Page 29 of Bradi

Chapter Twelve

What?

Marisa sat up behind Bradi and looked off in the direction he’d spoke. Her eyes widened as she saw a woman so beautiful that she felt as if she should look away. Waves of dark black hair spilled around her and she wore the barest of coverings. A leather-clad Amazon woman was all that Marisa could think came close to describing her.

The woman clutched a weapon on her side and narrowed her eyes first on her, then on Bradi. “Bradiainn. I had to come and see if the rumors were true.”

Bradiainn?

Marisa looked to Bradi for guidance, but he remained as still as a statue. “Hello, Nina. I would say that it is good to see you again, but that would be a lie,” he said, a clear British inflection evident in his voice now again. It was as she’d suspected. He’d been hiding it.

The vixen laughed and Marisa shivered. Nina looked at her and ran her tongue over her white teeth. “And you are?”

Bradi put his arm out and pulled her behind him. “She is not important.”

Not important?

She wanted to take offense at the words, but the way he was standing before her, blocking her from the path of the woman in a way that said he wanted to be sure she was safe, spoke louder than his words. His hand found her arm and he pulled her tight to his back before giving her a gentle squeeze.

“I did not ask you, Bradiainn. She has a mouth, let her use it,” Nina said, glaring at Bradi, her accent matching his. “Who are you, woman?”

“Dr. Marisa Langston, or you can just call me unimportant, all depends on who you ask. But, hey, he got what he wanted so what should titles really matter now?” She couldn’t have sounded colder or more removed from the situation if she tried, but she moved her hand into Bradi’s and held firm.

“A doctor?” Nina asked, looking her over from head to toe.

“Yes.”

“It is a truth, yet not a whole truth.” Nina took a step toward her and Bradi growled.

“Stay back from her!”

Nina grinned. “She is not important, correct?”

Bradi growled. “I will kill you to protect her.”

Nina lifted a brow. “Interesting.”

“Bradi?” asked Marisa. “What is happening here?”

“Trust me, baby,” he said.

Nina grinned. “Yes, clearly she is very unimportant to you.” She focused her attention on Marisa. “There is more to you, Dr. Langston, so much more. What are you not telling me?”

“Leave her be, Nina. I’m warning you.”

Nina let out a rich laugh and motioned for Marisa to come to her. “I would like to take a closer look at you.”

Marisa made a move to go to Nina. Bradi turned quickly and seized hold of her. “No!”

Suddenly, men surrounded them. Some held swords, others guns, but all aimed directly at Bradi. He pushed her back and began to pace back and forth before her. He took on the eerie feel of a predator and Marisa found herself backing away from him.

“Oh, Bradiainn, do you really think you can take us all on?” Nina asked, a slight smile on her flawless face.

“I won’t let you take her. He’ll not get his hands on her!”

Marisa wanted to ask who Bradi was talking about, but knew better. Nina looked at her and for a moment, their eyes met. The knowledge that if push came to shove, Nina would indeed kill Bradi, hit Marisa hard. She gasped. “Don’t hurt him. I’ll come to you.”

Bradi rounded on her. “Are you crazy? You have no idea what they do to women around here!”

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