Page 25 of Pit Stop

He stands slowly, stretching his back. I notice his knuckles are bruised and swollen. My head falls to the side as I study them. “Would you like something to drink or eat? They have a bunch of junk food and every soda under the sun. There’s some hot tea bags as well.”

I’m not hungry but the idea of hot tea with honey sounds so good. “Do you think they have honey?”

He gives me a small smile, a slight dimple in his right cheek appears. “I can search for some. Follow me.”

Like the foolish girl I am, I follow behind his towering form. When he reaches the cabinets, he opens one and slides a large Ziploc baggie towards me. Tons of tea bags are shoved inside. While he goes on the search for honey I rummage through the tea. Eventually, I find a spiced chai tea which is my favorite. Shortly after, he returns with honey in his hand. “I guess they do have honey after all.”

“Seems that way.” He takes the tea bag and begins to work on making it. Filling the tea kettle with water. “Do you want sugar or milk?” When I don’t reply he looks over his shoulder at me.

“No,” I reply. He probably thinks I have brain damage with how I’m acting.

He rests his elbows on the counter in front of me. “I’m Tillman.”

Interesting name for an interesting guy it seems. Makes sense. “I’m Odette.”

“I learned that last night. Whenever you’re ready to go get the rest of your things just let me know. Lyle won’t be bothering you again. I made sure of that.”

His words catch me off guard. “What?” I glance at his hands, the swollen, bruised knuckles. “What did you do?”

Tillman turns around, giving me a curious look. “What needed to be done.”

“What, is that some kind of criminal slang for murdering him? Onyx said he wasn’t dead.”

“Damn, jump to conclusions much? I didn’t kill his ass even though he deserved it. I’m not a murderer. Lyle and I had a talk and came to an understanding.” His tone is so calm it nearly unnerves me.

I huff. “With your fists?”

He looks down and smirks as he opens and closes his fist a few times. “Well, my fists talked, he listened.”

“Unbelievable. How in the hell did my sister get tied up in all this? Look, that’s not how you talk. I’m not staying here; I’m not bringing my baby brother here. We’re not trying to be criminals in the making, hustling people, dealing drugs and crap. That’s not us. Onyx may want this, but I’ll do what I can to save Odin.”

Tillman’s eyebrows pull together in confusion. “That’s not what this is.”

Rolling my eyes, I scoff at him. These people around here all seem to be delusional, Onyx right along with them. “Oh really?”

The tea kettle howls, he turns around and makes the cup of tea before placing it in front of me. “No, it’s not. It used to be, but now it’s trying to be something different. Those boys who helped save your life last night... they aren’t criminals. None of them are. Your sister isn’t either. This is a place to call home for those who have nowhere and no one. It seems to me this is exactly where you belong.”

There’s a sadness lurking in his eyes. My body leans towards him involuntarily. “What about you?”

He walks around the counter and heads towards the doorway. When he reaches it, he turns back around and looks at me. “Oh sweetness, I’m dark and tainted. The kind you need to stay away from. I’m exactly what you accused them of being. A criminal in a rich man’s clothes. Don’t get fooled by me.” He turns around and walks away. My heart hammers in my chest. I shouldn’t be drawn to him but I am. I feel it in my bones. His darkness calls to me and I might willingly dive into it.

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