Page 38 of Ouch! My Vampire Doms Keep Biting Me
“You know what I do to shits?” I ask.
“No, sir.”
“I flush them. They’re useless, they stink. You are useless, and you stink.”
“Please don’t,” he says, his blue eyes wide circles of fear. He knows I’ll make good onmythreat. He’s probably, right now, picturing the way I could hold his head down in a toilet bowl until he drowns.
“You say one word about her to anyone,” I say in a low voice, “and you’ll have me to answer to.”
“Fuck, man, I won’t, I won’t,” he says.
“Are you sorry?” I ask, keeping my hold on his neck.
He tries to nod, but he can’t, so he says, “Yes. I’m sorry.”
“You’ll tell her that. As soon as we’re done here.”
“Yes, sir. Of course.”
“Where’s the boss?” I ask. “Is he here tonight?”
“Yeah. Office.” The punk points over his shoulder.
I let go of his neck with a warning look, then stand and walk back to the rickety office door. I knock.
“Come in,” a male voice says.
The owner sits at a tiny desk, his hands in his hair. Big black eyebrows. Blue eyes. Stocky frame.
“Hello,” I say. Inject some friendliness into my voice even though I’m still pulsing with rage that the scum-shit-bag manager threatened Autumn. “I’m William Hunt.”
“Kevin Bartleby,” he answers.
“You own this place?” I ask.
“I do. Just bought it off my uncle not too long ago for a song and a headache.”
I nod. “The restaurant business can be brutal.”
“Yep,” he says. Gives me an expectant look.
“You’ve a new employee. Abigail.”
He leans back and nods. “I do. Is everything all right?”
“Yes. I have no complaints. However, I believe she could be in trouble. What do you think of that?”
“We take care of our own in my establishment, sir. If you’re threatening her, I must ask you to leave immediately—”
“No need. You’ve answered my question. I only want her to be safe, and you’ll never see me again. I appreciate your time.” I nod once before turning on my heel and moving to the back door so as to avoid being seen by Autumn.
She found a place to work where the highest person in charge will look out for her safety. That’s going to have to be enough.
The door squeaks open as I let myself outside. The sounds of the night pull me into a cold and hollow embrace.
I’m going to have to let her go. God damn it. God damn everything.
Autumn
