Page 5 of Swallow Your Fear
I turned to find Brynne standing there, not a single emotion showing in her eyes. As soon as my back was to him, Chase stood up and darted, exiting the alley in a rush.
I lost my one shot, and now, Henley and I were both on his radar. My fists clenched at my sides before I headed back for the street.
“Thank you,” Brynne said, pausing me in my departure.
Did she just thank me for breaking her ex-boyfriend’s wrist?
“Not a problem,” I replied, turning to look at her. She hadn’t moved, her ponytail still draped over her shoulder. “That your ex?” Henley had told us they were still together, but based off what little of their conversation I’d overheard, they seemed to have broken up.
“As of last night, yes.” She finally tilted her chin up, looking at me. My eyes dropped to her tiny skirt, far too much of her long legs on display. “He’s mad I moved out and didn’t tell him.”
“I’d suspect any man would be.” I didn’t need to know their story. I just needed my fucking deed back.
Sticking out of the discreet pocket of her skirt was a chain, and I recognized the logo immediately. It was the only motel in town, and the state of the building was worse than the diner.
Without another word, I left, leaving her standing inthe alley. I wasn’t going to try to comfort her. Last thing I needed was to get caught up in this bullshit any further.
I shoved open the door to the diner, finding Austin still sitting at the table. He had an elbow propped on the sticky surface, gazing up at McKenna as she popped her bubblegum.
“Time to go,” I said, slapping a twenty on the table.
Austin did a double take before standing. “It was lovely speaking with you.”
“You, too,” McKenna said, shoving her hands in the front of her apron. “See you around.”
We left the diner, and I didn’t bother checking down the alley to see if Brynne was still standing there.
“I’m going to be busy tonight, so you and Henley need to take care of feeding,” I said, rounding the front of my truck where it was parked on the street. We hopped in, and I started the engine.
“Where are you going?” he asked, buckling himself.
Pulling onto the street, I said, “Busy.”
He snorted. “Always so open with me. What happened out there?”
“I broke the guy's wrist.”
Out of the side of my eye, I saw Austin’s brows skyrocket up his forehead. “Youwhat?”
“He was about to do the same shit to her.”
As if that was an excuse.
“Fucking hell, Booker. So not only do we need to clean up Henley’s mess, but now yours, too?”
My hand twisted on the steering wheel. “I didn’t create a mess.”
“You broke his wrist. That sounds like a mess that needs cleaning.”
“He probably pissed himself as he ran away, Austin. He’s not going to cause a problem out of it.”
He propped an elbow on the door. “You better fucking hope not. Now what are we supposed to do? You fucked up our only chance.”
“I have a plan.”
He threw his hands up in the air, then slapped them palms down on his jeans. “Lovely. Because that went so well the first time.”
Chapter 3
