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Daed him fiercely back "I love you, too, Little Bro If you need etdown the hall, his back to me "Sure," he answered, then disappeared into his roo back downstairs to finish up with Nyx In the back of h, I worried--about Seth, about why Preacher had to leave in such a rush, especially before I had the chance to talk to hi ass anywhere,could happen so far out in the sound, but he wouldn’t listen

And of course, no e of that one guy, staring at h the storefront, and it irritated uys stare, and dozens come into the shop, and a dozen more hit on me--a lot of theuy? Was it because he didn’t hit on h Wasn’t that a dude’s way of thinking?

Surprisingly, the night went by uneventfully, and that was truly a ht We had a pack of punks co loud and obnoxious (and totally rerave mistake One of the boys walked up behind me and took me by surprise when he put his hand on my arm Before he could say a word, I had his arh that he stood on the toes of his All Stars, yelping, "Hey!," his pubescent voice cracking He was a big kid, too--at least six feet tall I jacked his arher up his back "Okay, okay!"

"Oh, yeah," Nyx said apologetically "You don’t want to ever do that" She s as she shook her head "She doesn’t like to be touched"

"You guys coave the kid a little shove He glared at hed I lifted a brow "And when those IDs are legit, big guy"

"Goddamn, she’s hot!" one of them said as they all rushed from the store and headed up the sidewalk I just shookso late, I released her fro, anyway I didn’t want to leave Seth hoetable lorolls) and stayed in for the night I worked out (I have a kickboxing bag hanging inbath Seth was still hard asleep when I took Chaz for a walk around eleven forty-five

I walked along Factor’s Walk toward Eh in the distance I saw people crossing Bay Street, and down on the riverfront I could hear laughter and ainst the cobbles,frohtest of breezes wafted by, and it was at the same moment Chaz jerked to a stop and sniffed the air that the hair on my neck lifted I turned fast around but found no one "Coh he continued to sniff the ground, he’d pause, too, and look cautiously around

We’d walked all the way to the end of Emmet Park and down the cobbled curve onto River Street, the Waving Girl Statue in viehen the feeling struck again I jerked a look behind rowl eed on his leash "Let’s go, boy"

"Nah, don’t go yet," a voice said from the recesses of the darkness "Party’s just startin’, babe"

Four guys enized two of them as the punks who’d co was the kid I’d jacked up Figures I’d bruised his pubescent pride, and noanted to get rowled "Yeah, I don’t think so," I said, and turned to walk away

"Oh, hed The kid I’d jacked moved in front of me, and I stopped The others, who seemed a little older, crowded arounddeepened I tugged his leash "Down, boy" Great Here we go I hated having to kick juvenile ass, but I’d do it if forced And it looked like I was being forced "Don’t ive him the command," I said

I lifted a brow "Sic balls," I whispered One of my most favoritee yourmy humor Half his face was hooded in shadow, but the other half was all cocky sness

"About what?" I said, barely able to keep fro touched," he answered, and stepped toward me He rubbed his hand over his burr-cut hair "Your friend said you didn’t like it, but I think I can change your lanced at the half circle of guys "Stay, Chaz," I coht You’re what? Gonna hold me dohile your little friend here puts the moves on"No one around but us, babe"

I laughed, stepped closer, and gave him a seductive stare His eyes widened at what looked like anticipation "Did you really just say turf? Please" And just that fast I kneed his crotch He yelled and bent over at the waist, and I brought my knee up hard and connected with his chin