Page 40 of Unmasked Legacy

The man releases me, turning to see Wolfe standing there, cigarette in hand, completely unbothered by these two assholes.

Throwing his hands up, the man steps back. “Wasn’t botherin’ her, man. Was just talkin’ to her.”

Wolfe drops the cigarette, crushing it out with his boot before stepping closer. “You always lay hands on a woman you’re just talkin’ to?”

The man takes another step back.

“You put a single fuckin’ finger on her again, I’ll find you, and I’ll cut your dick off and shove it down your throat. You got me?”

The man nods, and the other man’s eyes widen.

“No harm meant,” he says, quickly, before turning and rushing off.

Once they’re gone, Wolfe turns to me. “What are you doin’ over here?”

“I was just ... I needed to pee,” I whisper, rubbing my arm.

“He hurt you?”

I shake my head, but I’m struggling to fight back the tears. Is it always going to be like this everywhere I go? Are people always going to look at me like I’m some kind of museum piece? Keeping my head down, a single tear rolls down my cheek, and my nose burns. I fight to stop the rest from making themselves known, but it isn’t easy.

“Look at me.”

I shake my head.

“Look at me, Mera.”

Wolfe’s voice is firm, and I lift my head, meeting his eyes.

“Don’t let scum like that make you feel any less, you hear me?”

“Everyone in this town thinks I’m just like him,” I croak. “It doesn’t matter what I do, I’m always going to be the daughter of a god damned killer.”

“Can’t change who you are.”

“No, but I can change being in this town. Maybe you were right, maybe I should leave ...”

He goes silent, and that hurts, because I know he agrees with me.

It doesn’t matter how long I’m around him, his feelings about me are never going to change. He is always going to want me gone, and that stings because I know I can’t do anything to change it. Worse, I wish itwouldchange. I’m developing somekind of attachment to this man, even when he has made it clear he isn’t interested.

“Is there a bar around here?” I ask, looking up at him.

He nods.

“Is it too early to drink?”

His lip tips up, and he shakes his head. “Never too early to drink.”

“Good,” I say, pushing off the door. “Let’s go.”

He might want me to go, but at least he’s willing to sit down and have a drink with me.

It isn’t much, but I’ll take it.

Then, I have no choice but to figure out what my next move is going to be.

I can either stay here and keep fighting, or I can run like I do so well.

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