Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58442 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
She moves to tug on her hair again and freezes, correcting herself. It’s like she’s fighting her instincts.
“It’s more appealing when I put it that way. You’re thinking about it.”
“Do you always tell people how they’re feeling?”
I approach her again, then take off my suit jacket. Her cheeks blossom crimson.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you my jacket. That way, you can get started. I should’ve brought a change of clothes so you wouldn’t have to wait.”
Her eyes flit to my arms, my shirt hugging them tightly. I’ve never been much of a showoff with my physique. Working out is a means to an end, the end being outrunning demons and staying fit.
Now, I like it. I’ve been checking her out; she’s repaying the favor. The difference is, I don’t feel guilty about it like she clearly does.
“Fine. Thanks,” she says, taking the jacket.
I hold onto it for a moment as our fingers brush.
“We could make this work, Aurora. You’ll just have to follow my lead. Do what I say, when I say it.”
She snatches the jacket. “No, thank you. I was just curious about why you were asking me. Now I’ve got my answer. Bye, Raiden.”
I shrug as if it’s no big deal. “Goodbye, Aurora.”
And really, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. I can find someone else. As I leave the shop, a sour mood tries to overtake me. When I was inside there with her, I thought about what it’d be like to go to the Retreat with her, and it was so much more exciting and inviting than going alone. Or with someone else.
Perhaps it’s because she doesn’t want to go with me like so many women in this town would. For my money. For my name.
I walk onto the street and immediately hear grunting and rustling coming from the alleyway.
A gruff voice mutters, “Gotta be some dirt in here.”
I glance down the alley. Two tall, wide men are rifling through Needle & Muse’s trash can. I approach them. “Afternoon, gentlemen.”
They turn at my words. One has a nose that looks like it’s been broken a couple of times and a scar across his lip. The other has teardrop tattoos under his eyes.
“Help you, big man?” Teardrop grunts.
“You can help me by getting the fuck out of here.”
For some reason, my heart picks up speed, my instincts getting ready for a fight.
“The fuck you say?” the scarred man growls.
“You’re with Goliath, harassing the people of this town,” I state, because why else would they be looking through Aurora's trash looking for “dirt”? “And I’m telling you to back off. Now.”
I know I’ve got it right as they exchange a look, laughing at my expense. They think just because I’m not visibly scared, they can beat me, but I’m as big as they are. They can’t bully me. This just makes them approach me cautiously.
“Think it’s time you turned around and minded your own business, tough guy.”
“How about I feed you your friend’s teeth instead?”
The scar-faced one rushes me. I don’t know if he’s trying to punch me or just shove me, but I’m not going to let either happen. Once a man moves like this, the fight has started.
I catch his arm so that he stumbles into the alleyway wall, then backhand the other across the jaw. They turn to me, red-faced, eyes flooded with fury, but no longer in the mood to fight.
“Time to leave, gentlemen,” I say, not even winded by our little tussle.
They don’t think about it twice and scurry away like the rats they are. I watch as they run, still seething. I almost want the fight to keep going. I almost want them to return with backup.
“Bastards,” I growl, walking back to my car.
Aurora stands at the entrance to the alley, gazing at me with a shocked expression. She looks adorable with her eyebrows raised and her mouth open. She’d probably slap me if I told her that.
“What was that about?” she asks.
“Two wannabe tough guys were sifting through your trash.”
“Grandma says they’ve done that before.”
“They’re scum,” I snarl, walking to my car.
“Why did you do that?” she said.
For someone who seemingly wants nothing to do with me, she’s got a lot of questions. I don’t turn, but I can see her in the reflection of my car window. “I hate when people or corporations think they can throw their money around and bully people into submission.”
Even in the unclear reflection, I can see her instinctive response. She thinks I’m just like them.
“Goodbye, Aurora,” I call over my shoulder as I open my car door.
“Wait,” she says.
“What now?”
“Can I have the business card? Just in case.”
I take it out of my pocket and drop it on the ground. “Sure.”
“Jerk!” she screeches. “Why did you do that?”
“You just answered your own question.” I climb into the car. “I’m a jerk.”