shaky breath. He just seemed so raw, and she couldn’t figure out why.

“You aren’t for him.”

Pan bristled at the comment. Why didn’t everyone seem to think she wasn’t good enough for Tyler?

“I’ve about had enough of everyone being worried over Tyler. He’s a big damn boy, and if I want to go out with him then I will.” A lock of her dark brown hair fell down her face. “Not to mention that you get to fuck every big-titted bimbo in a pair of heels, and I’m just supposed to stand by and watch.”

She froze when Emilio brushed the hair behind her ear and then trailed his fingers along her neck. Her skin prickled in the wake of his hand. Goose bumps formed. The look in his eyes caused a tingle and made her insides clench. Leaning a fraction of an inch toward him, she enjoyed the warmth he created in her.

“This isn’t about Tyler,” Emilio said in hushed tones. “Or the bimbos.”

“What’s it about then?” Pan swayed. The effect he had on her was obvious. The way her nipples pointed through the thin material of her bra and tank, it was a wonder she wasn’t poking him in the chest with them.

“He’s just not the right guy for you.”

Pan stared into his hooded eyes and wondered if he was going to kiss her. It’s what she had been thinking about for nearly a year, but this was the first time he’d even seemed interested.

“Oh, and who is?” She leaned in so their mouths were nearly touching. “Are you the right guy?” The husky sound her voice made and half-mast eyes made it clear what she thought.

Emilio jerked back and ran a hand through his ink black hair. The muscles on his tanned chiseled arms twitched, like he was holding himself in check.

“No,” he said with a sigh. “I’m not the guy.”

Pan watched as he looked everywhere but toward her.

“Oh you have got to be kidding me!” Pan shoved Emilio with everything she had and felt a little satisfaction when he stumbled back

The shock of it was clearly written on his face. “I just don’t get you. You run from me for the past year. Then when I give up and move on, you won’t let me go.”

“I wasn’t trying—”

“Really? You really weren’t trying?” Anger raged through her. She was sick and tired of this. He was either interested, or he wasn’t. This cat and mouse game was finished. “Whatever, I’m done.”

Pan twisted around him and stomped toward the front.

“Wait.” Emilio grabbed her by the wrist. “It’s not like that.”

She tugged her arm back. “Oh sure it’s not.” Pan rolled her eyes.

“What, you think it’s fucking easy not going to you? To not put my mouth on you and watch you fall apart as I make you come?” Emilio rubbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him. “To not lose myself in you until we are both shouting our release?”

Pan closed her eyes and shuddered at the thought.

“Why?” she whispered.

Emilio released her hand, jerking Pan back to reality. She eyed him as he stepped away.

“It’s too dangerous.” Emilio turned to head to the back door but stopped. “I just can’t risk it. You mean something, and they would use that.”

“They?” Pan was confused. Something was happening with Emilio, and she couldn’t figure out what.

He turned and looked at her with such longing her heart broke a little.

“Have a good night with the girls.” And just like that, he was gone.

Emilio cursed as the door shut behind him. He hadn’t meant to get so close. Hadn’t meant to say anything really, but when he saw her in those low-slung jeans and tank, his mind hadn’t really been doing much of the thinking.

He kicked some gravel. Just thinking of her with Tyler pissed him off. The two were buds, but every time he pictured them, standing on the porch laughing, he wanted to go over and beat the shit out of him.

This was a new one for him. It hadn’t been so bad running from her the past year. Sure he had wanted to do something about it, but the dangers involved had made it easy to keep her at arm’s length.

His lip curled at the thought of the dangers. The next time he saw his father, he planned on ripping off his fucking balls. Leaving him to deal with his mess was one thing, but now his whole family was feeling the strain of his father’s connections. Nicoli was only inches away from getting into some serious shit. He really didn’t know how he’d keep his just barely teen brother out of this. As it was, his sister was fielding most of the police’s questions. Detective Connor Maxwell had been a particularly large thorn in his side, not that Maria seemed to mind. He had seriously started to wonder if Maxwell came by to check on leads or check out his sister. Either way, he didn’t like it.

Emilio hopped on his bike and headed back to the shop. Maybe if he threw himself elbow deep in grease, it would help him work out some of his anger.

Pan stumbled back to the table. She felt like she’d been shot. The shock of it would have been less surprising than some of the things Emilio had said. She was important? They would use that? The more she thought on it, the less sense it made.

“Hey, what took so long?” Iris pinned her with a hard stare.

Pan shook her head. “I’m just not feeling so great. Think I’ll cut tonight short.”

She knew Iris wasn’t buying it, but let it slide. Wasn’t often she skipped out on a girls’ night.

“All right, but call me tomorrow. Don’t forget I have a doctor’s appointment and won’t be in all day.”

Pan nodded and headed for the door.

Once outside, the cool air wakened her senses a little. Since talking to Emilio, everything felt slightly muted and a little out of focus.

She mounted her bike and started driving back to the bookshop. When she passed the spot where she’d seen Max, she slowed down. With that prick, she couldn’t be too certain what would come.

What she didn’t expect to see was the teen from before. Blood dripped down his face. Max and his goon towered over him. The thugs beat on the poor boy, menacing smiles plastered to their faces.

Pan snapped. It was one thing to mess with adults, but kids crossed the line. She whipped the bike around and roared back to the alley front. There would be just enough room if everything worked out right.

The bike rumbled toward the two men. They didn’t even seem to notice until she was right on them. Pan slipped a machete out from a holster on the side. She’s upgraded since her last run-in with these pricks.

