Page 72 of Day Break

Lane reached across the table and took my hand in his. “He’ll have round-the-clock care. It’s funny, when my grandmother was going through cancer, she hated being in the hospital. But whenever my grandfather has ended up there, he acts as if it’s his spa time. He actually told me tonight that he likes hospital food.” He chuckled. “I think he likes flirting with all the nurses and female doctors they have on staff there.”

I smiled and relaxed a little. “He did look like he was enjoying himself when I saw him.”

“Trust me, you don’t have to worry about him. We’ll go back, get some sleep, then head into the city with Byron in the morning.” He relaxed back, still holding my hand.

“What the hell are you still doing on the island?” a deep voice said behind me.

I froze. I remembered that voice. How the man had assaulted me and taken the last sliver of my dignity.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn.”

- Jim Morrison

Lane

I noticed the moment Rod entered the diner. I silently hoped he wouldn’t see us in the back corner, but when he strolled over, I held in a groan and figured that my shitty day had just gotten worse.

I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Hell, I was never in the mood.

“What are you still doing here?” I replied, and annoyance crossed his eyes. Then he ran his eyes over Chloe and zoned in our linked hands.

“Who’s this?” Rod asked, and it sickened me the way he was looking at her.

“Why don’t you crawl back into the hole you came out of. We’re busy.” I turned to ignore him, but he stepped forward and stared at Chloe.

“I know you,” he said, pointing at her.

“Leave,” I warned, fearing he was remembering Chloe from past news reports about her case. After all, her case had made state news. Though I hadn’t recognized her. She’d looked so different in the news reports that I’d gone back and watched. So lost. So… strange.

She’d been wearing long oversized dresses. Her hair had been slightly longer and always up in one of those intricate buns FLDS women were forced to wear.

“You’re the woman that ran.” He pulled a chair up and turned it to face backwards before sitting on it, leaning on the back. “So, you’re with him?”

Chloe looked between the two of us, a look of mortification on her face.

“Rod,” I warned, starting to stand up.

“I didn’t mean to spook ya,” he said, ignoring me, his demeanor suddenly going soft.

Chloe took a deep breath, then nodded.

“I know it may not seem like it, but Lane and I go way back.” He motioned between them. “It’s kind of our thing to piss one another off.”

Somehow, Rod’s entire attitude had changed. He was talking to Chloe as if she were a wounded bird. Calm. His voice filled with kindness. It was so unlike him that I sat back and listened to him for a moment.

“I’m really sorry about scaring you. If I did,” he said to Chloe.

“Thanks,” she replied softly.

I was too shocked to say anything. What had caused Rod to do a one-eighty from last month?

Suddenly, Rod stood up. “To make things right, I’ll pick up your check tonight. Since I caused you to drop your bread last time.” He smiled at Chloe, then turned to me. “I found something of your family’s,” he said, tilting his head, his eyes narrowing. Then he turned and walked up to the counter and asked to pay for our meal.

Once he was done, he nodded at Chloe and then left the diner.

“That was…” Chloe started.