Standing By (Road House)

by Madison Stevens

  He leaned back and stretched. With everything that had been going on, sleep was about a million miles away. Every time something creaked in the house, he was up and ready. At least his father had been kind enough to leave a few guns. More likely, he was in such a rush they got missed. Oh well, either way Emilio had it covered.

  He scrubbed a hand over his bleary eyes. When they opened, he spotted a vision in green. He grew hard. The creamy smooth skin peaking between her dress and skirt gave him ideas of where he’d like to be at that moment.

  He looked up and caught her staring at him with such intense heat he had to force himself to not take her right there.

  And then Tyler came into view. Arm draped over her shoulder, like the two were already a couple. Emilio’s stomach twisted as the scene set in, and the two sat down at the table. The way they moved in pushed Pan in the chair next to him.

  He kept his eyes on her, hoping she would look up and acknowledge his silent plea. She turned her body, so she was facing more toward Tyler.

  Emilio’s blood boiled. He’d done nothing but think of her all day.

  Sarah came by to take their drink orders.

  “So,” she looked at Pan, after brushing a few blonde strands out of her eyes. “You two on your date?”

  He saw Pan’s eyes flicker to him and then back on Sarah.

  “Were. Now we’re just hanging.”

  Sarah raised an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty quick date.”

  “Well, it doesn’t help when your date finds someone he’d like to date more.”

  Emilio shoved back his chair. What the hell was Tyler thinking? Like there could be someone better than Pan. Everyone turned to look at him.

  “You were looking at other women on a date?” he choked out.

  Pan put a hand on Emilio’s and squeezed. “It’s all right. We already knew it wasn’t going to work for us.” She turned to smile at Tyler. “Besides, she’s not going to make it easy for him.”

  Emilio slowly sat down but didn’t let go of Pan’s hand. Instead, he moved his chair closer to her and leaned toward her ear.

  “I tried to call you today,” he whispered. Her long hair slinked across her shoulder when she shivered.

  “I know,” she said. “I ignored the phone all day.” She turned to look at him.

  Emilio grinned. There was no holding back with her.

  “I wanted to say I was sorry.” He rubbed his thumb across the sensitive skin on her wrist.

  “I know.” She went stiff at the stroking and then looked at their hands. “For someone who doesn’t want me, you sure spend a lot of time trying to get me.”

  Pan yanked her hand back, stood and made her way to the dance floor.

  The place was packed. Sarah’s idea to host bands had grown very popular. They had even expanded out to other days during the week. Pan closed her eyes and got lost in the music.

  A hand wound around her waist. She turned to peer into two very dark smoky brown eyes.

  “Just,” Emilio sighed, “Just give me this.”

  Pan breathed him in as she threw her arms over his shoulder and buried her head in his neck. He smelled like oil and sandalwood. The smell made her nipples tighten. She rubbed shamelessly on him and enjoyed his groan. Feeling bold, she darted out her tongue to taste him. Slowly she traced a path along the vein in his neck to his earlobe. Without thinking, she nipped the skin.

  Emilio twirled her around. Her ass firmly planted against the hard ridge in his pants. Pan moaned softly and reached her arms up behind his neck. Her head lulled to the side, exposing a side for him to trail warm kisses on.

  If he kept this up, she’d be hard pressed not to take him right here. A warm hand made its way to her bare thigh. She pushed back and rubbed her ass against his raging hard on. The fingers at her thigh dug in, almost painfully. But Pan was too far gone.

  Emilio spun her back around and stared into her eyes. Whatever he was looking for, he found. Hungry lips crashed into her own. He devoured her like a starved man. The hand at her back pressed her closer. Pan angled her head to the side, so they could delve even deeper into one another. They spent no time on timid kissed. Their tongues dueled, each trying to push the other further.

  Abruptly Emilio pulled back. Pan’s eyes shot open. She was about to let him have it when she found herself being pulled toward the back and out the door. The cool air only fueled her desire for him. Emilio pushed her against the wall, and once again they were locked in a hot embrace. This time there was no one to watch.

