Page 77 of Four for a Boy

Chad shrugged. “Having fun with a friend.”

“Your friend is over there, you’re spending your time at the quietest part of the bar, allowing a barman to flirt with you.”

“I’ll go.”

“No.” Dean reached for Chad’s hand across the bar. “I’m only teasing.”

Chad snatched his hand away.

Dean dropped his elbows to the bar and leaned over to speak by Chad’s ear. “Look, I don’t want to freak you out, but there’s a guy on the other side of the club in a mask, and the whole time he’s been watching you. I just wondered whether he was your fella, that’s all.”

Chad checked behind him, but there was no one there.

Dean frowned. “Where the hell did he go…”

“What kind of mask was he wearing? Was it a gas mask?”

“No. A hockey mask. Stay where I can see you.”

“Why?”

Dean rolled his eyes. “Because there’s a killer on the loose, and I’d prefer it if you go back to your boyfriend safely, so he gets to marvel at your big brown eyes. I’m a nice guy like that,” he gestured to himself. “Not a monster like this.”

Chad checked again, but there was no one behind him watching.

“Wait.” Dean said sharply, “There he is. He’s coming over.”

Chad shifted, trying to look through the clubbers and find the right mask.

The air in Chad’s chest left him in a rush. His breathlessness triggered his heart into an erratic beat.

The hockey mask wearer was tall, and broad, and had an intensity to him no one else in the club had. He advanced across the room in powerful strides, his presence moving clubbers aside, and the whole time he kept his gaze fixed on Chad.

Chad knew it was him.

He could sense it in the way his body reacted.

He froze to the spot, and held onto his breath.

Romeo kept coming and grabbed Chad’s arm.

“Hey,” Dean shouted. “Back off.”

Romeo turned to him. “Who are you supposed to be?”

“Why does that matter? Let go of him!”

“The countdown killer,” Chad exhaled, remembering to breathe. He looked at where Romeo had hold of him. Not an illusion, he squeezed Chad hard enough it hurt. “He’s dressed as the countdown killer.”

Romeo’s harsh breath brushed against the inside of his mask.

“Hey,” Dean snapped his fingers in front of Romeo’s face. “You don’t let go, I’ll get security.”

“It’s okay,” Chad rubbed his tight throat. “This is him … this is my boyfriend. I didn’t realize he was coming tonight.”

“I thought I’d surprise you.”

Chad nodded. “Well, you’ve done that.”

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