Oh no. A deep knot formed in my gut. This couldn't be good.

Lily cocked her head to the side. Her long black hair had been pulled high into a ponytail, and she caught the end over one shoulder. She twirled it in one hand as her smile dimmed an inch. "Joke, guys. That was a joke."

Heather twisted around. Her shoulders stiffened before she whipped back to me and her wet hair slapped Lily in the face. With white knuckles, she gripped the window's edge and leaned close. "Brett and Budd are here. You don't leave this room, not one foot out there, you hear?"

Everything had gone numb at her reaction. If Heather was this scared…I gulped. I didn't want to finish that thought.

"Text your boy. Make up some lie. He cannot come here tonight."

"I—"

"They'll jump him, Sam," she hissed. "They'll do worse to you if they find out who you are." The warning heated up in her eyes. "I won't let them hurt you, but they must know you're here. They wouldn't have come if they didn't."

"Okay." Lily forced out a laugh. "You guys are making me nervous. I was just joking before. I know you didn't get wet on purpose. What's going on?"

Heather's hand shot to her arm. She latched on with a death grip. "You stay with those guys all night. You smile, you serve, you make them happy, but you don't say a word to them about Sam, the Kades, or anything that has anything to do with them."

Lily's eyes went wide and she took a step back. "You guys are really starting to freak me out. Wait; is this because of the school pranks and stuff? I didn't think it was that bad.

"Just do what I say." Then she paused, frowning. "Where'd they sit?"

"In the back section. Anne already got their drinks."

"Take over her section."

"What about Gia? She's supposed to come in at 5:00 today."

A spew of curses came from Heather as she glared out at the diner. "I'll call her. I know she'll say something. I'll have Rosa come in for her instead." She turned and fixed us with a steely gaze. She meant business. "We good on the plan?"

Both of us nodded. My hand itched to salute her.

"Good. I'm going to run home quick. Be back in five."

When she dashed out, Lily looked back at me. "Is it really that bad?"

I took a deep breath as I gripped the rinse head in my hands. "Let's just say those guys hate Mason and if they hate him…" My eyebrows went up as she finished the sentence in her head.

She gasped. "You think they'd hurt you?"

I deadpanned, "Heather doesn't freak out for no reason."

She paled. "Oh, dear."

Oh dear, indeed.

I grimaced. Tonight was not going to be fun.

And it wasn't.

I had my suspicions, but I found out for sure that Brett and Budd's last name was Broudou. I figured, judging from Heather's reaction, but I wanted to know for certain. One time, I snuck a peek and saw two mammoth size linebackers at a back table. There were other guys with them and a few girls too. A short stocky girl with blonde hair had a similar face as theirs, square and tough, had me wondering if that was their sister. She glanced at me and I stepped back inside, but a part of me didn't want to.

I didn't want to hide from this girl, not when I knew how she had lied and caused so many problems for Mason and Logan. It wasn't the right time, though the need to say something to her was burning the back of my heels.

More and more customers poured into the diner and I eventually forgot about the Broudou siblings. I rushed to catch up with the dishes and even stepped out to load the glassware behind the bar. When my bladder was screaming for release, I shot past the table and hurried into the bathroom. It wasn't until I was returning that I remembered Heather's warning. Too late. I tried to slip past their table, but a muscular guy stumbled backwards, straight into my pathway. He would've knocked me over if I hadn't sidestepped him.

"Hey, whoa." Two meaty hands wrapped around my arms from behind. "Steady there, girl."

I wrenched my arms away and shot the guy a dark glare.

"Whoa," he said again as his eyes went wide. He stepped back.

It was one of the brothers.

A shrill feminine laugh peeled out, "She don't want your help, Brett. You're not good enough for her."

His eyes had seemed startled before, but now they darkened. A tinge of anger seeped in, and his jaw locked in place. Another chair scraped against the floor and the other mammoth stepped next to him. His eyes were already filled with dark intent. A cruel smile spread over his face before he cleared his throat. "Is that true, girly? My brother's not good enough for you?"

"Hey!"

Heather's shout jolted us. She stood behind their friend, the one who had stumbled in front of me, and wielded a long towel in one hand. A butcher knife was in the other. Her legs were planted apart. She looked ready to fight. My eyes trailed past her shoulder. Brandon was behind her. He folded his arms over his chest. Even Gus was watching the exchange with a somber expression.

Both of the brothers' heads shot up, but it was Budd who gave her a fierce frown. "What do you want, Jax?"

"Get away from her!" She pointed at me.

His eyes narrowed, and he sent me a long sidelong look before his chest puffed up. "Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Budd." She growled in warning.

"Brett was only talking to her. That's it. What's all the fuss about?" But his narrowed eyes wouldn't stop flitting back to me. I could see the wheels turning. It was then that I knew he didn't know who I was. Relief washed over me. My knees almost buckled, but I caught myself and folded my arms over my own chest. I tried to quench the sudden trembling.

"I mean it, Budd. Let her pass."

His hand started to lift. I sucked in my breath. I knew he was reaching for me…

At the same time, he asked, "Why? What's she to you?"

In slow motion, I watched as Heather's stormy eyes filled with even more anger. She opened her mouth. I knew she was going to let it slip, she thought they already knew, but I had to stop her.

I grabbed Budd's hand and twisted it. In a flash, I wrapped his arm behind his back and yanked at his wrist.

A scream came from him. He buckled under the force I was putting on his wrist. I was a tenth of his weight, but in that moment I could've snapped his wrist in two. A strangled cry came from him as he cursed, but then I was pulled away from him. When I expected rough hands, I was surprised to feel a gentle touch as Brett lifted me in the air and took three steps from his brother and around their friend. He placed me on my feet in front of Heather. As he frowned at me, he said to her, "We didn't mean any harm, Heather."