Page 109 of Kings Against the World

She stands up, hands raised.

Every muscle in my body locks up. “Zoe!”

“I’m what you want, right?” she calls out, her voice leveled. “This is how you’re collecting the debt you created?”

Boone’s grin twitches, then splits wider as he recovers. “That’s exactly it. C’mere, sweetheart.”

Zoe cocks her head. “Why don’t you make me? You’re the big bad man in charge, right?”

A flicker of irritation crosses Boone’s face. “You don’t get to decide how this goes. That’s my job.”

“Thenmakeme,” Zoe challenges. “What’s wrong, Boone? You intimidated?”

A dry chuckle rolls from Boone’s chest. Some of his men exchange uncertain glances, shifting on their feet.

I don’t fucking like this. I don’t like that she’s out in the open, unarmed, with Boone and his men watching her like a pack of wolves. Every instinct in me screams to grab her, to shove her back down. But she’s looking at Boone like she knows exactly what she’s doing. She wants me totrusther.

Boone’s chuckle dies out, and his expression shifts, dark and dangerous. “Am I intimidated? By who? Byyou, sweetheart? Not for a damn second.”

His hand moves quick as he shoves it inside his pocket and then produces a switchblade. He starts toward her, dripping his usual arrogance.

The saloon is dead silent, everyone locked in place, caught in the tension of waiting to see who strikes first. My whole body coils, ready to intervene, but Zoe doesn’t flinch. She just watches, waiting for him to reach her.

Boone shakes his head. “You think you’re so tough, don’t you? Big, bad federal agent. I’m about to give you a taste of the real world.”

He lunges.

Zoe ducks.

She sweeps at his legs, swiping his balance out from under him. Before Boone even knows what’s hit him, he’s crashing down to the ground.

Zoe pounces on him as soon as he does. Her arms and legs move in a flurry as she wraps him up like a spider does an insect in a web, locking him into a submission hold.

She’s nicked the switchblade right from him, gripping it tight as she presses the blade against his throat.

The entire room is stunned.

Boone’s brows crease deep, the shock evident on his slack face.

His men share his confusion. They’re glued to the spot, watching in silence.

Zoe meets their gazes unapologetically. “You can shoot. But the second you do, I slit his throat.”

30

ZOE

The adrenaline rushis like no other. My heart pounds against my ribs and echoes in my ears. I keep my grip tight and choking. Boone jerks against me, trying to wrestle himself free. I tighten my hold even more, arms and legs knotted around him. His face reddens from the strain.

Pressing the blade more firmly into his throat, I boldly look around the barroom.

“Lower your weapons,” I command. “Do it now. Put them down and hold your hands up. The Kings will be coming out to collect them. Then we’ll see where things go from there.”

Boone’s men hesitate. Their gazes dip to him restrained within my grasp. The air in the room feels charged, so tense it’s visceral.

Boone grows frustrated and grits his teeth. The blade has pressed deeper into his flesh, a few beads of blood bubbling to the surface.

“Do what she says!” he snarls at them.

---