Page 108 of All That Glitters

“Not everything is about you, Midas. I’m worried that I’m going to damage a friendship that’s come to mean a lot to me.”

“If it means that much, it will all work out.”

“I’m not sure I share your enthusiasm. I’m too used to feeling like I’m too much trouble.”

“It’s not you, Legs?—”

I glare at him. “I’m the common denominator. So don’t tell me that being made to feel alone and worthless is a reflectionon the person leaving and not me. Because that’s a load of horseshit. I’m the one being abandoned repeatedly.”

He snaps his mouth shut, and I silently curse myself for spewing that at him. I have a right to be hurt and pissed, but the last thing I need is to turn into a bitter shrew. I take a deep breath and remind myself that this might all feel shitty right now, but it’s only temporary. And hell, if everything falls apart again, I already know how to pull myself out of the gutter.

“You can park around back. Just please stay in the car. I’ve not asked you for much, Midas, but I need you to do this.”

He grits his teeth but nods. This is the first test, and if he fails it, we’ll be over before we’ve started.

I wait for him to park before I look over at him.

“I’ll be right here.” He hands me my cell phone out of his pocket. “Call me if you have any issues.”

I nod and climb out, closing the door behind me. I take a deep, steadying breath, wishing I looked a little more put together than I do because that will already set Del’s hackles up.

I walk around the front of the diner and push the door open. Susie sees me, her eyes going wide before she hurries over and hugs me.

“Del’s been going out of her mind. Where have you been?”

“Long story. Where is she?”

“Upstairs. I think she was planning on heading down to the police station.”

“I’ll go on up and talk to her.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re okay, Hazel. Del told us what happened to your place. That must have been scary.”

“Yeah, I won’t lie. It’s not something I’ll forget for a while. I better go.”

“No worries.” She gives me another squeeze before walking back to the counter.

I head out the back and up the staircase leading to the apartment. When I get there, I knock on the door and wait for a second or two before it’s yanked open. A harried-looking Del pulls me into a tight hug before she pushes me back and looks me over.

“What the actual fuck, Hazel?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I don’t give a fuck how long it is. You better sit your ass down and explain to me what the hell is going on.” And so I do, because underneath her bluster, I can hear just how scared she was for me.

I start with arriving at the police station and end with me coming here, leaving out the part about Midas fucking me or asking me to date him.

She looks at me in shock before she wipes her hand down her face. “Nothing is ever fucking simple with an MC, is it?”

“To be fair, we don’t know if it is the MC. It’s just one working theory, and only because so far the targets have been Lil—another club girl—and me. We don’t know about others yet. Midas is going to ask.”

“Is your friend okay?”

“Lil? She’s fine. Spooked, but the MC has her covered.”

She takes me in. I’m not sure what my expression says, but she’s by no means dumb. “You’re going back, aren’t you?”

I nod. “If I’m a target, then so is my baby. Being here paints a target on you, Del, and the rest of the staff, too. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”