Page 24 of Sneak Attack

Screaming at me right before he threw up on his feet.

On my worst nights, those screams still haunted me, as did the look on his face while Cole held him back from running into the street.

“Hey Nora—” His smile faltered, and his jaw hung loose when he saw me.

Recognized me.

“Eden.” It was a question, a statement, and a curse rolled into one.

I turned to Nora. “I should go.”

“You two know each other? How? I thought…”

“I went to school here for a year. Long time ago. Wasn’t here long.”

“Tucked tail and ran, right? Not surprised.” The venom came from Nate and my knees wobbled and my eyes closed.

Nate Beckham. I hadn’t considered for a single second he’d still be in town.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, and the bar top blurred as I tried to stay standing.

“Um.” Nora faltered next to me. Clearly surprised for a myriad of reasons and I couldn’t explain.

“What can I get you?” Nate asked, and I was one hundred percent sure he was directing it at her. But then he said my name and it was as equally nasty as the first time.

“Just a water,” I mumbled.

There was no way I could drink now. I’d chug the whole bottle and have no way to get back to Marley. Which I probably should be doing. ASAP.

Nora placed her order, something called a Juicy Jay, and when Nate turned his back to grab it for her, she arched two brows in my direction. “That was well, we don’t know each other so it’s none of my business, but that was heavy.”

“Long story, but I left town seven years ago and only came back for one reason. I didn’t mean to lie when you assumed I was new to town but considering that’s how Nate reacted you should probably know that’s howeveryonein town will react to my presence, if not worse.”

“Wow. Well, okay…I get if you want to leave, but can I still show you why I wanted you to come here in the first place? It’s outside.”

I shouldn’t. Nate was opening her beer like he wanted to tear the top off with his teeth and I wouldn’t be surprised if he spit in my water, but when he came back, some of the hatred in his familiar blue eyes had softened.

“You here for Marley?”

“Yeah. Listen—”

“How is she?”

“Same. Worse. A little of both.”

“Right.” He slid the beer toward Nora. “Want me to put it on your tab?”

Because he clearly didn’t want us anywhere near him any longer than necessary.

“Sure, Nate. Thanks. I’ll pay up next week.”

“See you around, doc.”

He flashed her a halfhearted grin, ignored me, and as he pushed the metal swinging door open with both hands to disappear into the back, the door slammed into the wood wall, rattling everything.

Yeah. I should probably go.

“Come on,” Nora whispered, and tugged my elbow. “I don’t need to know that story to know it’s not good, and I hate gossip. That’s why I work with animals. But you’ll like this. At least, I think you might.”

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