  His hot seeking hand was again at her thigh, this time hitching it up again his hip. Her dress rode up as he firmly planted himself between her legs. His cock pressed hard against her heat.

  Pan tossed her head back and moaned at the friction. Emilio planted open-mouthed kisses on her throat until he reached her collar. He roamed back up the other side, seeking out her mouth.

  Pan ran her fingers through his soft black hair. Her leg latched behind him as she rubbed along his length. The hand on her thigh slipped to her ass. He moaned when it met with nothing but skin.

  Emilio pulled his mouth away from her.

  “Fuck, baby. Are you not wearing any panties?”

  Pan rolled her eyes. “Thong.”

  Emilio grinned. “Even better.”

  A loud clatter drew their attention to the back door. Karen stumbled out the back with a man close at her heels.

  “Excuse us,” she started, but narrowed her eyes when she saw the two of them. “Well well. Guess you finally decided to stop spying and sample the goods?”

  Pan slid her hands and leg down from Emilio. “Well at least the face will match the name he calls out.”

  Karen rolled her eyes. “Listen, bitch. You chase him around like a little puppy, and suddenly you’re feeling like big shit now that he’s decided to throw you a pity fuck?”

  It would have sounded so much more damaging if Karen’s lipstick wasn’t smeared on half her face. The other half was on the amused face of the schmuck beside her.

  “You listen, bitch,” Pan said. Emilio tensed in front of her and placed his hands on her waist. “You better take your man of the night and move on before I get it into my head to cunt punt you from here until next Tuesday.”

  Karen stood in shock for a moment before she flipped Pan the bird and marched off. She looked over to Emilio when she felt him shaking violently.

  “Are you okay?”

  He lifted his face, the laughter barely contained.

  “Cunt punt?”

  “What?” Pan rolled her eyes. “I read it online, and it just seemed so bad ass.”

  Emilio threw his head back and laughed.

  “Apparently, I need to start reading your sites.”

  Pan smiled. That sounded like he was interested in more than just one night. She hoped that was true.

  “So,” she said. “What is this?” She gestured between them.

  Emilio ran a hand in his hair. “Do we have to go there?”

  Pan stared at him in awe. “Yes. I can’t take playing around.” She dropped her head and spoke quietly. “Not with you.”

  “Shit, Pan. I like you. You have to know I do, but this just can’t happen.”

  Her head shot up. Fury laced the edges of her eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “I want to be with you, but that’s all it can be.” He leaned in slightly. “I’ve got things going, on and you can’t be involved.”

  “What the…” Pan shoved Emilio back. “We’ve all got fucking things going on. I’m not your fuck buddy. Either you want it all or nothing.”

  Emilio looked over to the side.

  “Whatever.” Pan walked to the door. “Just leave me out of your fucking games. Between Iris and Max, I’ve got enough shit to worry about.”

  She flung the door open.

  “Max?” She heard him call, but she was already storming toward the table.

  “So how about a ride home?” she said to Tyler.

  He q
uirked an eyebrow but nodded. They quickly made their way through the crowd and out the door. Once they climbed in his car, she noticed Emilio through the glass of the bar. She could seem him mouth her name but turned away. The pain of the evening was proving to be too much. She just wanted to get home and crawl into bed.

  Tyler, sensing her pain, drove in silence. She didn’t fight when he insisted on coming in to check out the place and secretly sighed when nothing jumped out. Once the door was locked, Pan let the night wash over her. She sighed and went upstairs to the bedroom.

  Stripped bare, she crawled into bed and sobbed. He had feelings for her but wouldn’t be with her. Life could be so cruel sometimes.

  Chapter Six

  The cell on the counter of the bookstore chimed for the millionth time that day. Pan had managed to ignore every other time but refused to turn the damn thing off. Iris was resting at her home with Luc. Going to the appointment yesterday had taken a toll on her. Pan worried that Iris might need to get a hold of her. Besides, she wasn’t going to let that jerk stop her from having access to her phone.

