Page 41 of Beautiful Defiance

The cargo pants also mold to my ass like a second skin. My ass is my least favorite part of my body. It’s too big. I don’t fixate on my imperfections. There’s yelling from my left. Did a driver piss off another driver in the roundabout? I look off to the side. A lap dog runs across the roundabout, its leash flapping. He’s running like he’s on an epic doggy adventure.

Crap! In the middle of the roundabout is a swarm of bushes. The leash will get caught in a branch and choke the poor dog. I dart across the street. Everything happens in slow motion. The end of the leash catches on a branch. He keeps on running. The leash pulls taut, reeling him back. Oh, God, he’ll choke.

I lunge for him. Someone screams behind me. I look to the side. A car is careening toward me. I open my mouth. Nothing comes out. Something big hits me from behind, and the air is knocked from my lungs. I fly forward face first. See a bush of red berries and spiky leaves coming up fast in my line of sight. No, no, no. Strong arms wrap around my waist and anchor me against a solid chest.

I step forward and slam my elbow back, instinct driving me to act out. Before my elbow can make contact with my rescuer’s gut, I’m turned around. Thick fingers grasp my chin and tip my face up. I stare into sapphire eyes marred by what I’ve seen in the eyes of the guy I stole a car from—ruthlessness with a hint of crazy. I haven’t seen Maddox in a year, but his last words stick with me.

“Someday, I’ll come for what’s owed to me, and you’ll have no choice but to comply.”

I’m not in the business of being indebted to anyone, most of all someone as dangerous as Maddox Stassi. Now, I’m indebted to someone else.

“Thanks.” I set my hands on his chest and put space between us.

The boy’s eyes rove over my face, then zone in on my mouth. What is it with guys and their fascination with my lips? Someone clears their throat behind us. He doesn’t stop staring at my lips.

“Freak sakes, Red, let go of her already.”

Let go? I glance down. The boy Red has a firm hold on my arms.

“Go away, Rue, and take your little dog with you. This isn’t Kansas.”

This boy’s watched The Wizard of Oz?

I untangle from his hold and face the girl named Rue. She’s holding the dog close to her chest. He whimpers, and she pets his head and runs her fingers through his fur. She’s checking for injuries.

“We should get over to the other side before traffic picks up.” She points in the direction of where she and the dog came from.

I ignore the boy behind me and point in the direction I was headed before my plans were derailed by a boy named Red, a girl named Rue, and a cute-as-pie ball of white fur.

“I’m headed to the pho restaurant.”

“It’s that way.” She nods behind her.

“The directory says that way.”

“Fuck’s sake, listen to Rue. She knows this place inside and out. Restaurant moved, and the new location isn’t updated on the directory.”

“Oh, okay, thanks.”

I follow Rue and run across the roundabout, Red close on my heels.

“Why are you tagging along?” He’s at my side, so close, our fingers graze. I stick my hands inside my jacket pockets.

“Never seen you around here. You new?”

“Yes.”

“Where you from?”

“Why the questions?”

“To get to know you better.”

“Well, don’t. I don’t stay in one place long enough.”

“Take a chance on me and Rue. We’re good people. Right, Rue?”

“Good people? Ha! You’re a Sterling, and Sterling boys are bad news all around.”

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