Page 90 of The Daredevil

“Chief Bryson, what brings you here tonight?” Remi asked in surprise.

“Just having a drink after office hours. Then I saw these assholes causing trouble and tried to intervene.”

My heart pounded faster at the recognition of Royce’s former bully. I wanted to kick him, but that wouldn’t help the situation. Was he looking to start trouble with Royce thinking he’d be here? Or was it a coincidence that I got to see Dominic Bryson in person? Regardless, my body shivered standing near him.

“Thank you for your assistance. I’d like them all arrested and banned from my restaurant.” Remi dragged Spiky Hair to the front door.

Grayson wore an irritated expression as he gestured the other troublemakers to follow suit. Walking by, he flicked a glance at Natalie, who appeared surprised to see him. They knew each other?

Kiera eyed Forrest as he spoke to the witnesses nearby. He had olive skin and an athletic build. Turning, he met her gaze, nodded, and left.

Arrow walked up to me. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” I turned to my savior. “Thanks for blocking the hit. What’s your name? I’m Michelle Yates.”

“Vivian Vo, and you’re welcome. Men who hit women deserve to be punished.”

“They sure do.” I shivered at how I’d frozen in place at that moment. The violence unsettled me. Maybe I should take some self-defense classes.

Arrow looked at Vivian. “Black belt?”

Vivian sized him up and nodded. “I know some kung fu.”

Grayson hollered at Arrow, and he excused himself.

I whipped a look at Vivian. “Do you offer classes?”

She laughed. “No time. But I know of a place you can go for classes. Martial Arts Studio is a great place. I go there sometimes to work out.”

I’d seen that studio before. It was at a plaza not too far from my apartment.

“I should sign up too,” Natalie said. “Living in the city alone is dangerous.”

“Kiera, Audri, want to sign up for self-defense classes with me? Maybe they have a group discount.”

“Remi can teach me at home,” Audri replied.

“But it’ll be more fun withus, and you can use what you’ve learned to spar with him,” I said, laughing.

“Excellent idea,” Audri agreed as she helped the waiter move the chairs back to our table.

“Sign me up.” Kiera sat back down, and we resumed our conversation and drinks, all of which were on the house.

CHAPTERFORTY-SIX

ROYCE

My head spunwith all the issues I had to deal with. Each one required careful consideration because one misstep could make everything worse. Dominic Bryson could yank my friends and me into the limelight involving his father’s death even though we had nothing to do with it. The spotlight would make us a target for more dangerous people who thrived in the dark. These were the people who killed his father—people with whom Grayson’s uncle, Derek, had been involved. They belonged to a secret society that no one knew about.

I preferred to stay away from problems as best I could. I took a leave of absence from my project for the Volcanic Sustainability Research Program to deal with these looming issues.

After reviewing all the evidence I’d gathered and the information the PI had retrieved, I formed a plan to meet Dominic face-to-face.

Releasing a sigh, I leaned back in my chair, and Michelle’s face popped into my vision. My apartment had felt cold and empty without her. Before Michelle, my apartment was a home furnished with everything a successful man could have and want. But after she made her mark here, it hadn’t been the same. I missed the echoes of her laughter, the scent of her perfume, the warmth in her eyes when she looked at me, and the smoothness of her skin against my palms.

I never imagined I could miss someone this much, but here I was, wishing she were with me. Chatting over the phone for hours had never been my thing. I’d never had this much patience with other women. Twenty minutes over the phone was the longest conversation I could have before boredom set in. But with Michelle, I wanted to continue talking to her even after we’d been chatting for three hours.

What the fuck was wrong with me? What could we possibly be talking about for that long? Everything. I wanted to know everything about her. Her dreams, her fears. Listening to her voice was a song my heart needed to hear.

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