The men jumped back at the sheer size of the weapon. Pan screeched to halt, flipped the boy on the back of the bike and tore off through the alley. Unsteady hands gripped her stomach as they raced through the darkness. Shots rang out just as they turned the corner.

“Bitch!” Max screamed at her. “You think I don’t know your bike?”

Yeah, he knew it was her. This was going to be fun later.

Chapter Four

Pan weaved in and out of traffic. She wasn’t certain they would be able to follow her, but Max had eyes and ears around town. They would need to head to some place quiet. A place that they wouldn’t think to look. Pan grinned. Only one place would work.

The city slowly started to fade as they followed the roads outside of town. Finally, a good twenty minutes later, they stopped at a small diner. She was happy they had made it in time. Most things shut down around here at ten. Half an hour more and they would be hunkered down in some shed.

“Hop off, kid.” Pan loosened the grip he had on her waist.

“Where are we?” the boy asked.

She took her helmet off and shook her long, brown locks.

“A friend of mine owns the place. We can chill here until things die down.”

She turned and finally got a good look at the boy. Slightly unkempt black hair framed his tan cherub-like face. His hazel eyes were so wide and expressive she felt just inches away from pulling him into a bear hug. The wonder and awe she found there touched her in ways she hadn’t expected. Quickly, she looked away. Something seemed familiar about him.

“Let’s go on in.”

Pan led the way.

When they had settled into a booth, Anna popped by with a pot of steaming coffee. Pan thought the teen boy’s eyes were going to pop out of his head with how hard he stared at Anna. Not that Pan blamed him. Anna was short and busty. Like pop a button and put an eye out busty. Her long, blond hair was always tied back, and that, for some reason, only seemed to set the guys off more.

“Well it’s been a while, Pan.” Anna poured her a cup of coffee. The teen quickly flipped his mug over for a cup as well. Anna arched a brow but poured anyways.

“It has. Just hiding out for a bit.”

“From the good guys or the bad guys?” Anna stood and planted a hand on her hip.

Pan laughed loudly. “Bad for now.” She turned to the teen and stared at him pointedly. “But I haven’t gotten the full story yet.”

“You all going to eat anything?”

Pan glanced at the counter. Anna’s famous apple pies were proudly on display. She figured nothing could butter the kid up more to talk than warm apple pie a la mode. With the order for two put in, Anna wandered off, leaving the two alone to talk.

“So,” Pan fiddled with the silverware. “Wanna tell me what the hell was going on back there?”

The boy’s lips clamped up. This was going to be for more difficult than expected.

“’Kay, well how about your name?”

“Nic.”

“Well hi, Nic. I’m Pan.” Pan stuck out her hand and was thrilled when he shook it. “So I’m just gonna come right out and say it, Max is a bad dude. Whatever you got going with him, I’d quit right now.”

“Aren’t you worried?” Nic ran a hand through his hair. “You really shouldn’t have gotten involved. Now he’s going to be after you.”

“Max?” Pan cracked her knuckles. “He and I have some unfinished business.”

Nic eyebrows shot up, and Pan nearly choked on her coffee. Apparently, he hadn’t expected her to want to pick a fight with Max. Heck, hardly anyone picked a fight with a man like him. He was the go between for a number of unsavory organizations, and some groups that weren’t so organized. People turned to him when they needed a problem to disappear. He made it happen.

Anna came back with the pies, and they both fell silent eating. When they had finished, Pan continued with her questioning.

“So. You going to tell me what the hell was going on back there?” She leaned back in her seat and put her arms on either side. One thing she’s learned from years around men was to make yourself as big as possible.

Nic shook his head. Pan sighed. Whatever it was, he wasn’t talking.

“Well you have to talk to someone about this. Anyone else know about what’s going on?” She stopped to take a drink of her coffee.

“Yeah, my brother knows.” He looked down at his fingers and twisted the napkin.

“So who’s your brother? Maybe I know him.”

“Emilio Diaz.”

Pan’s eyes flew to his. Well damn. Now that she thought of it, the kid was the spitting image of Emilio. Another heartbreaker in the making.

“Well, we had better get you home. I’m betting your mom and sister are having a fit.”

Nic shot her a sheepish smile. Yup, the kid already knew how to work over the ladies.

***

Emilio cursed as he pulled up to his mother’s house. Just like fingerprints, a person’s bike was very much a unique thing. At least the good ones were. Pan’s bike sat in front of the house, mocking him. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to have it sitting there.

This was going to be bad. For one, it was bad enough living with you mom, sister and brother, but now he had to have a very uncomfortable conversation with them just feet away. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he’d had his old apartment, but like with everything else, his father had screwed that for him when he split town. His mother couldn’t afford to meet the mortgage payment without his help, so he did what anyone would do, he moved home.

Emilio put the stand up and climbed off his bike. He figured he would just go in, hash it out and put an end to the silly dream Pan seemed to have about the two of them.

When he walked into the living room, he found his whole family gathered around her. His blood started to boil. It was not okay for her to just try and make a place among his family.

Pan looked up and gave him an awkward smile.

“What the fuck!” Emilio stormed over to Pan.

“Emilio!” his mother shouted in surprise. “Watch your mouth!”

He ignored her protest. “What, it wasn’t bad enough that you follow me around at the bar, but now you’re following me home?”

His arms shot out wide, and Pan jumped back at the gesture.