Page 6 of Chase's Kind of Trouble
Without warning, Jeremy slams his foot on the brake pedal, stopping at the cross street, just a few hundred yards from the restaurant.
As the seatbelt cuts into my neck, I realize this is definitely my chance.
But he grabs my wrist before I can jump out, grimy fingers biting in so hard I hiss.
“You’re gonna pay up, girl, big fucking money for that deed, or you’re never getting it.”
I’m so mad, angry tears rush down my face, my breath coming in violent sobs. “Just forget it, Jeremy. I don’t want the deed. Just leave. Don’t ever contact me again.”
My heart is so broken, I can’t even scream as he rears back, fist clenched, a violent hiss coming from his tobacco stained lips.
Then my peripheral vision locks onto movement.
Out of the darkness emerges a shadow-drenched man. A really big man.
I’m frozen stiff when his hand shoots in the window and wraps around Jeremy’s windpipe.
FOUR
Chase
“No!” My yell is loud enough to rattle windows. “You bastard!”
He will not touch her! Propelled by fury, roaring like a madman, I leap toward the car.
This is the moment everything becomes deadly clear. Time slows. I’m as calm as a deadly ocean inside as I reach into the driver’s side window, my hand finding purchase on his throat.
The cold sweat that was on my skin is gone. In its place is a river of venom and fire. “You’re a dead man.”
My beautiful waitress lets out a startled shriek. “Oh god!”
Traumatized, shrinking back, her face contorts beneath the stain of tears. Strands of her hair are disheveled like someone has been ripping at it.
My stomach fills with fury, turns completely inside out.
I want BLOOD!
“Who are you?” she stammers.
I’m a bull. I’m a wild bear. I’m fucking anything but human right now.
Breathe. Just fucking breathe. You’ve got her now. Don’t scare her.
Coughing, I clear my throat so I don’t sound like a death-metal singer. “Get out of the car, sweetheart. I’ve got him under control.”
As if I’ve released her from a trance, she scrambles for the handle and stumbles into the street, slamming the door.
My focus returns to the corpse-to-be.
Gurgling sounds fill the air inside the car.
“Now it’s just us. Man to man,” I grit out between clenched teeth, sweat dropping from my temple, hitting the car door between us.
Help! he mouths silently as he claws at my hands, jagged nails tearing at my already scarred skin.
His gasps for air might as well be birds chirping.
He was going to hurt my girl.
