Page 54 of The Geek and the Sheikh

“Thanks.”

He silently cursed as he exited the car. The silence had grown between them ever since the incident earlier. Gone was the bubbly Junebug. She had become quiet, her fingers moving continuously, as if she were counting or tapping out a rhythm.

Panic had hit him when she reached for the door. He didn’t want her out of his sight. After what happened earlier, he was worried something might happen to her and he wouldn’t be there to help her.

With a sigh of frustration, he pulled the petrol nozzle free from the pump and inserted it into the car. His attention kept straying to the store where Junebug had disappeared. He couldn’t see her due to all the advertisements and products blocking the windows.

He returned the nozzle to the pump after it shut off, locked down the gas cap, and locked the doors to the car. Striding to the store, he pulled the door open at the same time he noticed Junebug walking up to the cashier. She had a basket full of interesting items… including marshmallows.

“I’m going to make a pit stop. I’ll be right out. Here is the key. I locked the car.”

“I’ll wait for you,” she said.

“Good.”

He strode to the back of the store where the restrooms were located. He was washing his hands when the door behind him opened. His eyes locked on the man entering the bathroom. It was Mark Hammer. He was sure of it.

Grim recognition flared in the man’s eyes a split second before the man surged forward. Jameel gripped the side of the sink and kicked out. The blow caught the man in the upper thigh, barely missing his groin.

Jameel swung around when Mark came at him again. He couldn't help doubting that his self-defense training would beat a professional killer, but he knew that many fights came down to luck, especially if one of them only needed enough time to run to their car. If the universe held any fairness, luck would be on his side. He had to hope.

He blocked a punch, dipped under the man’s outstretched arm, and came up behind him. He shoved Mark into the sink counter before reaching for the door.

Before he could pull the door open all the way, Mark slammed him against it, wrapped one hand tight around his throat, restricting his air, and wrenched one of his arms behind his back. Jameel elbowed Mark in the kidneys and tried to lock his foot around the other man’s ankle.

He pushed off against the wall, propelling them both back against the urinals. Mark grunted when the porcelain rim caught him in the lower back.

Jameel twisted in the moment of impact, breaking Mark’s hold on his arm but not his throat. He was starting to see spots, unable to take in enough air. He used the narrow space between the urinals to give him room to slam Mark’s head into the metal piping attached to the wall above the urinals. He gripped the back of Mark’s neck and slammed his head into the wall over and over until the man released the hold on his throat in an attempt to protect his face.

Jameel gasped in much needed air, coughing, and jerked backward at a lightning pace, knowing he had no time. He fell onto the floor just as Mark was woozily straightening, caught the man's ankle, and pushed himself away from the wall, taking Mark's foot with him. Mark tried to brace his fall against the edge of the urinal but missed. His head hit the tiled floor with a sickening thud.

Jameel stumbled back against the wall and stared at the unconscious man. He was a little shocked at what he had just done. He shook himself out of it. It wouldn’t take long for the man to wake up. Jameel’s gaze flashed to the door.

“Junebug!” he hissed.

He started forward and suddenly stopped when something occurred to him. Reaching down, he searched Mark’s pockets. He pulled out the man’s wallet, his cellphone, and a set of car keys. He pocketed all of them before rising.

He pulled opened the bathroom door and peered out. There was no one in the hallway. His gaze caught on a ‘Closed for Cleaning’ sign and he placed it in front of the bathroom door. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair and straightened his jacket as he walked down the short corridor and into the main portion of the store.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Junebug standing near the door holding the bag of items she had purchased. He walked over to her and cupped her elbow. She looked up at him with a worried expression.

“They found us,” she said.

“I know. How many did you see?” he asked.

“Just Allison. I know there has to be more.”

“Hammer is lying on the floor in the bathroom. I’d like to get out of here before he regains consciousness,” he murmured.

“What if there are more of them?” she asked, moving forward when he opened the door.

“I’m guessing there aren’t. If there were, more than just Hammer would have approached me.”

They crossed to the car. Allison turned to them with confusion, glancing worriedly at the building behind him. He smirked when she returned her attention to them.

“Your favorite goon is going to need an ice pack when he wakes up,” he remarked, unlocking the car and opening the passenger door for Junebug.

Allison’s mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed until they were thin slits. Jameel pulled open the driver’s door. He forced himself to keep a cool, calm expression while trying to keep an eye on Allison.

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