Page 71 of Will Bark for Pizza (Bluebell Springs #1)

SIXTY

KIRA

“It’s okay. I’m not in line,” a male voice cut through. “I just need to get inside quick. I know the author. She’s my girlfriend.”

The blood in my veins ran cold at the sound of that hauntingly familiar voice. My entire body stiffened at the sight of Travis squeezing his large frame through the open doorway.

He looked disheveled, his wrinkled button-up shirt partially untucked, and his jeans scraped up as though he’d tripped and his knees skidded across dirty pavement. His eyes were bloodshot, and he’d shaved his head. It made him look meaner. Colder.

What the fuck was he doing here?

At first, I thought I was imagining it. Until the lovely lady I was signing a set of books for asked, “Who is that guy? He looks like one of your villains.”

“Right,” another in line behind her agreed. “Like that guy Vincent Veltori unalived for touching his mate. ”

“He looks meaner in person.”

Not imagining it .

What the actual fuck?

“He’s not supposed to be here,” I said to the curious women near my table. “And he is not my boyfriend.”

Travis stumbled his way through the crowd, his sights set on me. It was obvious he’d been drinking. How much was anyone’s guess.

Where the fuck was Luke?

“I’ll go find your brother,” Thelma muttered low, patting my shoulder before she disappeared.

My first impulse was to cower. To feel guilty for the success of today, because it would make him feel bad.

As if his failures and shortcomings were somehow my responsibility.

How many times did Travis tear me down from a high moment simply because he was jealous?

How many times did he make me believe I didn’t deserve my success? That it was nothing more than a fluke?

The crowd lined up outside proved otherwise.

Fear turned to anger.

I pushed back from my chair, determined to stand my ground, both figuratively and literally.

“No,” I commanded, so loudly Travis actually stopped in his tracks and gaped at me in shock. I spotted Luke in the doorway, along with Beckett. About fucking time. “You do not get to come here and ruin my day.”

“Kare bear?—”

“Call me that again, and it’ll be the last thing you ever call me.

” Okay, so making death threats in front of my police chief brother and dozens of camera phones was probably not the wisest course of action, but I was beyond caring.

Travis had stolen enough from me. I was done allowing him to take one more damn thing.

“This is the only time I’ll say this nicely. You need to leave.”

“But I came here to see you?—”

“If you want to stay, it’s your funeral.” I stared him down and held my ground, despite the way my entire body was shaking.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m done being silent.” I folded my arms over my chest. I caught sight of my brother hanging back, ready to step into action, but allowing me to have my say. Beckett and Connor were both at his side, looking equally pissed. “If you want to stay, I’m telling them everything.”

“You’re nothing without me. All this,” he said, using his arms to make an exaggerated sweeping movement that nearly knocked him on his ass.

His pitiful expression hardened into the cold monster I remembered.

“This is because of me . You wouldn’t have any of it if it weren’t for me.

I’m the reason this all happened. You owe me. ”

“Did you write the fucking books?” Thelma piped up.

God, I loved that woman.

“This was all me despite you. Despite you constantly putting me down. Despite you telling me my success was a fluke. Despite you making me believe I had to hide who I was because no one would accept me if they knew I wrote vampire smut.”

“She writes excellent vampire smut,” Lotti chimed in.

Several readers agreed in earnest.

“I never—I mean—I helped you?—”

“You didn’t help me,” I fired back. “If anything, you hindered me. You constantly tried to hold me back. It’s a miracle I was able to write at all with how much you constantly tore me down. But that’s over now. I’m not going to protect you anymore.”

For once, Travis was speechless.

“You are not welcome in my bookstore. You are not welcome in my town. You are not welcome in my life.”

The final piece of his mask fell, and in its place was pure hatred. It was the same rage I saw the day he cocked a fist in my face. If I ever wondered whether I exaggerated things in my head, I didn’t now.

“It’s time to go,” Luke said, grabbing him by the arm.

Travis tried to shrug him off until he noticed who had him.

He was a lot of things, but stupid enough to get arrested was not typically one of them.

He valued self-preservation above all else.

“Is that alcohol on your breath? Tell me you didn’t drive here. ”

Okay, maybe not stupid enough to avoid arrest .

Travis struggled against Luke, but Connor and Beckett quickly jumped in. Together, the three wrestled him into submission. Husker let out a sharp bark. Good boy, Husker .

The remaining crowd watched in rapt attention. And when Travis was pushed through the open doorway, back outside, everyone erupted in cheers.

“Thatta girl!”

“Diana Davenport is a badass!”

“Yeah, she is!”

Husker rushed to me, Opal running after him, leash in hand. I didn’t care that he’d get blond hairs all over my black dress. I knelt and squeezed him in a hug, one he didn’t try to squirm out of for a solid five seconds.

“You’re such a good boy, Husker.”

With a deep breath, I prayed for Mom to help me get through the rest of this day.

I clung to the adrenaline rush with a death grip, the one that made me feel empowered and brave.

It was the only thing that would hold me together until the store closed.

Once I locked the door, then I could fall apart.