Page 47 of Kai's Hunger

Tessa laughed. “Yeah, enough said. Those boys have all the women around here drooling, let me tell you.”

“And you? Got your eye on one of the Ravenbriar men?”

She snorted. “Are you kidding? I have enough problems without adding one of them to the pile.”

The woman’s assessment of Kai’s family surprised me. “You think they’re trouble?”

“I think they’re mighty intense. And I can’t let myself get derailed by all that.”

“Got plans to skip town?”

“Something like that. Been trying to save up.” She let out a heavy breath. “I’ve already stayed too long as it is.”

I tilted my head to one side. “Sounds like a woman of mystery.”

Tessa’s face fell. “Put it this way, the longer I stay in one place, the more I’m in danger.”

“Someone’s after you?” I asked, then realized I was prying into things that Tessa probably didn’t want to share with a random stranger. “I’m sorry. Please don’t feel like you have to answer that.”

She tapped the countertop with a manicured fingertip and said, “Let’s just say that it’s better for you to be in the dark about my crazy life.” She quirked a brow. “What’s your story? What brings you to Sach Valley?”

I sighed. “I needed a change. My entire life has been about taking care of my mother and sister. I woke up one day and realized I’d become an enabler. Enough was enough.” My phone dinged and I pulled it out and stared at it. My sister, asking for money. “I think it’s time I live my own life, ya know?”

“I do know.” A haunted look came over Tessa’s face. “Parents can sure be a pain, huh?”

“Amen to that,” I muttered, as I proceeded to block my mom and sister’s numbers. “I’d like to have kids someday, but I worry. I don’t want to be like her.”

“Hey,” Tessa said, reaching over and patting my hand. “You won’t be because you recognize the way she treated you was wrong. That’s already a step in the right direction.”

I shook the maudlin thoughts away. “How’d we get on this topic?”

Tessa laughed. “I don’t know, but it’s good to talk about this stuff with someone who gets it.”

“It is,” I agreed. Excitement skittered through me. “I blocked them. Their numbers. I feel... free.”

Tessa grinned, raising her cup in a toast. “To fresh starts and taking control of our lives.”

I clinked my cup against Tessa’s, the sound a small celebration of our shared triumph. “To fresh starts.”

We both took a sip, savoring the moment of camaraderie.

A loud noise from behind interrupted the happy moment. I turned in my seat to see three men entering the café. Two of them were tall, muscular, and wore all black. Their gazes scanned the room, landing on me. Ice-cold eyes, soulless. Shivers ran the length of my spine. The man in front of them had on a white dress shirt and black slacks. Blond hair with a receding hairline that he attempted to hide. It didn’t help. Wire-rimmed glasses and a goatee. When he followed the other men’s line of sight, catching me staring at him, a smile crossed his face. Something was off about it. Sinister. I started to turn back toward Tessa, when the glint of metal stopped me. From one second to the next, guns were drawn.

“This isn’t a robbery,” Goatee said. “If everyone could please remain seated, this will be over quickly and painlessly.” Someone in a booth near the back started to stand. “No, no, none of that hero stuff. My men will shoot, I promise.”

Several customers gasped. Tessa started to shuffle around the counter, but Goatee cleared his throat and warned, “I wouldn’t do that, Ms. Ashe.”

Tessa went still. “How do you know my name?”

“Never mind that.” His gaze went to me. “You’ll come with me.”

I clutched my purse in a tight grip. “I don’t even know you.”

Goatee nudged his chin and both men went into action, closing the distance and grabbing me, forcing me off the stool. I kicked one of them in the shin, earning a curse, and the other slammed a fist against my cheek, nearly knocking me to the floor. Tessa screamed, ran at one of the men, and took the butt of the gun to her temple for her efforts. She hit the floor. I screamed, terrified when she didn’t move. “What did you do!”

“She’ll live,” one of the black-clothed thugs muttered. “Now, you can move on your own or we’ll drag you.”

“Why are you doing this?” I shouted to Goatee Guy. “I’ve done nothing to you!”

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