You Can't Run From The Dark

{Part 13}

~Dessa~

After that the patron had clamped his hand on Dessa's wrist and told her that she was coming home with him, Dessa wanted to scream. The man in the leather gloves snapped his book shut abruptly, and glared out of the corner of his eye. The patron immediately released her, and he cringed like he was in pain. It was the strangest thing that Dessa had ever experienced. It almost seemed like the man's glare had physically pierced the guy who had grabbed her. Dessa didn't waste a moment on the ridiculous thought - she tripped over her own two feet slightly as she backed up, and made herself walk away while the patron clutched his side like he had a stitch. She didn't run - no matter how much she wanted to - but she walked faster than she had in a long time. Her heart pounded against her chest as she returned to the kitchen, and she tried to catch her breath. Only then did she begin to make up excuses for the incident. She was in a panic at that moment. She certainly imagined that crazy shit. The man in the leather gloves didn't lay a finger on him. Maybe the other patron was having some sort of medical episode and it just so happened to flare up. He probably got himself too worked up, fantasizing about what he wanted to do with her when he got her alone. 

The way that he had smiled at Dessa made her skin crawl, and she shuddered as she saw his lascivious grin in her mind. He looked at her like he wanted to fucking eat her face. No one had ever tried anything like that. She had never even been asked out on a date, and that man just straight up told  her that she was coming home with him. He was definitely not asking, or taking no for an answer. When Dessa glanced up, she saw Hans looking at her like he was concerned, but luckily, another waitress named Nina sauntered in and Dessa immediately grabbed her hand, and Nina's eyes widened.

"What's up?"

"U-Um, would you mind covering Table 8?" Dessa stuttered apprehensively. "I know you mostly work the bar, but the guy at that table scared me half to death. He grabbed me and told me I was coming home with him tonight."

Nina's eyes narrowed like she wanted to give the guy a kick in the balls, but she nodded. 

"No problem, girl. What did the creep order?" Nina lifted her chin a notch, and her lips pursed tightly.

Dessa told her that he had ordered the salmon, and Nina gave her hand a squeeze before letting go.

"The patrons aren't allowed to touch you," Hans grunted, looking more pissed off than the day one of his line cooks burned a tray of biscuits. "You should have a word with Mr. Talon about it."

He started cooking the salmon, and he seemed angry enough to garnish the fish with arsenic. Dessa was grateful that Nina had agreed to cover the table, and that Hans seemed to care about her well-being, but the idea of going to her boss to complain was nerve-wracking. 

"I-I don't want to be a bother," Dessa nearly whimpered, clutching the fabric of her dress.

Hans huffed and shook his head, "Don't worry about it, Dessa. I'll speak to him myself. Mr. Talon does not permit that behavior here. Antony, cover the grill."

With that, Hans tossed the rag off of his shoulder and strode out of the kitchen. His right-hand man finished off the salmon for Nina. Dessa shuffled nervously, waiting for her and Hans to come back. Nina was first, and Dessa was surprised to see her returning the food.

"The coward left," Nina rolled her eyes. "I was really hoping I could give him a piece of my mind."

A moment or two later, Hans bustled in. "Mr. Talon already pulled him into his office. Someone must have seen what happened."