My sleeve snagged on something and I pulled, but the snag quickly became a hand wrapped around my arm. I spun around and the pungent smell of the guy hit me and my stomach churned. It was as if he’d spent the afternoon in a dumpster. He had an abnormally long neck and a case of bad acne scarring. His dead-straight, raven hair was oily and his eyes were wide, round, and reminded me of a buzzard.
“Get your hand off me, asshole.” I yanked again, but his grip only tightened.
The two men seated at his table laughed, and the man sneered. His fingers dug into my flesh and I cringed when I saw his filthy fingernails. He came to his feet and his scent grew stronger, making me gag. How the hell did his friends manage to sit at the same table with this jerkoff? But when I looked at them, I knew why. They looked just as filthy and had matching long necks—obviously a family trait that required an aberration of the gene.
“Perfect.” He leaned closer and I held my breath. “You’re just what Kentar ordered for tonight. Human.”
“I’m not for sale.”
“Oh, he doesn’t pay. He takes what he wants.” His fingers tightened into a bruising hold as he turned to his buddies. “Well, boys, looks like I win. Kentar will be pleased, a human with the scent of a Scar all over her.”
I glanced over at Jedrik, who was chatting up some petite redhead with a real petite skirt. His back was to me and he obviously had no idea what was going on. Okay, I could deal with this. I used to be able to deal with assholes like this.
My smartass mouth wasn’t going to do me any good with a guy who was obviously drunk. No sober guy would be stupid enough to grab a chick in a bar full of people. I was so going to hate this.
I cocked my hip and moved in closer, giving a sultry smile. I raised my hand and ran my index finger along the man’s jaw. My stomach revolted, and I swallowed to keep from spewing my beer all over the front of his shirt.
“Sounds like a good time. Where we headed?”
He grinned and I expected to see rotting teeth, but they were pearly white. Well, at least he had one good habit. “Somewhere real nice, honey,” he replied.
His steel grip loosened, and it was what I was waiting for. It was either this or scream wildly and make a complete fool of myself over some guy holding my arm. I clenched my free hand into a fist and, with one swing, belted the guy in the balls. He bellowed in agony, falling to his knees and holding his hands between his legs.
His buddies roared with laughter, and I took off before the jerk had the chance to recover.
Without looking back, I ran into the washroom. As soon as the door closed, I realized my mistake. Trapped. No window, only one way in or out. Shit, I should’ve gone back to Jedrik. Okay, the guy wouldn’t follow me into the woman’s—
The door burst open, hitting the wall, and my breath hitched. Hell, my horseshoe was obviously sunk in the mud—deep.
The asshole stood with legs braced and broad shoulders, blocking any path of escape. I slowly backed away, my fear magnifying as his golden eyes glinted with victory.
“You think to make me look the fool in front of others, human?” He dove for me and I ran for the last stall, slamming the door and attempting to slide the lock across just as his fist crashed into it.
I cried out as the corner of the door hit my temple and I fell backward.
“Bitch, you’re coming with me, whether you want to or not.” He entered the tiny space barricading me inside. Panic surged. Trapped. Unable to move.
No. Hell no. This wasn’t going to happen.
I curled my fingers into fists, ready to fight; although, I knew my chances were minimal against him. But everything inside told me to rebel, don’t give up. Never give up.
Suddenly, the man went flying backward and smashed into the mirror above the sinks. Glass shattered and went flying in every direction. His body slid from the counter then fell to the floor in an awkward heap. A hiss escaped his lips before he passed out, unconscious.
I stared in shock at the man for several seconds before I stepped out of the stall, expecting to find Jedrik. Instead, I stared into rainforest-green eyes.
I gasped. “You.”
His mouth pursed into a tight, firm line and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He had this overwhelming danger about him as he stood watching me. Jesus, he looked really freakin’ pissed off.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” His eyes drove into me and, yeah, I was smart enough to be scared of him. “Jesus, Danni. If I hadn’t been here . . .” He reached into his boot and pulled out a knife.
I stiffened and took several steps back.
His eyes narrowed, and then he sighed and turned the knife so the handle was facing me. “I’d never hurt you. I fuckin’ told you that. Take it.” He nodded to the groaning body on the floor. “You have no idea what that guy is capable of. And you’d like his friends even less.”
I stared, unable to react, still shocked he was here and he’d just thrown the bulky, smelly guy through the air and into the mirror so hard it knocked him unconscious. He strode toward me, grabbed my hand, and placed the cold hard hilt in my palm.
His gaze jerked to the door and I heard him swear beneath his breath before he started to move away. “I have to go.”
I quickly asked, “Your name?”
He hesitated, eyes roaming over me from top to bottom, slow and lingering—heated. Holy Jesus, I felt like he just fucked me with that two second look and I felt the distinct clench between my legs.
“Balen,” he said. Then he walked away—again.