Page 100 of Double Daddies (Dirty Daddies Anthologies #8)

Chapter Twelve

Wren

My shift at the coffee shop inches by slowly, each tick of the clock echoing in my mind like a countdown.

I wipe down the counter for what feels like the hundredth time, my thoughts drifting back to the kitchen—the heat, the intensity, the way their hands felt against my skin.

But then my mind instantly reminds me of what I found on Ezra’s phone.

I was nothing to them just like I said in the beginning.

We are from different worlds and they could never want someone like me.

The bell above the door jingles as a customer walks in, breaking the spell of my thoughts. I force a smile, but it feels strained, the weight of my earlier encounter still pressing on my chest.

“Just a coffee, please,” the customer says, oblivious to the turmoil swirling inside me. I nod, moving through the motions, pouring the dark brew into a cup, but my mind is elsewhere.

Every time the door opens, I glance up, half-expecting to see Ezra or Elijah walk through, their presence a magnetic pull I can’t shake. I wonder what they’re doing right now. Are they at work? Do they even care like I thought they did?

As I hand the customer their coffee, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the glass behind the counter. My cheeks are flushed, my eyes bright red from the constant flow of tears that seem to be impossible to stop.

The minutes drag on, each one feeling like an eternity. I check the clock again—only thirty minutes left until closing. The thought sends a surge of anticipation. Will they be here to talk when I get off?

“What’s got you so distracted?” Wyatt asks, leaning against the counter. “You’ve been out of it all night. Is everything alright?”

“Uh, yeah. Just a lot on my mind today. Sorry, Wyatt.”

“Why don’t you go ahead and take the trash out and I’ll finish closing up?” he suggests, his tone is casual but his eyes are searching mine for answers.

I nod, grateful for the small reprieve. “Thanks, Wyatt. I appreciate it.” I grab the trash bag from under the counter and head to the back door of the shop.

As I step outside, the cool night air hits me like a splash of cold water, grounding me momentarily. I walk to the dumpster behind the shop, the faint sounds of the city humming in the background.

“Well, well, well, I’ve been looking for you, Wren.” The familiar growl surrounds me, sending chills across my skin. I turn quickly, trying to run but Richard catches me around the waist and hoists me back against his chest.

“Let me go!” I shout, kicking and squirming, but it does nothing to loosen his hold on me. The smell of his cologne, mixed with the faint scent of sweat, fills my nostrils, and I feel a wave of nausea wash over me.

“Calm down, will you?” Richard hisses, his voice low and menacing. “I just want to talk.”

“Talk?” I spit, my heart racing. “You think I want to talk to you after everything?”

He tightens his grip, and I can feel the heat radiating off him, a stark contrast to the cool night air. “You don’t have a choice, Wren. You’re not going anywhere until we sort this out.”

“Sort what out?” I demand, my voice trembling with fear and anger. “You don’t get to control me anymore!”

Richard chuckles, a dark sound that sends a shiver down my spine. “Oh, but I think I do. You’ve been avoiding me, and that’s not how this works. You can’t just walk away.”

I kick him hard but he slams a damp cloth over my mouth and nose, holding it tightly.

The acrid smell fills my senses, and I can feel myself becoming sluggish, my body rebelling against the fog creeping into my mind.

Panic surges through me, and I struggle against his grip, but my limbs feel heavy, as if they’re sinking into quicksand.

“Shhh. You knew you could never outrun me. I told you I’d always find you,” he whispers in my ear.

I fight against the encroaching darkness, clawing at his hands, but my vision begins to blur, the edges of reality fading away. The world around me grows distant, the sounds of the city muffled as I slip further into unconsciousness.

Darkness washes over me and I know I’m fighting a losing battle. He found me and I’m at his mercy.