Chapter Two

I slowly moved my gaze to the man quickly approaching me. Oliver Toller. My first first love, the man I've never stopped loving. He had left for the military after graduating high school. He was a year ahead of me. We had plans to stay together, he was going to be my forever. But when I went to say goodbye he was already gone. I waited for an hour before I got a text from him saying he left, and he couldn't do the long distance thing, to never contact him again. I had tried, but I never heard from him. Our breakup had been what drove me to being around Josh, our relationship had only developed more as the time passed.

"What the hell happened to you?" he said as he got closer. I panicked and took a step back, bumping into the booth behind mine, wincing as the corner hit one of my bruises on my back. I looked over his shoulder, seeing the expression on the first guy I saw darken, a flash of anger crossing his face before settling into a stoic gaze. My eyes were pulled back to the man that was reaching out to me. I pulled back, and looked back at his face. His anger was almost palpable as it radiated from him. "Josie, answer me." He growled as he stood in front of me, pulling his hand back toward him.

"I'm waiting for an answer," he demanded.

"It's none of your business, I'm fine." I said, doing my best to make my voice strong. Trying to pull myself to my full height, 5 foot 3 inches-which was nothing compared to his six feet two inches. "I'm just in town to meet someone, and it isn't you." I snapped, wincing when I realized I sounded mean. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap." I said as I took a few steps back, and looked to the ground.

"Look at me, little one." he said in a softer voice.

I slowly moved my head to face him. He was just as handsome as I remembered. His blonde hair buzzed short on the sides, and just long enough to style on the top. His blue eyes were vibrant and full of concern. He had put on more muscle, but it only made him look better. He was dressed in a gray t-shirt with black tactical style pants on. His shirt had the name of a security firm on it, and Doc was written in a script on his sleeve.

"It is my business, you can't show up looking like someone's personal punching bag and not expect me to ask." he said using a gentle touch to the bottom of my jaw to turn my face to get a better look at bruises on my face.

"I didn't know you would be here. I was finishing my food and then going to KT Security, to meet with Mr. Kane." I said pulling away from his touch.

"That's me, I'm Sean. I own KT Security, with Oliver." Sean said, stepping closer. A look of anger and concern flashed over his face as he stepped closer. Now that he was closer I could 'Chief' on his sleeve. "I can handle this Oliver. You don't have to help." He said, stepping beside him. "John Hardy never gave me her name, I never knew it was your girl."

"I'm not his, he made that clear ten years ago." I said, looking at Sean.

"I made it clear?" Oliver said, stepping closer. I couldn't help my reflex of stepping back and shrinking. "Damn it, little one, I'm not going to hurt you." he added quickly, stepping back.

"Stop calling me that." I snapped in his direction. My eyes widened when I realized my tone.

"Don't you dare apologize lit-Josie." he responded quickly before I could utter an apology.

"Your food is ready, and I think she needs to sit down. Give her space, Ollie, she looks like she's about to topple over." the waitress responded early.

I glanced at the name tag on her blouse-Sarah. I gave her a nod and small smile and stepped through the space the men had made. I took my seat and let out a long exhale-a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Before I could even consider taking a bite Sean slid in across from me. Then I felt the bench shift as Oliver slid in next to me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, failing at keeping the panic out of my voice.

"Sitting down. We have to discuss a few things." Sean replied from across the table, drawing my attention to him.

"I'm not staying. If I'd known you were all connected I would have gone some place else. John never mentioned names besides Sean's."

"Why would you go somewhere else?" Oliver asked from beside me.

"I'm not going to stay where I'm not wanted. You left before, never wanting contact again, ignoring me when I tried to find out why." I explained, confused as to why he was asking that.

"I never said I didn't want contact with you, and I certainly never got any messages-except the one saying you couldn't handle me leaving. Something I thought we had worked out." He replied quietly and under his breath.

I rested my head in my hands, rubbing my temples trying to ease the pain growing. I never sent a message saying I couldn't do it, he sent me a message saying that.

A plate crashed to the floor on my left, and I jumped, snapping my head in the direction of the crash. My vision swam, and a wave of nausea swept through me. I gripped the table to stabilize myself, and took a deep breath, trying my best to not get sick.

"I need the restroom." I said waving at Oliver. He quickly got up, and I moved out. Walking as fast as I could without passing out to the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before my stomach started heaving. I heard the door open, and then nothing. My stomach heaved a few more times, empty now, but still revolting. I sat back on my heels, taking a few deep breaths.

Slowly, I stood, and opened the stall door. I exited and made my way to the sink, hesitating when I saw Oliver standing in front of the door. Concern marred his handsome face. I rinsed my mouth and spit back into the sink. I splashed some cool water on my face, wincing as I rubbed my nose. I pulled my hand back and saw the water was dripping red.

I paused, then reached for a paper towel. Looking in the mirror I saw my nose had started bleeding. My eyes found Oliver behind me. His face filled with fury. He took a step toward me. I instinctively stepped closer to the counter. He paused, looked down, took a breath and met my eyes again in the mirror. Calm and determination filled his face.

"Shit, Josie. Let me help." He grabbed more paper towels, and looked at me.

"Don't touch me." I said, stepping back. He held his hand out with the paper towel. I looked down and realized that I had almost soaked the paper towel I had grabbed. The door opened and Sean appeared with a black backpack. Oliver took it and started unzipping it.

"Let me help. This is what I do." He said moving a gloved hand toward me with a bunch of gauze in it. "This won't feel nice." He said with a grimace as he moved my hand out of the way.

He quickly replaced my hand with his. Then pain shot through my face as he pinched my nostrils together.

"Ahh. Shit." I yelled. "What are you doing?" I asked, trying to pull away.

"Don't pull away, we have to stop the bleeding. When did this happen?" he asked, glancing over my face, before settling back to my nose. "Joselyn." he snapped.

I realized that it had been a few minutes. "Two days ago."

"Just barely long enough for you to drive here. Did you see a doctor?" he growled, clearly knowing the answer and unhappy about it. The only response I got was a tensed body beside me and a dark look on his face.