  The tinkle of bells could just barely be heard over the phone.

  “Is that my dumbass brother?” Pan was so happy to see Nic looking much better. A deep cut on his lip and bruise on his cheekbone were the only signs something had happened to him. That night he had seemed so pale in comparison to his normal deep olive coloring.

  Pan slipped the phone in her pocket.

  “He is sorry you know.” Nic came over the counter and plopped down on the stool next to her.

  She nodded. He might be sorry, but she just couldn’t deal with him.

  “You seem to be looking better. How’s the eye?” She reached out and gently touched the bruise.

  “Oh, nothing I can’t take.” Nic puffed out his chest, and Pan had to bite her cheek to keep for snickering.

  “I’m sure.”

  Nic grinned at the mild ego stroking but faltered when the phone starting to ring again. Pan pulled it out and put it on vibrate. At least she wouldn’t have to hear the thing.

  “This is all our dad’s fault.”

  “What is?” Pan stared at his downcast face.

  “All of this.” Nic waved to the phone. “Emilio told mama that night that he couldn’t be with you because of everything.”

  Pan fumbled. Emilio had said almost the same thing to her at the bar.

  “Why?” she didn’t want to ask. She wanted to hear it from Emilio, but the thought of talking to him twisted her heart.

  “When papa and mama met, they came from two different worlds. Mama’s family was old-school Italian. Wanted her to marry a nice boy from the block. They had come here and started a butcher store. Then opened several others. It’s not like they were rich, but they had money.” Pan was awed by how distant he seemed from them. Like they were strangers.

  “My father stopped in one day, and it was all over. They fell in love instantly. Mama said it was like movie. Well, her folks didn’t like it. They vowed to disown her if she married him. In a year they were married. Mama hasn’t seen them since.” Pan’s heart ached for Mama Diaz.

  “But papa wasn’t quite the man Mama thought.” Nic twisted in his seat. “You have to understand. He’s not a bad man. It’s just the way of things. You want to move up in the world, and you have to scratch a few backs.”

  Pan shook her head. She knew where this was going and knew he couldn’t be more wrong.

  “Well, at least, that’s what my father thought.” He tore his eyes from hers and stared at a line on the counter. “He’d made so many deals with Max. This time was a big one. He was supposed to move us all away from all this. Usually Emilio was the one to talk him out of big schemes, but he had his own place and it all happened so fast.”

  Pan watched as his hand shook on the counter and grabbed hold of it.

  “Over twenty thousand this time. Something went wrong with the pickup. When the dust settled he was gone. Bag packed and everything gone.” He looked up to her. The pain poured from his eyes. “He didn’t even think to take us.”

  Silence fell over them both as they processed the ramifications. Pan watched as Nic took in several deep breaths.

  The large picture window to the street caught her eye. A black car with tinted windows drove by slowly. Just like the one last night. The car quickly sped off. The coincidence of it wasn’t lost on Pan.

  Nic glanced over his shoulder at the street.

  “Trouble?”

  “Maybe,” Pan said as she slipped off the stool. “Better bail just in case.”

  She snatched her keys and phone off the counter and shoved them into her pocket.

  She flung the sign to “closed” and locked the door. Not that it would keep someone out who really wanted in. The two moved toward the back and stopped at the door.

  “We need to try and get to the shed unseen. I’m going to look outside and make sure it’s clear. Then I want you to make a run for it.”

  “But what about you?” The ashen hew from the night before was back. Pan leaned in and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “I’ll be right behind you. I just need to lock up and then we’re good.”

  Nic gave a nod, but she could see the worry in his brow.

  Pan carefully opened the door. She hoped that her hunch was wrong and that car hadn’t meant anything, but when it came to Max, it’d be stupid not to be careful. She breathed a sigh of relief. The back looked clear.

  She signaled to Nic and sent him running toward the shed. She locked up and slipped inside the shed doors, just as the black car turned down the alley. Soon they would be at the mouth of the shed. The two would be clearly visible and completely open. Pan pushed Nic into her Lincoln, and the beast of a car roared to life.

