Page 156 of A Bond Beyond Blood
Jesus, Jack.
Gritting my teeth, I picked up the pace.
And here I was, out on a stroll after dark because, what, I wanted some alone time?Because having two overprotective boyfriends was too much for one girl to handle?
Just full of bad decisions, aren’t you?
His footsteps sounded closer behind me when I crossed over Fourteenth, and I picked up my pace.If itwasa vampire, breaking out into a sprint would be the wrong move, but even if it wasn’t a vampire, I had serious doubts about my ability to outrun a human pursuer either.Speed wasn’t necessarily something I’d trained in.
Agility, yes.
Throwing punches, absolutely.
But running...
Not so much.
Hand to hand combat was more my specialty, so if whoever was behind me wanted to tussle, I’d be ready.Besides, I’d been trained by the very best.
I pushed that thought aside, though, because I was being silly.The person a few yards back could be out walking just like I was.Heading toward town for a bite to eat or making their way to the nearest bodega for a fifth of whiskey and a pint of ice cream.Maybe a lottery ticket or two—
But then he whistled, low and slow, the kind of whistle men think is appreciative but actually just results in every hair on the back of a woman’s neck standing on end.
God, I asked for this, didn’t I?So damn stubborn that I purposely didn’t call Vinny to tell him I was heading over.I’d left Gannon’s last text onread.
I grit my teeth and walked faster, careful not to run or appear that I was trying to get away.I certainly didn’t want to invite a chase, even though every human instinct told me to flee.
“Hey,” he called, “where’re you off to so fast, little lady?”
The question tickled that place between my shoulder blades, that sensitive area that spoke of danger and looming threat.I slipped my left hand into my jacket and wrapped my fingers around the stake, leaving my right hand swinging casually at my side.I debated grabbing my phone, but staring at a screen would provide an ideal moment for someone to strike—
“Hey,” he called again, an angry snap to the word this time.“I’m talking to you, slut.”
I snorted even as the slur made my spine tense with irritation and a hint of fear.He was escalating far more quickly than I would have anticipated.
Fuckingmen.
Couldn’t a girl just surprise her two boyfriends at work without being harassed?
His taunting grew bolder, the whistles and name-calling under his breath, like no one had bothered to raise him right.The guy followed me for three more blocks and I remembered this girl I’d seen on my social media app, who would turn the tables and run toward men who followed her too closely, growling and screaming at them until they panicked and changed course.
I debated that option for only a moment and then I finally remembered who the fuck I am.
Jacqueline Alessia Fiorino, the fucking butcher.
I’d survived a fight with Elias Bristol, the vampire king.Sure, I’d only survived because he’dallowedme to, but I had battle scars to prove that, as far as humans go, I was
A
Fucking
Badass.
I grew up the youngest of two older brothers, one of them a born scrapper, and I’d not only survived but thrived.I also learned a thing or two, knowing how to hold my own in a fight long before I stepped foot into Vinny’s gym.
And now, I was the girlfriend of former middleweight champion Vinny Ricci, who’d been training me for well over a year now—when he wasn’t fucking me senseless.
Some pervy asshole walking the avenue wasn’t going to make me cower or run, orworse: feel like prey.
