Page 38 of Broken
Chapter Seventeen
Izzy
I don’t say anything to him on the drive to the restaurant. The way he talks about his parents is so harsh and the hurt on his face, in his eyes, it’s overwhelming. I have no idea what happened, but it must have been bad. His hold on the steering wheel is tense. I reach out to him, rubbing his leg with my hand. He glances over and his expression softens a bit.
When he makes the turn into a driveway I look up to see a sign that says, ‘Amore’.
He parks the truck but doesn’t move, almost like his body is frozen.
“You okay?”
“I never wanted to be back here.” His voice shakes from pain that seems to be laced through it. “Let’s just get this over with.”
He gets out of the truck but doesn’t make his way over to my side like usual. I get out, knowing that right now I just need to be here for him. His hand grabs mine and he pulls me into the restaurant.
A waiter leads us to a table and I see his sister sitting with his parents.
“Hey, guys,” Mallory greets us with a smile on her face.
I smile and wave at her before we sit down at the table. No one else speaks. Max doesn’t even pick up the menu to order food. I’m confused at this point as to whether I should or not.
“Are we not eating here?” I whisper to him.
“I don’t need to look at the menu. I know what’s on it. Get whatever you like.” His face is still impassive.
“Maximillian, are you going to introduce us to your…friend?” His mother eyes me, her expression conveying she really isn’t impressed.
His name is Maximillian? Jesus, that’s a mouthful.
“Izzy, this is Mr. and Mrs. Asher.” His voice is flat and he still doesn’t look at anyone.
I hear his mom let out a sigh. “I don’t know why you insist on being like this, Maximillian.” Her head shakes with disappointment.
“You do know. You also know I don’t go by that pretentious name because it sounds like some pussy. Call me Max.” His voice grates.
My mouth drops open at his language.
His father slaps a hand on the table. “You will not use that type of language here. Act like you remember some of the manners you were taught.”
Max’s jaw tightens while his leg is bouncing like crazy next to me.
I need to get out of here and breathe for a minute. “Where is the bathroom?”
“Out this room, down the hallway, on the right,” Max answers me.
I stand up, excusing myself and following his directions until I find it. There is actually a couch in the bathroom, which just seems so out of place to me. I sit down, needing a break. My head lies back against the plush fabric and I let my eyes close for a minute.
“What the fuck have you been doing?” a voice grates out. I jump and when I open my eyes I can’t believe the sight in front of me. It’shim. The man from my dream. He reaches back and flicks the lock on the door.
I want to scream. I want to yell for help, but it’s like my whole body is completely frozen.
“You gonna answer me, whore?” He takes a few steps toward me, his hand reaching out and closing around my throat. The look in his eye is murderous and suddenly a memory hits me.
‘The Devil’s Sons club’ I read. I push the door open and am immediately hit with the smell of stale cigarettes and cheap liquor. A man at the bar smiles at me. Even though he is smiling he is still scary as hell.
“Brothers!” he yells. “We got ourselves a new club whore. Meet Izzy. Feel free to have a go whenever you’re ready.” He laughs as he walks away.
Looking around the room, every set of eyes is on me. I want to shrink away. I want to run.
