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As she lifted the cardboard cup to her lips, a twig snapped behind her Chloe whipped her head around in ti black jeans and a black leather jacket For a moment, based on the countless hours she’d spent around bikers the past few months, Chloe instinctively sht up to her eyes, clueing in to the fact this man was not a Hell’s Handler

Chloe sucked in an icy breath as a wave of fear crashed into her Didn’t saw for a variety of threatening scenarios, instant terror reut reaction Once she took a breath and recalled her training, and that she could no longer be considered a weak, vulnerable woman, she calmed

Somewhat

Without a word, she set her cut down, stood, and forced herself to take one slow step away froht her fear, and if this man was predatory, make her the perfect prey

“Sit down, Chloe,” he said

She stopped dead in her tracks as though she’d hit a brick wall straight on He knew her name

Was this the guy who’d showed up at the diner?

How did he knoho she was?

Shit! With fight or flight i in her brain, Chloe turned until she was facing the man He stood about fifteen feet aith the bench her only barrier

A Santa hat rested lopsided on his head By no stretch of the iination could the o, before so it crooked The one ear she could see flared out from his head in a bulbous display of cauliflower ear But what captivated her in the lea she’d expect frouy’s eyes shone with pleasure at her discomfort

Chloe sed, caught somewhere between the intense desire to flee and the fear of being chased Pursing her lips, she blew out a slow breath The s barely worked With each rapid beat of her heart, a thunderous pulse pounded in her ears Giving in to the anxiety right then could be disastrous She was strong She kne to defend herself She could handle this

Fuck yes, she could She’d battled far worse and come out on top

The s the immediate threat of a full-on freak-out

“W-who are you?” she asked, internally cursing the tremor of her voice As she’d done in the past, she channeled her inner Izzy and squared her shoulders Who cared how petrified she was on the inside? This asshole wouldn’t be allowed to see it on her face or in her stance “I asked who the fuck you were”