of stale beer, sawdu

. Heavy rock music vibrated in the floorboards. The air was thick

torn or not-didn't fit in here. She walked with a straight spine, channeling every ou

catcalls from a table of men wearing leather vests

a beard that reached his chest. He sla

y earlier and found a crumpled twenty-dollar bill. She slap

ured the drink. "Keep the twenty. You

d the amber liquid in one gulp. It burned all the way down, a w

mpty stomach hard. Th

the room. She needed to figure out a plan.

a booth in the darke

at ther

n shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms corded with muscle. He wasn't looking at the dan

ooke

cross the crowded room, his gaze locked onto hers with the weight of a physi

powerf

ng into her empty glass. Don't

prin

eath fanned ag

stained mechanic's shirt had leaned

ed. His hand reached out, g

bra said, he

hair, forcing her head back. "I like feis

aid le

ble, like distant thunder, but it cut t

froze. He t

massive. He towered over the mechanic, radiating an a

pal," the mechanic tried to

s head slightly. His eyes flashed-not the yellow

bra's hair as if it were burning.

knocking over a s

ed to her savior. Up close, he was devastating. High cheekbones,

t the woman. He recognized t

al scent of the ruling family, but mixed with cheap whiskey and

he Vance perfume to attract

ed. A "distressed" look for a roleplay? He knew the type. Women

said. His voice was dry, mocking. "Or is 'dams

"I didn't ask

ing the bartender for a refill. "What is a girl smelling like Edward's

s tightened. "You don't

r torn dress, her smeared makeup. To him, she looked like a commodity. Expensive, damaged, an

making her brave. "I'm surviving. And for yo

er. Beneath the makeup, her eyes were haunted. There was

," he said, nodd

rds were still oozing slightly. She hid her h

b drawled. "A

ull was getting stronger. His wolf was pacing in

or a working girl? Impossible. But for toni

crackled. Every time he moved, her ski

u

vibrated o

screen. A text from

. But not as much as a jail cell wi

cold. Colin. He kn

ng the room frantically. Was he here

leb asked, wat

stood up, but her legs wobbled. The

police were coming, they would

powerful. The mechanic had

razy, desp

; she acted on instinct. She put her hand on

she pleaded, her voi

is arm. He looked at her dila

party girl who wanted to leave with the ho

e rough with implication. "You know I don't pay fo

iven him a fak

what it implied. She just needed to escape

took off his suit jacket-it smelled of cedar and rain-and dra

go,"