Page 34 of Rags's Awakening
“What kind of name is that?” Ryan asked.
The blonde glanced over at Ryan, rolled her eyes then turned to Casey. “The guy who was sitting with you just a minute ago.”
“And the one who’s now staring a hole through you.” Zoe laughed.
Ignoring her friend, Casey shook her head. “No, I don’t want him to pay. Tell me how much it is.” She pulled out a credit card.
“Look, I got a ton of people wanting drinks. Rags paid your bill. If you want to fight with him about it, go ahead, but my part is done unless you want something more to drink.” She turned around and scurried away.
“That was nice of him,” Zoe said. “You should thank him. What was his name again?”
Ryan brushed the side of Zoe’s face with his finger. “You’re cute. As stupid as it sounds, his name is Rags.”
Zoe busted out laughing and he joined in.
Casey’s tone sharpened. “It’s his road name. They earn them. It’s a big deal. Not something to make fun of. If an outlaw hears you disrespecting their road name, you’ll spend some time in the ER… if you’re lucky.”
Both Zoe and Ryan stared at her.
Casey sighed and looked at her phone. “It’s late. I’ve got work tomorrow. Are you ready to go, Zoe?”
“I’ll take her home,” Ryan said.
“Are you sure about that, Zoe?”
“Yeah, he went to the same high school I did.”
“Promise you’ll call me when you get home, okay?”
Zoe nodded, already half lost in the glow of her new crush.
Casey pushed back from the table and went over to the waitress as she placed a tray of empty glasses on the bar.
“Hey, do you know that guy my friend’s with?” she asked, tipping her head toward their table.
The server glanced over. “Ryan? Yeah, he comes in once or twice a month. He seems okay. Why?”
“I just wanted to make sure my friend is with someone decent since he’s offered to drive her home,” Casey said.
“I totally get it.” The barmaid leaned in slightly. “Ryan Peterson. He’s harmless.”
“Thanks.”
“Sure thing. It’s cool the way you watch out for your friend.”
Casey nodded. It was the best she could do, but she’d still worry until she received the phone call from Zoe. Slinging her purse strap on her shoulder, Casey headed for the door.
She stepped into the cold night, and the noise of the bar faded behind her, replaced by the soft wind rustling the leaves of the trees.
As Casey approached her car, the night wrapped around her in cold silence. The lot was mostly dark, broken only by the weak flickering from a single streetlight. Her heels clicked against the pavement, too loud, echoing off the concrete. She gripped her purse tighter, nerves strung tight as wire.
Then she heard it, footsteps. Slow, steady, matching her pace.
Her chest tightened. She quickened her stride and hit the key fob; her headlights flared, cutting through the shadows. The sound came closer. Stifling a scream, she spun around, her shoulder strap twisted around her hand, her purse a weapon.
Rags stood a few feet away, hands raised slightly, his expression unreadable.
“You scared the hell out of me!” she said, pressing a hand to her chest.
