Page 50 of Tabitha

“We came on too strong,” Bast agrees, not even glancing up from the newspaper he’s pretending to read. He’s gone over the same section three times already, giving away his preoccupation.

Not that anyone else would notice.

I scan Main Street again, noticing the natives scurrying away, and I mentally sigh, wishing I could take Tabby away from this place. This isn’t the line of work I would want for her, but I can admit that she’s born for it. The need to hunt has been bred into her very soul.

The Belladonnas gave her a focus, but that doesn’t mean I like seeing her on these missions. At least this time, we have backup. While I don’t mind the military trio joining us, I don’t like the way Banks watches Tabitha—with a combination of lust and speculation.

A potentially lethal combination.

And I’m determined it will be his death and not Tabitha’s.

Trouble is brewing, and I suspect Banks has called his men to give us a not-so-subtle warning to stay away. I narrow my eyes, looking over my shoulder.

Sure enough, two of Banks’ men are lounging against the benches two stores over. A glance in the opposite direction shows another three men casually smoking outside the police station, not even pretending to do anything but watch.

I take one more sip of the nasty brew they call coffee, then push it away. “We’ve got company.”

“I count seven, including Banks.” Gage doesn’t even look up from typing away on his phone.

Though the smile on River’s face doesn’t fade, murder darkens his brown eyes. “I don’t like the idea of them following us back to the house. I don’t want them near our girl.”

“They won’t attack with her near,” Bast says as he folds his paper and sets it on the table. He turns his cup, then picks it up, looking beyond me as he takes a sip of the latte he ordered. “Banks doesn’t want her to be involved. My guess is we’re going to be politely asked to leave.”

My brows lift in surprise, and I survey Bast. “Do you want to pull out? Tabitha would be more than happy to take over. She—”

“We’re not leaving,” River interrupts in a deadly voice, wrath making his words sound like a low growl. “I’m not leaving Tabitha here without protection, no matter what Banks wants.”

“Agreed.” Bast sets down his cup, speaking before Gage can voice an opinion. “We’ve been ordered to find McNeil. We’ll stay until our job is complete.”

Bast digs into his pocket, then tosses the keys to the truck on the table. “Take the truck. Get Tabitha back to the house. We’ll take care of the others.”

While I would love to stay and work off some of my aggression, I don’t like the thought of leaving Tabitha alone anywhere in this fucked-up town. The hair on the back of my neck has yet to calm at the way people in this town act. They’re ready to erupt with violence, and I don’t want Tabitha caught in the middle of the coming war.

Even if I suspect that it’s inevitable.

Tabitha is a powder keg—one spark from her will set the whole place off.

So as much as I want to stay and fight with the guys, I take the keys with a nod.

“Son of a bitch!” Gage snarls, and I don’t even have to turn to know what—or who—caused that reaction.

Tabitha.

I glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, I see Tabby yanking her blade from the rear tire of the truck. She salutes us with two fingers, smirking as she dances backward toward the Mustang. I can only laugh as she climbs behind the wheel and takes off in a chirp of tires, giving us a jaunty wave as she speeds past. “Yup, she’s pissed.”

Chapter Sixteen

BAST

While I want to be upset, I count ourselves lucky if that’s the only retaliation we face for crashing her pseudo date. I knew it was a mistake to join them at their table, but the sight of them sitting together destroyed any rational thought in my mind.

Everything inside me was screaming not to let her near that asshole, especially not alone.

I have no doubt that Tabitha can take care of herself, but I can’t get over the impression that, beneath her tough exterior, she’s fragile.

She needs us to look after her and keep her safe.

Which is stupid.

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