Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,8

more sharply honed. A woman on her own in the universe always had to be on her guard against theft and much, much worse.

She grabbed the covers and tugged them over her. Sweat beaded on her brow, but the chill wouldn’t go away.

One minute, she’d been asleep, the next, she’d sensed his presence and tried to stab him. At least all her instincts hadn’t been muted. Protecting herself was ingrained in her DNA.

The light from the baseboard strip cast the room in shadows. She usually found it comforting, but tonight, all it did was mock her. He’d used the shadows, hiding in them, destroying her sense of safety.

She swallowed heavily. “You’re not a child. Not any longer.” But she had been a child once, alone in the dark, forgotten.

On a cry of anger, she turned on the light, letting the glow spill over the room, dispelling the shadows. She hated the weakness, had worked hard to overcome it.

In a matter of seconds, the intruder had undone all her years of hard work.

“No.” She would not allow it. With a click, the light winked out, with the exception of the baseboard strip.

Her breathing increased and her heart pounded. Etta tilted her head back and silently screamed her fury, the chords of her neck tightening. It would be more satisfying to yell her lungs out, but her sisters didn’t deserve to be scared out of their minds. They’d been through enough in their short lives.

Breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, she eventually calmed. Her lightweight sleepwear was damp and plastered to her skin, but she didn’t bother to get up and change.

Wide awake, she stared at the window. Had it been Ky? Two strangers in one evening seemed a bit too much of a coincidence.

The muscles in her hand cramped. She’d been gripping the knife for quite some time. On a sigh, she slipped it under the pillow beside her. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t slept with one there.

She’d gotten small daggers for her sisters before she’d left and taught them how to use them. They’d all hidden that information from the girls’ mother. They’d proudly shown her they remembered her lessons when she’d returned.

The corners of her mouth eased upward. They were both so smart, the possibilities for their futures limitless. They deserved more than to molder on this world, working in Helldrick’s bar and being used in whatever game or deal he cooked up.

She’d find a way to save them somehow.

A snippet of the dream she’d been having when she’d been jerked out of sleep returned to her. There’d been a man. She rubbed her fingers lightly over her lips, making them tingle. Who was he?

In the way of most dreams, details were elusive. She struggled to remember his face but couldn’t. But he’d been a big man. His arms had wrapped around her, not in a confining way, but one of protection and caring.

Definitely a dream. She’d never met a man who’d put her first.

Her fingers feathered over the edge of her jaw. She dropped her hand and clenched her fingers into a fist.

“Don’t mix up a pleasant dream with the intruder.” His touch confused her, both frightening and compelling.

“You’re okay. You’re safe.” The reminder didn’t help. He wanted information about Balthazar. This wasn’t the kind of man who’d simply walk away. No, he’d be back.

“And I’ll be ready.” He wouldn’t take her unawares the next time. She’d put extra precautions in place going forward, both for herself and the girls.

As for Ky, if he was the intruder, he’d likely come back to Hell’s Gate. How better to monitor Balthazar’s comings and goings.

Unease snaked over her, leaving chill bumps on her skin. What if they weren’t the same person? Her half-brother had a tendency to piss off a lot of people.

Her first task would be to learn as much about Ky as she could. Checking with the regulars would be her first step. Just because the waitress hadn’t known him didn’t mean some of the others hadn’t done business with him.

All she had was a name, assuming it was even his real one, and a general description of his size.

He could walk into the bar and she might not recognize him.

No. There was no way she couldn’t know him. There’d been something about the stranger that had drawn her, made her want to learn more about him. That never happened.

Her eyes closed and her head dropped forward. She should lie down and