Page 16 of Guardian of Misty Mountain

“Adrian, is that really you?” Dawson asks as he sits next to me on a park bench. “Is everything okay? It’s not often I see you twice in the same week.”

“Or month,” Milo, aka Beast, adds.

I manage to tear my eyes away from Evergreen Books & Trinkets just long enough to acknowledge the two men next to me. Normally, I’d make an excuse to leave, but nothing can put me in a bad mood today. Not when Amelia is just about to leave work and I get to spend the rest of the day and night with her.

“Things change,” I tell them.

Beast scoffs and shakes his head. “Not around here, they don’t,” he mutters under his breath. The imposing man tugs at the long sleeves of his shirt, making sure they are covering his arms.

Like Dawson and myself, Beast is former military. The scars on his arms tell the story of why he was discharged, though he seems to be self-conscious about them. I get it. If I could hide the ugly mark tearing through my left brow, I would. Unfortunately, wearing an eye patch would only draw more attention.

Ever since meeting Amelia, however, I find that the hangups I used to have about my appearance and my general awkward,off-putting demeanor are fading into the background. She saw right through my bullshit and met me where I was at. She soothed the aches and pains and built me up into a better man than I ever thought I could be. And it's only been a handful of days since we met.

“So, are you going to tell us why you’re here?” Dawson asks, breaking into my thoughts.

“Waiting for my girl to get off work,” I say, basking in their shocked expressions.

“Wait, the guy who only comes into town like four times a year found himself a girlfriend?” Beast asks, folding his arms over his chest.

“Girlfriend… sounds so trivial. She’s more than that. Amelia is everything to me.” I think I’m more surprised than anyone that those words came tumbling out of my mouth. I meant every single one, but I’m not usually so forward or articulate with my emotions. I guess that’s another thing Amelia is changing in me for the better.

“Damn,” Dawson says with a low whistle.

“Well, shit, man,” Beast grumbles. “I mean, congrats. I guess.”

Dawson nudges Beast, who shoots him a glare and then shrugs his shoulders.

“I think what Beast means is that we’re happy for you,” Dawson says, trying to smooth things over. “Amelia, huh? She works at the bookstore?”

“Surprised you’ve been inside a bookstore,” Beast jokes. Or, at least I think he’s joking.

“Ha ha,” Dawson sarcastically replies. “I like supporting local businesses. Local authors, too. Travis Holt writes some incredible military fiction. I have a sneaking suspicion we might have another author in town, but that’s yet to be confirmed.”

“Who knew you were such a gossip?” I tease.

“Me? Naw. I’m just good at blending in and happen to also be good at listening,” Dawson informs me. “So, how did you and Amelia–”

“Shh,” I command. I make a fist and hold it up, elbow bent, in the universal military signal to stop, shut up, and pay attention.

Both men follow my gaze, all three of us narrowing in on a suspicious man loitering outside the bookstore. Everything in me is on high alert as we watch the man peek into one window and then the next before crouching down behind a bush. What the hell?

Just then, a thin, middle-aged woman pops out from behind another bush, scurrying over to where the suspicious man is hiding. It takes me all of two seconds to figure out who these fuckers are. Amelia's meth-head, piece of shit mother and stepdad.

A low, guttural growl boils up from deep in my core, and I’m ready to strike at any second.

“We got your back,” Beast tells me, his voice barely above a whisper.

“What’s the plan?” Dawson asks.

I’m thankful for these men. We don’t talk often, but the bond of brotherhood is as strong as ever. They don’t need an explanation, they simply follow my lead and trust that I have my reasons.

“Long story short, they are here to steal Amelia away. They fucked around and now it’s time they find out who they’re dealing with.” Beast and Dawson nod. I motion for one to go around the right side of the building containing the bookstore while the other takes the left. I head straight for the front door, needing to intercept my woman if necessary.

Amelia waltzes out of Evergreen Books & Trinkets with a radiant smile on her face when she notices me. Her expressionchanges as soon as she sees the seriousness in my eyes, sensing something isn’t right.

“There you are, you ungrateful bitch!” the man hiding in the bushes screeches before wrapping his grubby hand around Amelia’s arm.

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I roar. I lunge forward, tackling the man to the ground and forcing him to release his hold on Amelia.

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