AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His mouth widened in satisfaction like a wolf who’d cornered his prey. “I just want to talk.” He peered over his shoulder at two men who looked his way and lifted his chin inacknowledgment.
Oh yeah, now I understood. A jerk completing a dare from his friends to pick up the lonely girl at the tavern. “What would you want to chat about?” I began. “The weather? What I like for breakfast? Or how you still live with your parents and this little venture with your buddies to White Peak makes you feel sotough?”
I tried to tug my hand free, but he held. “Bitch.”
“Been called worse things.” I kicked him under thetable.
He flinched, his grip loosening, and I leaped to my feet, grabbing the knife from my belt. I lunged past the table and pressed the tip to his neck before he could react. A satisfied smile tugged on my lips. I loved payback. “Now play nice and run back to yourfriends.”
His cheeks blanched while the bridge between his nose pinched. He got up in slow motion, the seat scraping across the wooden floorboards beneath him. Hate flooded his wry expression. Yeah, rejectionstung.
I swept my gaze over his group of buddies. None of them made a move toward us, and I gave them my one-finger salute. I lowered my blade from Blondie and withdrew. “Get the fuck out of myface.”
Except he jumped at me, hands going for mythroat.
But someone from within the crowd grabbed him by the back of the shirt and tossed him into the masses as if he weighed nothing. Blondie and a huddle of partygoers stumbled to theground.
I raised my gaze to the stranger with the hood from earlier in the day. He stood there, his face still half-covered, his chest puffing in and out, wide enough to carry the entireworld.
“You’re back, I see.” I lifted my weapon because I wasn’t sure what his deal was or if it was a full moon out that had turned everyone into lunatics. “I appreciate the bravado, but I can look aftermyself.”
The majority of patrons fanned outward, watching, waiting for a fight. Blondie and his buddies rushed up behind HoodedMan.
“Watch out,” Iyelled.
He spun so fast, I flinched backward, hitting the wall, the blade shaking in my hand. Yeah, this was a night of crazies, and I didn’t stand a chance against the newcomer. First rule of attending any tavern… never engage in a brawl with anyone twice your size. The stranger punched Blondie, sending him reeling into a group of people, bringing several bystanders down with him. Two other attackers surged forward, arms flying, grunts exploding, and the crowd cheered them on, bellowing inexcitement.
Men were the same no matter where I traveled. And in all honesty, I didn’t need to cheer on a fight now or ever, so I flung my bag over my shoulder and squeezed into thehordes.
Hoots exploded around me, and several jabs in my ribs later, I pushed free from the masses. Sure, I appreciated the big man standing up for me, but no one had asked him to, and he could take care of himself. Worse yet, what if he expected payment for saving my ass? At the front door, I caught one last glance of the fight. Hooded Man appeared to be winning as he drove a fist into Blondie’sstomach.
Hell, that must hurt. I dashed outside and heading for one of Ted’s rental room places down the street. If I rushed, no one would see which one I snuck into for the night. With the cold enveloping me, I pulled my long, black coat out of my bag and slipped iton.
Then I ran, dried dirt crunching underfoot, and twisted my head around. More people poured into the establishment, and the moment the doors opened, a thundering cheerescaped.
Nothing I hadn’t seen before, but still the shakes hadn’t left me, not to mention the chill running down my spine.Yes, I know, Goddess. You’re warning me, and that’s why I’mleaving.
Being alone in White Peak left me with few options. Ted was an acquaintance, but what power did he have to stop anyone from tearing my throat out if they sochose?
Footfalls sounded from thetavern.
My heart raced, and I whirled, weapon still inhand.
No one hadfollowed.
I turned and ran straight into someone, but it might as well have been a brick wall. I bounced backward, and my stomachroiled.
Gawking at the hooded man left me breathless for so many reasons, like how the hell did he get in front of me so fast? Did he now expect a reward for fighting those idiots in the tavern, but most importantly, why had he returned to the bar? Was he coming for me? Or was he helping me and just staying in town for the night? But I wasn’t in a trusting moodtonight.
“You’re welcome.” His gravelly voice carried on the wind buffeting him from behind. The hood he wore ruffled, darkening hisfeatures.
“Who are you?” I grumbled. “What do youwant?”
There was movement in my peripheral vision. Blondie and five other men stormed our way. Fear flashed through me. I swore two of them looked familiar. Hard to tell in thedark.
I growled and sidesteppedhim.
Hooded Man blocked my path, his hand stretched out, palm up. “Let me keep you safe,” he said with caution, his gaze lifting to the gangapproaching.
