actions when she frowns in confusion. Eventually, she gets the gist of what I’m saying because she straightens her shoulders and nods.
I link arms with her and chatter away, even knowing she can’t hear, she doesn’t need to. This is all for show, just two immature girls gossiping, likely about boys or school as they take a shortcut. It wouldn’t do to tiptoe in like a comedic villain from a Scooby-Doo cartoon after all.
I scan the alley as we make our way down it, looking for the discarded bag, wondering why it seems longer today somehow. Movement catches my eye as a figure moves out of the shadows in front of us, making all my instincts move from red alert to DEFCON one.
Instinctively, I take a step in front of Megan as the shadow steps forward, revealing a man dressed from head to toe in black. He looks like what I’d imagine the devil to look like. Tall, with dark messy hair that’s a touch too long and eyes the color of pennies, he has the kind of presence that demands attention. His full sensual lips kick up a little at the edge, a seductive tease that doesn’t reach his eyes that says I will fuck you before I fuck you up. His face is the face you would expect to see on a movie screen, making women lose their minds and panties, sculpted to perfection with an expression that’s as hard as granite.
“Interesting,” he murmurs, the sound of his voice making my skin tingle with awareness. This man would not be as easy to take out as the others. I can feel Megan shaking behind me, so I cock my head, straighten my shoulders, and glare at him.
“I wish I could say the same. Who are you, and what do you want?” I cross my arms over my chest and lock my legs so they don’t shake.
He lifts his arm. That’s when I notice the ratty backpack in his hand.
“It seems you lost something.” I don’t react, knowing that he won’t just hand it over out of the goodness of his heart.
“A funny thing happened here last night. A group of men stabbed someone who was doing a job for my boss. They took his product and left him for dead. Know anything about that?”
“About a group of men attacking someone? Not a damn thing,” I reply honestly.
“Hmm….” He licks his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth.
“Care to explain this?” He holds the bag out for me to take, one eyebrow raised in a challenge.
“It’s a bag. It holds things. I’m surprised you haven’t figured that out for yourself.”
He laughs, not a jovial sound though, one that sounds deep and ominous.
“Catch.”
He tosses the bag, and it isn’t until I reach out to grab it, I realize my mistake. I took my eyes off the threat, a mistake I vow never to make again as he grabs me, spinning me around and pulling me against his chest with his arm around my throat.
Chapter Five
I throw the bag at Megan, who watches on with wide terror-filled eyes.
“Go!” I mouth silently to her. She shakes her head adamantly, but I scowl and mouth, “Run, I’ll find you!” She must realize she can’t help, so she snags the bag from the ground, gives me a tearful stare full of despair and regrets before she turns and runs.
“If you run, I kill her,” he calls to her, but she doesn’t turn back. For the first time since meeting Megan, I’m so grateful she’s deaf.
“Damn, nice friend, you have there.” The guy laughs, wrapping a hand in my hair and spinning me to face him.
This is where an average person would beg, body shaking with fear, but whatever made me normal died a long time ago. Now the only thing flooding my system is adrenaline and that familiar spark that wants me to hurt this man like he wants to hurt me.
“She’s not my friend. I met her hours ago,” I answer, not wanting him to send people out to track her down. Better he thinks she’s long gone.
“And yet you stepped in front of her the second you lay eyes on me, why?” He cocks his head, genuinely curious. I stare into his eyes and realize he’s not as old as I initially thought. It’s just the way he holds himself and the malice that emanates from him. He must be in his early twenties, maybe?