“Act natural,” I whisper to her as we sidle up to the bar.
Gwen is dressed in jeans and a black tank top, her hair is down, and she looks like any other female here. I’m not wearing my colors, so I can blend in with the locals.
“Whiskey, neat.” I hold up two fingers and smile at Gwen.
The bartender puts one in front of each of us. The amber liquid burns going down. Gwen almost chokes on hers, and I smirk at her.
“First time here?” A biker with tattoos crawling up his neck, colors I don’t recognize, asks Gwen.
“Passing through,” she says in a casual tone.
“Careful.” He grins at her, revealing yellowed teeth. “This ain’t a place for tourists.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Gwen replies.
“Who you with?” he asks.
“Nobody important.” Gwen shrugs.
“Let’s take a walk,” he suggests, or rather, demands, and lays a hand on her shoulder.
Gwen’s eyes go wide, but before I can react, another figure steps up, sliding between them with a dangerous ease.
“Back off, she’s with me,” Justice growls, an arm wrapping protectively around her waist.
“Is that right?” the biker sneers, eyeing Justice’s cut, the Royal Bastards’ insignia emblazoned across it.
“Problem?” Justice challenges, his stance ready for a fight.
“None at all,” the biker backs off, his smile twisting into a snarl. “Just making friends.”
“Let’s go,” Justice murmurs, steering Gwen toward the door with a firm grip.
I follow them out at a distance.
Once outside, Justice breathes deep, tension bleeding from his shoulders. “You good?”
“Better now,” Gwen admits. “Did Reaper send you?”
“No, but I can’t let you have all the fun,” he quips, but there’s an edge to his voice, something protective. “Or get yourself killed.”
“I had it under control.”
Justice looks at me and nods. “It appeared as though she was in over her head. I was only trying to help.”
“It was a test… one she failed.”
“Wait! What?”
Sighing, I say, “What would you have done to get away from that man?”
“I thought you’d step in.”
“And if I didn’t?”
Anger flashes across her features. “You know I can take care of myself.”
Justice chuckles. “And it wasn’t Reaper who sent me but Highway.”
