It was the barest relief.
The smallest solace in knowing that maybe she did get that I was here to protect her and had no intention of keeping her trapped.
My attention scanned the few cars and faces.
It didn’t take long to land on the figure on the far-right side of the lot up close to the road.
His bottom half was concealed where he stood near the hood of his car on the opposite side of us.
There wasn’t really anything about him that should set me off.
To the normal eye, he looked like some harmless forty-year-old man.
Jeans and a casual button-down.
Dull brown hair.
Probably swinging in to grab something for his wife on his way home from the office.
But my gut told me that was all wrong.
I could almost see the waves of depravity rolling off him.
Hellsmoke and ire.
Was sure of it when his eyes met mine from over the top of his hood.
They were full of a challenge.
Maybe a warning.
That and the fact that he didn’t cower when he saw me standing there clearly prepared to go on a murder spree.
Instead, he punted what amounted to a mocking grin.
Fucker ignorant enough to think he might have the upper hand.
Teeth gritted and my heart thundering, I curled my finger around the trigger when he moved.
Prepared for things to get messy.
Though the asshole just kept smirking that smug smile as he edged back to his door and slipped into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and pulled from the lot.
Had half a mind to go chasing him down as the tail of his black sedan disappeared down the road.
But Brinley was gasping and shaking, and a fury I shouldn’t feel suddenly scorched through my veins.
Singeing everything in its path.
Warily, I tucked my gun back into its holster, not wanting to draw more attention than we already had, gaze still flashing from side to side.
“Who was that?” Brinley wheezed.
Panic laced her shuddery voice.
Her fear saturating the air.
That enraged me, too.
