Lana was busy in the back room, putting more sweet rolls on the trays that would go into the display case up front. Mondays were always busy for them. The morning had flown by. It was her and Tina manning the shop and they had both been hopping around like crazy. Lana’s stomach growled, reminding her she had missed lunch. She would be off soon and was already planning what she was going to make for dinner. It was getting close to that afternoon rush, which left little time to eat as they prepared for the next influx of customers. Restaurants got busy at lunch and coffee shops got busy at the universal two o’clock hour when adults were feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders in serious need of a coffee fix. She loved giving these people that walked in like zombies a nice pick-me-up. The moment the caffeine hit their veins they perked up and immediately seemed much friendlier. Than it was the moms picking up the kids from school and bribing them with sweet pastries before th
He was hoping to suprise her. They hadn’t spoken to each other since early this morning and he was already missing the sound of her voice. He pulled his little red Audi in the back lot behind the bakery and strolled around the front, whistling as he moved down the sidewalk in front of the building. He remembered the first time he saw her. Her back had been to him, but there had been something about her that drew him in. His heart skipped a beat as he pulled open the door and walked inside. Immediately, he felt something was off. There was a woman rushing for the door as if the hounds of hell were chasing her. He looked up and saw no one standing behind the counter nor did he see Lana's back as she made specialty drinks. He heard shouting and a commotion coming from behind the counter. He quickly moved towards the area, finding a woman pointing towards the kitchen doorway. Adrenaline fueled by the fear of something happening to Lana had him rushing through the open door to find Danny
Lana was barely holding it together. The female police officer seemed kind and understanding, but no one was really listening to her. She’d told the same story at least twenty times, but Xyrus's still in the back of the car. Tina had called the manager who was on his way in. Lana had a feeling that was going to be an unpleasant encounter as well.“You’ve got a minute,” the female officer said.“No way, I’m taking him in,” the male officer said, standing near the car where Xyrus was being held.“Back off Jason, you heard the statements,” the female shot back.“She can say whatever she wants. I walked in and saw this guy beating the shit out of the guy on the floor,” he replied, sneering at Lana. Lana glared back at him. She was tired of explaining herself and knew it was futile.The officer opened the door and stepped out of the way.“I’m so sorry,” she blurted out, the second she saw him.He smiled. “It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.”She shook her head. “No, it’s not. Thi
Xyrus was pissed. Beyond pissed. He was furious. He was still stuck inside a holding cell in some bullshit limbo. He wasn’t officially in jail, but he wasn’t free to go. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he had a feeling Danny was behind it. He’d had to sleep on a hard bench with three other guys that looked like they wanted to eat him for breakfast. He looked down at his knuckles. They were bruised and swollen. He smiled. They hurt, but it was all worth it. He would slam his fist into Dan's face again and again. “What are you smiling about, pretty boy?” one of his cellmates asked. Xy looked up to see a bald man that probably weighed about three-hundred pounds glaring at him. The man had a tattoo of a knife on his neck, making him appear even more menacing. “I’m not smiling at anyone or anything,” Xyrus retorted. The giant stepped forward. Xyrus stood up. He wasn’t going to be intimidated. He’d probably get his ass kicked, but he wasn’t going to back down from anyone.
She walked into the police department and demanded to speak to someone in charge. Of course, she was essentially laughed at. She made her case again, demanding someone talk with her about Xyrus’s case. She was asked to wait and after thirty minutes, she was finally escorted to a desk in an open area. “How can I help you?” a desk cop asked. Lana did her best not to lose her cool. She hadn’t slept all night and was ready to scream at the injustice over what was happening to Xy. “You can help me by telling me why my boyfriend is locked up for saving my life and the man that was trying to hurt me is out free,” she said in a cool voice. The cop, smirked. “Miss, do you know how many times a day we hear this exact story?”Lana leaned forward, a dangerous smiled on her lips. “No, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I can testify to my story and that’s the one I’m here to talk about. I don’t care about anyone else or what their stories are.”“Okay, so what can I do for you?” he asked.
Xyrus's cell mate looked B hungry and cranky. It wasn’t a good combination. He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to fight them off should they attack.He’d chosen not to eat the slop they tried to serve for dinner or breakfast and was feeling a little shaky. His lack of food combined with no sleep left him vulnerable. He had a feeling he’d end up in the infirmary or the morgue if someone didn’t show up soon.“Ashington," a guard called out his name.Xyrus moved his head, not bothering to get up. “What?”“You’re out of here.”That got him moving. He stood and walked to the cell, trying his best to play it cool, not wanting to look too excited. The guard opened the cell and led him down a corridor where he was given his personal property back. He didn’t bother checking to see if it was all there. He signed the paper and made his escape to freedom.When he stepped into the lobby, he saw Akira immediately. She jumped up and raced towards him, followed by what he assumed was his
It had been quiet since the day at the bakery.Lana was cautiously optimistic that her estranged husband had finally realized she had someone in her life willing to fight for her. She wasn’t so easy to attack and abuse now. At least, that’s what she hoped was happening. She’d taken it upon herself to start stalking him, reversing the tables a little. She checked the court dockets daily, called his office to see if he was in using payphones to avoid her number being traced. It seemed like Danny had gone back to his life without missing a beat. She’d even gotten brave enough to call his cell phone on one occasion. When he answered, she used a fake accent and pretended to have dialed the wrong number. He was back in California and that was the best news she had ever heard. Danny hadn’t pressed the issue of having Xyrus charged for assault, which initially alarmed Lana at she assumed it would be more of an embarrassment.Danny prided himself on being a big tough guy and to have got
Their afternoon delight had left him feeling very content. They were lying in her bed, no sheets to cover their nudity. He was comfortable in his own skin, but found women tended to be a little more modest. Lana had been at first, but the signing of the divorce papers had released her inner wild woman. He noticed the difference in the way she walked, holding her head high, with her shoulders back. He was glad to be a part of the change and hoped to continue to support her as she put Danny behind her. He wasn’t naïve enough to think she would suddenly be over it. There had to be long-term side effects to the abuse she endured. It would take time for her to stop looking over her shoulder all the time and to truly feel as if she could settle down and relax. “Thank you,” she said, her warm breath brushing over his chest. He grinned. “Did you seriously just thank me for sex? Because if you did, you’re welcome, but a thank you isn’t necessary. It is I who should be thanking you.”Her