Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
What was that? What was going on?
What did he mean by possible investment? Why did he look at her like he . . . like he owned her?
Devi glanced over at her father as he moaned and started mumbling nonsense in his sleep.
Why did she have this feeling that this could have something to do with him?
Maybe because everything bad in your life stems from him.
Devi closed her eyes. She needed to get away from this life.
The gallery showing held the key to her escape. But it was two months away and she still had another two pieces to finish. Then she had to get the items packed up and over to the gallery.
She had the money saved to pay for the transport, but it would take every penny.
Two months. . . she just had to hold on for two months and hope like hell that Vega didn’t make good on his threat.
6
“Hey, sweet cheeks. You look tired. How about you take a load off?”
Devi glanced over at the man sitting at the table next to her. He was a big, beefy guy with greasy hair pulled back into a hair tie.
This group had been nothing but trouble since they’d walked through the door a couple of hours ago. They were probably passing through, staying the night at one of the cheaper motels out by the highway.
Unfortunately for her, they’d decided to come into the Elk Horn Tavern. And been a pain in her butt since.
Literally. One of them had actually pinched her ass.
Mac had been out the back when that happened and she’d handled it alone. Still, the next one to put their hand on her was gonna lose it. Even if she had to go out the back and grab the knife herself.
“That’s a hard no,” she told him.
He scowled. “What? You think you’re too good for me?”
“Yeah, I know I’m too good for you. Because a ferret would be too good for you.”
Lord, would she ever learn?
Somehow, she thought not. Because as she turned away after delivering the last beer, the jerk reached out and grabbed her arm, drawing her back into his lap with a laugh.
Before she could figure out how to fight him off . . . a large man loomed over them.
Shit.
Where had he come from? She hadn’t seen him in days and now he turned up?
Was this the universe’s idea of a joke?
“Let her go. Now.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?” the guy holding her said with a laugh. “Because you said so?”
“Yeah. That’s why.”
“In case you didn’t notice, buddy, you’re outnumbered.”
All of the guys at the table stood. They were all older than Hayes and in much worse shape. But there were eight of them and one of him.
“Actually, he’s not.” Mac stepped up beside Hayes. “Let her go and get the fuck out of my bar.”
One of those assholes hooted. “Right, old man. Who is gonna make us?”
“I am,” someone else rumbled.
“And me,” said someone else.
Suddenly the table of guys were surrounded by a number of locals and relief filled her.
“Let her go and leave,” Hayes rumbled. “Right. Now.”
The jerk pushed her off his lap and she landed heavily on her side.
Great. That was going to be another bruise to add to the collection.
Immediately, Hayes picked her up. But rather than speak to her or check that she was all right, he pushed her behind him.
Huh.
That was kind of rude.
But then she got it as the guy that had grabbed her stood up. Hayes grasped hold of his arm and twisted it behind his back, spinning around.
She gulped in shock as Hayes marched him to the door.
“Hey! What the fuck!” the guy yelled. “Let me go! That’s fucking assault. I could go to the cops.”
“Good luck with that,” Mac called out. “Known the Chief for years. Wonder who he’ll side with?”
They all grumbled as they stepped out and she breathed a sigh of relief, turning to Mac.
“I’m so sorry,” she told him, feeling herself tremble.
Stupid.
She’d been so stupid. Why hadn’t she just ignored that guy? Or been nicer? Why did she have to let herself get so carried away?
Mac pointed at her. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about, girl. That was all on them. Fucking assholes. Knew I should have kicked them out as soon as they walked in.”
He muttered to himself as he strode off. To Devi’s surprise, several of the men who’d stood up to those guys stopped to check on her.
And then Hayes was in front of her. And he had a face like thunder.
She swallowed heavily.
Uh-oh.
“I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.”
Really? That’s what you want to say?
Was she insane? Donovan had come to the café with Sondra the past couple of days and each time her stomach had dropped even as she’d told herself she didn’t care.