AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For a moment, they just stared at me.
"Yeah?" one in the back said finally. "Well, we're looking for some money. Have you seen any? Maybe in your purse?"
A round of snickers. I turned to the speaker.
"As you've probably noticed, I'm not carrying a purse. I--"
"No purse?" He turned to his friends. "I think she is hiding it, under her shirt. Two big purses." He made the universal male gesture for large breasts.
I waited through the inevitable guffaws and resisted the urge to tell them that, as boob jokes went, this was one of the lamer ones I'd heard.
"He's sixteen," I said. "Tall. Dark hair. White. Someone was chasing him. He may be hurt."
"If we saw him, he would be hurt. No one comes here and just walks out again." He met my gaze. "No one."
"Ah," a voice said behind us. "Well, perhaps this evening you gentlemen could make an exception." Lucas took my arm. "We apologize for the misunderstanding. Please excuse us."
The thug behind me stepped up to Lucas and flicked open a switchblade, keeping the knife down at his side, a covert threat.
"Nice suit, pocho," he said, then dropped his gaze over my skirt and blouse. "Where did you two come from? The fucking mission?"
"Out of town, actually," Lucas said. "Now, if you'll excuse us--"
"When we're done," the knife-thug said. "And we aren't done."
He smirked at me and reached out his free hand toward my breast. I started murmuring a binding spell, but before I could cast it, Lucas lifted his hand and blocked the youth's.
"Please don't do that," Lucas said.
"Yeah, and who's gonna stop me?"
"I am," a voice rumbled.
Everyone looked up--way up--to see Troy. He plucked the knife from the thug's hand.
"The mission bodyguard," I said. "Sorry, guys, but we have work to do. Thanks for your cooperation, and don't stay out too late. It's a school night."
A chorus of muttered Spanish, none of it complimentary I'm sure, followed us from the alley, but the kids stayed in their doorway.
When we were out of earshot, Lucas glanced over at Troy.
"You realize, of course, that you robbed me of a rare opportunity to display my martial prowess, and win untold weeks of feminine appreciation."
"Sorry 'bout that."
I grinned and squeezed Lucas's arm. "Don't worry. I know you were mere milliseconds from blasting them with an energy-bolt spell."
"Absolutely." He glanced over his shoulder at Troy. "You'll have to forgive Paige's overenthusiastic attempt to befriend the local wildlife. Not many of their type where she comes from."
"Hey, we have gangs in Boston."
"Ah, yes. I believe they're particularly bad down by the wharf, where they're liable to descend upon the unwary, surround him with their yachts, and shout well-chosen and elegantly elocuted epithets."
Troy laughed.
Lucas continued, "When dealing with gang members, Paige, it's best to treat them as you would a rabid dog. Whenever possible, avoid their territory. If you inadvertently run into one, avoid eye contact, back away slowly...then blast them with a good energy bolt."
"Got it."
