I spit, rinsed, and turned to face her. Her steady gaze met mine. She seemed kind enough, but I couldn’t trust anyone. “Where’d Luke go?” I doubted he’d actually listened to my muttered “go away.”
She stepped back to let me out of the tiny bathroom. “He went to get the others. They’ve been waiting for you.”
Just then the door to the room flew open. Luke strode in followed closely by another man with short dark hair.
“What happened to my bike?” the newcomer demanded, looking ready to strangle Luke.
Two women followed the man. The first one, olive skinned with dark hair, looked worried and the second one, a short blonde pixie, appeared slightly concerned. A second man followed the group in. I couldn’t see much of his face due to the dark hair hanging in his eyes and a full beard. Still, his lips twitched as if he shared the amusement of the woman he followed.
“Emmitt,” the first woman said, laying a hand on his back. Emmitt stopped his advance and glared at Luke, who ignored them all since his gaze was locked on me. The worry in his eyes told me enough.
“Michelle, he trashed it. It looks like he dumped it,” Emmitt said without turning to look at Michelle. “Jim felt guilty enough that it was stolen.He won’t even look at me now. You owe me an explanation,” he said, pushing Luke’s shoulder.
“Ah, there you are,” I mumbled. “We were just talking about you. You must be Peter Gibbons.” Luke gave me a puzzled look and everyone else ignored me. Obviously, they didn’t get the movie reference and had no idea how much I didn’t care about their drama at the moment.
Luke tore his gaze from mine. “I don’t owe you anything,” he said. “But if you ask nice, maybe I’ll tell you what happened so you can go running to daddy.”
Emmitt moved incredibly fast and grabbed Luke by the throat with a loose hold that allowed Luke to laugh. Michelle paled. I took a step forward. That man’s neck was getting way too much attention lately by everyone but me. Before I took another step, a hand clamped down on my shoulder, stopping me.
Luke reached up and knocked Emmitt’s hand aside. Both started growling.
I looked back at Nana Wini and with a cold voice said, “Don’t touch me.”
Her eyes widened in shock and she immediately released me. Neither Luke nor Emmitt paid me any attention until I stepped up to them and smacked them both in the chest.
“Stop. Both of you.”
Luke immediately grew serious and backed up a step, while Emmitt’s jaw twitched. He fought not to follow Luke’s retreat.
The shaggy man snorted slightly, and I arched a brow at him. “Something to say?”
The woman standing in front of him flicked a glance back at him. “He’d hoped to see Luke get his butt kicked.”
I turned to glance at Luke. “Do you have any friends here?”
He grinned at me. “Probably not.”
Sighing, I dropped my hand and looked at Emmitt. “He did dump the bike. Several times. Each time it was because we were being attacked.” I slanted my head and eyed them all.
Emmitt turned his attention to me, his eyes sweeping me from head to foot. His nostrils flared, and I knew he smelled the blood still very visible on my shirt.
“I would have been a lot worse off without him,” I commented acknowledging the truth. If the Urbat would have found me first... I cringed at the thought.
Emmitt sighed and nodded. “It’s alwaysmybike.” The dark haired woman patted his back with a slight smile on her face.
My eyes locked on her, and a memory triggered. “Michelle,” I murmured. One of my sisters. The one who had the two brothers she’d tried to protect. I wondered if she’d found a way. She eyed me curiously, obviously wondering how I knew her name. “We need to talk.”
My gaze drifted to the other one, her childlike face brought a sad pang. “Thank you for sending him, Gabby.” I glanced at Luke sheepishly. “I wasn’t very cooperative at first.”
She smiled but didn’t get a chance to answer.
“Well, Little One, here she is. Now what?” Luke said, impatiently.
My eyes narrowed at him. Little one? She had a pet name?
I looked back at Emmitt. “I changed my mind. Hit him.” I turned away and went back to stand by Nana Wini who watched me with a slight tilt to her head. Luke’s expression turned slightly pained as his eyes followed my progress.
“Bethi,” he said as the shaggy man laughed.
