Page 130 of Oathbreaker

How foolish of me.

The security detail mill around the shop, and the only people not employed by Hunter Brigham are the barista and the cashier across the store, who looks petrified.

“Right,” I say to him. We grab a table near a window. When he opens his mouth to object, I cut him off. “Why don’t we just live in a fort then?” My hands shake, and I feel annoyingly close to tears. My nose itches.

“This is...this is fine, Mrs.Brigham,” he murmurs. Then he steps back to confer with Jared, the other guard.

Probably to do a sweep for sharpshooters hanging out on the roofs.

How different life is now.

I scan the bustling street, getting choked up at what I imagined life would look like and how it’s so incredibly different.

This isn’t forever, I think. Or is it? Sitting back, I analyze the situation. Even when Hunter’s dad is out of the picture, there will be others who want to harm him. Want to harm us.

Trapped. I’m trapped, and I’m always going to be in danger.

Just realized that, didn’t you?

A hysterical bubble fizzles to the top of my throat, fighting to burst through my vocal cords. Kitty hops in my lap, sitting up to put his snout on my shoulder.

I hug him tight and try not to whimper.

“If it isn’t my favorite ladies,” a smooth voice says to my side. I look up and it’s Marcus, my neighbor.

Former neighbor?

“Haven’t seen you around much, Winter. Veronica,” he says.

“Good memory,” Veronica says in a sharp tone. I look at her. She shoots daggers at Marcus, and I have no clue what he did to piss in her Cheerios.

“Ah,” he says, picking up on the vibes Veronica’s putting off. He turns to Ella.

“Marcus Law.” He sticks his hand out to shake hers. Ella’s eyes ping-pong around the table.

A mischievous smirk plays across her lips, and it’s clear she finds the situation amusing as hell.

“Ella Brigham,” she replies, shaking his hand. If I weren’t looking at Marcus, I would have missed the slight tick of his jaw.

Was it a tick of his jaw? Maybe it was just a muscle spasm. Or maybe he knows the Brighams. Maybe he’s someone who wants to hurt us. Hurt me.

Everything starts to close in, and my chest tightens. Paranoia compels me to get away from the window, from the table, from this space.

“Going to the bathroom,” I say, popping up quickly, displacing Kitty. Four heads swivel in my direction. Everyone wears a bewildered expression except Rio.

“Let me escort you, ma’am,” Rio says.

I nod, but when Kitty tries to follow me, I bark a sharp, “Stay!”

Veronica’s eyebrows crease in a concerned look. “You okay, Win?” she asks, snapping her fingers to call Kitty over to her. When Kitty settles next to her leg, he whimpers, giving me a sorrowful look.

I’m fucking up all around.

“I’m fine,” I say breathlessly. “Just need to pee. Drank that whole bottle of water,” I add.

I whirl around and race to the bathroom with Rio on my heels.

I slam the door and lock it behind me. Then I wash my hands.

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