Page 4 of At the Edge of Surrender

This sensation rippling from inside.

I strode back through the door and into my bar where all eyes were on me. Everyone was frozen in their exact same positions as when I’d dragged the monster out fifteen seconds ago.

Disgust billowed off Theo where he held the three pricks at bay, my oldest friend looking at me in question, silently asking for the go to tear them apart.

Not tonight.

Had something far more important that needed tending to.

“Get them the fuck out of here,” I growled, not slowing as I shifted back toward the solitary table that sat in the front corner.

My heart was a fucking battering ram in my chest as I edged that way, every muscle in my body locked as I took her in where she was on the floor.

Sitting up but curled into a ball.

Head still downturned with those long, blonde curls draped around her. Arms wrapped around her knees as she shook.

Slowly, I started to kneel, but apparently not slowly enough because she lashed out, two hands smacking into my chest to push me back.

A warrior, this one.

Could feel it radiating around her.

The fight mixed up with the pain.

“Whoa, I’m not going to hurt you.” I kept my voice quieted. “It’s okay. That prick is gone.”

A shiver rolled through her.

“You’re safe.”

She seemed to war, turning in on herself, before she warily lifted her head so I could see her face.

Fuck. Me.

A thunderbolt struck through me just looking at her.

Giant eyes the color of toffee stared back, dappled with these flecks of fiery orange.

Woman with a face that could drop a man straight to his knees.

All sharp angles and high cheeks and the poutiest lips I’d ever seen.

But it was the agony swimming in her gaze that I wasn’t sure had a whole lot to do with what had just gone down that had me whispering, “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

I had no clue why the fuck I was claiming it.

No clue what possessed me to carefully move to her side and scoop her slight body up into my arms.

Only thing I was sure of?

I couldn’t stop myself.

TWO

EMERY

What the helldid I think I was doing? Allowing this man—this complete freaking stranger—to pick me up off the floor, that was what.

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