“Man in a suit?” I repeated, tilting my head to the side. I looked at Rachel. “Did Joey pay his taxes?”
“No, I paid his damn taxes for him like I do every fucking year. There’s no way in hell a tax man would come sniffing around here. I got that shit locked down tight.”
“No, it wasn’t a tax man. Maybe a lawyer. I was doing restocks when he came in just before opening. He was scary-looking though.”
“What did he look like?” I pressed, the hairs on the back of my neck rising.
“He had long black hair, past his shoulders, half pulled back, a nose ring, and was covered in tattoos. Oh! He had a moth tattoo on the top of his hand.” She raised hers, circling the area between her thumb and pointer finger. “Here.”
For the second time this week, my stomach landed on the floor with a loud splat.
Gordon.
I pushed by Rachel, my ears beginning to ring as I yanked open the steel door. I ran through the kitchen as they called my name behind me. Just as I got to the bar door, it swung open and Hayes was there. He clocked me instantly, and I crashed into him, his arms caging me in as I began to tremble. My body was in full panic mode, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
The last time I’d seen Gordon, I was covered in blood and had barely escaped with my life.
Now, he had been to my safe haven, the new chapter of my life.
“Margo, talk to me,” Hayes ordered sharply. I burrowed into his chest, trying to focus on the steady beat of his heart. His hands cupped my face, firm but gentle, and tipped my head back. His eyes were on fire. “Baby, talk to me. What’s going on?”
“G-Gordon,” I rasped. “He was h-here.”
He didn’t break our gaze. “When?”
“Yesterday…h-he came in to talk to Joey.”
I was against his chest again, one of his strong arms around my shoulders. I closed my eyes, inhaling his cologne, trying to ground myself.
Hayes was here.
Hayes would protect me.
Gordon wasn’t going to touch me.
Hayes would never let that happen.
He promised.
Hayes was perfect.
Hayes always kept his promises.
“Is she okay?” Rachel asked from behind me.
“I need to speak with Joey,” Hayes said. There was darkness in his voice, a cold warning.
“He should be in his office,” Amelia rasped.
“Margo is finished for the night,” he declared. “Would one of you cash her out?”
Rachel moved closer to me, her vanilla scent hitting me as she put her hand on my shoulder. I turned my head, looking at her through my tears. She looked at me for a moment and then up to Hayes. “Yeah, I can bring her tips up after closing.”
“Thank you,” I croaked.
“Of course,” she replied, her brows pinched in concern.
I lifted my head and plastered on the only smile I could manage. “I’ll be okay. There’s just a lot going on.”