  She threw the car into reverse and peeled out. The beast stopped just inches from the bumper of the black car and kicked up dust and rocks as it sped out of the alley.

  “Buckle up! I think we just asked them to play tag.” Pan snapped herself in just in time to make a sharp left.

  The tires squealed and the car rocked as they righted themselves. Pan patted the dash of the car. If she had gone with something plastic, they would have flipped the car with that turn.

  In the mirror, she could see the black car in hot pursuit. Not able to take the corners like her, they had to slow down. Pan grinned. That was how she’d lose the bastards.

  “Uh, Pan. You’re kinda scaring me.” Nic gripped the door until the skin around his fingers was white from strain.

  “No worries, kid.” Pan jerked the car to the right. “He can’t make a turn like we can.”

  “Are you sure we should be taking turns like we are?”

  Pan laughed. “Nope, but we’re winning with it.”

  Pan looked in the mirror. The car had dropped even further back.

  When she took the next turn, she felt a buzzing from her pocket.

  “Perfect,” she muttered. Pan reached down and yanked the phone out. Without even looking at it she flipped it open.

  “Listen, assface. If you want to make it up to me, you’ll be at your house like now.” Pan made another sharp turn. The tires screeched, cutting off all conversation. The effort of keeping the car straight was wearing on her.

  “Pan, what the hell is going on?” She could hear the strain in his voice.

  “Emilio, I don’t have time for this shit. We’re being chased, and it’s taking all my concentration not to get into a wreck. Now just meet me at your house.”

  Pan paused to take another turn and watched as the other car nearly disappeared out of sight.

  “And you might want to come prepared. I don’t know what we’ll have trailing behind us.”

  “Pan, you’ve got to tell me.” Pan flipped the phone closed and tossed it to Nic. She didn’t have time for this.

  “’Kay, kid. We’re going to try and pull a fast one, but I need you to hold on.”

  Nic nodded at her and made sure the belt was secure.

 
; Pan knew these streets better than anyone. More than that, she knew the alleys better than anyone.

  She weaved through the alleys. After making nearly half a dozen zig-zags, she brought the car to rest. Hidden from the street, this alley was a sort of optical illusion. Unless you knew it was there, all you’d see is another brick wall. Of course, it was really just a brick wall from another building that couldn’t be seen. She just prayed the other car wouldn’t know this trick.

  They sat in silence for several minutes waiting for the slightest hint that something was wrong. When ten minutes had passed, Pan slowly backed out of their spot. The adrenaline rush from before was fading, leaving her shaking and exhausted.

  They made their way on the outskirts of town. As they pulled onto Emilio’s street, Pan’s heart started to race. Another black car sat alongside Emilio’s bike. Her heart rate slowed when she saw two men standing beside the car. She spotted Emilio, white shirt stained with grease, pacing restlessly in the grass.

  Both men stilled when she came into view.

  She parked behind the car and came around to Nic’s side once out.

  “Oh thank God.” Emilio raced to them and yanked them both into a bone-crushing hug.

  Pan leaned on him and enjoyed the warmth. After the chase, she was feeling drained emotionally and weak.

  Likely sensing her exhaustion, Emilio kept a firm arm around her as he let Nic go.

  “Now someone wanna tell me what the hell is going on?”

  Pan pulled back and looked up at him.

  “Yesterday I saw a black car with tinted windows as I was leaving with Tyler.” The arm around her tensed. “Nic popped in and that same car drove past. I think it might be one of Max’s goons. When we took off, they tailed us.”

  The other man moved into view. “Can you remember much about this car?”

  Pan shrugged. “It was black and had black windows.”

  She looked over to Nic but he shook his head.

  Emilio turned them toward Nic. “Go inside and calm mama down. She and Maria are going crazy.”

  Nic nodded and went inside.

  He then looked down at her. “This is Detective Connor Maxwell.” He nodded in the other man’s direction.