While June was still laughing, Samson Summers popped up around the corner of the white-painted reception room.

"The love is deep, huh?" His voice was playful but immediately took a serious edge. "Too bad. I thought you knew better than to hook up during touring season."

June stared daggers at the man, flushed and fuming.

He sighed exasperatedly, disappointment etched on his face. "Six years of managing and she still doesn't get when I'm joking."

Samson tucked one hand in his pocket while glancing at the ice watch on the other one. "The hired jet is at the City's private terminal, we'll be departing by 2 pm pronto so we can stay on schedule. When will you be joining the crew?"

June stroked her chin. "Hmm. Jason and I are gonna grab a bite. I promise I'll be there before two."

Mr. Summers' phone suddenly rang. "Ah, the booking agent." He gleaned at the contact before answering. "Hello, Cooper. What've you got for me?"

Striding past us, he walked out through the double glass doors and straight into the back of a Mercedes Benz jeep.

"We've got three hours till 2," I said after the jeep had driven away. "Are you talking fast food?"

June turned toward the elevator. "Pfft. The jet was chattered to transport me. It'll stay grounded forever if I don't show up." She looked at me over her shoulders, picking up my concerned look. "But of course, I'll make it before two. I've got everything planned out."

My stomach rumbled. "So if it's not fast food..."

"It's a surprise." She sang as she entered the elevator. "Lemme get my jacket, I won't take long."

'Damn,' I thought. 'Gotta love that fire.'

*****

A sleek black Ford pulled up at the back alley of a Cross-Bakes branch, barely a meter from the walls.

"No way." I gaped as the driver opened the back door for us to exit. I gave June a sly look before hopping out of the car. "Don't tell me -"

"Yup." She took my hand as she stepped out. "Booked the place for the afternoon. It was supposed to be a solo 'last-lunch-in-hometown' kind of thing, but you couldn't resist me, so I said, 'Why not let you tag along?' "

"Nice one," I joked. "But if I remember correctly, you asked me out of the country. And then settled for a local date."

A vibrant grey-haired man opened the steel backdoors from inside. He wore a black turtle neck sweater and carton-colored pants. "Miss Austere," a beam spread across his face. "Why, I thought I dreamt up the reservation call with your manager. It felt so unreal."

June smiled politely and brushed back a streak of red hair. "You must be the manager here, am I right?"

"Quite right you are. Call me Dan." His attention turned to me. Just when I thought his tone couldn't get any jollier, it did. "Somebody pinch me. I didn't know that the 'two' included Jason McLean. I'd go for a handshake, but I don't know if you'd like that."

I extended my hand with a smile. "I'm human, just like you."

After the handshake, he led us inside. We made our way through the large kitchen to the desolate eatery. It was a different Cross-Bakes branch from the one Nic invited me to, but the interior decor was very similar.

"I turned off all the CCTV cameras to ensure this is completely private." He gestured towards the prepared table.

All the other tables were plain with only salt and pepper except for the one in the middle which was dressed with a fine red tablecloth and adorned with a sleek flower vase and two sets of cutlery on either side along with the menu. And don't forget the candle.

"Above and beyond," I pulled out her seat. "I'm impressed, though I'm not quite sure it'll beat lunch at my Villa."

Seating gracefully, June chuckled. "Is that an invitation to come over?"

I slowly moved her chair in. "Of course. I'd open the gates of heaven for you."

Her sweet laughter filled the air again. "Stop kidding, I know you'd lead me through the backdoor."

I gave a dramatic sigh. "How do you always see right through me?"

From the corner of my eye, I spotted the manager whispering into a phone behind the counter. His demeanor was grim. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that look resembled the kind of cold expressions I saw on the crooks in the act of committing a crime.

I arched a brow to say, 'Is everything alright?'

A glare was returned, followed by his exiting into the back.

'Something seems off about him.'
I thought.

"So," June's smile fixed my attention. "Tell me something about yourself. Something that's not on the web, that is."

"Hmm," I leaned forward. "Well, um, I'm not a fan of cliches... and that question was just dripping with cliche."

She cracked up, and her laughter was so contagious, I couldn't help but snicker.

"Okay," June said. "My bad. That's just how it goes in almost every reality TV show I've seen."

"Oh, you like reality tv shows too? I usually watch them to try to guess what could be real and what's entirely scripted. How about you?"

She shrugged. "Umm, the romance."

"The romance?" I shot a brow up dramatically.

She snickered. "I mean like the dating experiences, lessons, and challenges...I don't know I feel like I'm learning to make better decisions. Of course, at the moment, I'm not dating." Her beautiful green eyes held mine. "Yet."

"Me neither," my fingertips played with the menu. "Yet."

"You know, I like to eat scones or jelly doughnuts while I'm watching." She looked up as if imagining the pastries before her gaze flicked back to me. "It makes the moment peak. I don't suppose you've got a snack of choice?"

"I like to serve knuckle sandwiches." Why did I just say that? Stupid impulse! I have to correct myself.

"Say what?"

"I mean I love to serve myself... sandwiches...on my knuckles." The urge to facepalm was killing me. The way this was spiraling made me start thinking we might not end this date with a kiss. "Sorry, what I meant to say was lips--no! Dips! Chips and dips! My go-to snacks."

Like a blast of static, Blitz's voice interrupted. "Hey, smooches. Keep your lips moist for later because we've got company."

As if on cue, a loud slam came from the front door, causing me to launch up to my feet and spin around. Through the glass, I could see a band of buffed men in black leather jackets gathered like moths to a lamp. The one at the forefront kicked the doors again.

"Can't they see it's closed?" June panicked, springing to her feet as well.

I balled my fists. "Something tells me they're here for us."

"But how could they have known we'd be here?" Another slam followed June's question.

The manager burst out from the back room, a bunch of keys rattling in his hands as he briskly made for the front door.

"What are you doing?" We blared in unison. Then, all of a sudden, I recognized the tattoo on his neck as he walked past me. A water drop shape with a skull embedded. Only that the drop signified blood; as in the Bleeding Bones.

How could I have missed that before? I subdued a facepalm before running and tackling the gangster, crashing into a table.

I scrambled up, glancing at his knocked-out form and then looking at June. "Bleeding Bones, we've got to get to the car. Now."

Immediately, gunshots were fired, and the front door caved with a massive shattering. June and I ducked behind the nearest table.

At this point, my heart was pounding. I didn't want to resort to my last option for escape. Not when I could keep it hidden.

I locked hands with June, squeezing reassuringly. "If we go low, we can make it to the back and hitch our ride. Just trust me. In three, two, one-"

With a 'BOOM', the backdoor came off flying across the room. My eyes retraced the trajectory to see that in its stead loomed the big red monster.

June clung to my shoulders, her lips trembling as Kazar swept his sinister gaze over the place before fixing it on us.

"We meet again, Tekeon."

I choked on my saliva. Did my ears just hear correctly?

"Archer believes you are the man I'm after. I'm here to test that theory." He lashed out his claws.

"J-Jason, what the hell is it talking about? What does it want from you?"

At that moment, time seemed to slow down.

I analyzed my surroundings; armed men barricaded my left and right while Kazar blocked off my front. They all were at least three meters away, but that was as close as I'd let them come to June. She didn't have to face my problems.

I looked into those trusting light green eyes for what might be the last time ever. "It's going to be okay."

"How?" She whispered back. "Are you about to call Tekeon?"

I inhaled deeply before rising to my feet.

Glancing down at her, the truth left my mouth as my armor began to solidify. "I am Tekeon."