“Well, well, well, if it isn’t sweet little Katie McBride.”
She knew the voice even before she turned. It seemed she was catching up with everyone today, even the ones she’d hoped to avoid. “Mitch, how you doing?”
Mitch was the oldest of the Finlay brothers, and the meanest of the lot. Any crime that happened in Howling usually led back to him and his kin. At school, they were trouble, always in detention. Katie had tried to like the Finlay brothers because of Beth, their sister, who had been her friend, but she’d never managed it.
“Real good, sweetheart, and I can see the same goes for you.”
He wasn’t a bad-looking man, with blond hair, a rangy build, and green eyes, and he’d certainly had enough girls falling all over him, she remembered, but not her, even though he’d done his fair share of trying. His eyes were doing a slow survey of her body, but Katie wasn’t flustered like she once would have been.
“How’s Beth doing?”
“Married to Cy Quinn.”
The surprise must have shown on her face because his lips twisted into a snarl.
“You don’t think a Finlay’s good enough to marry a Quinn, McBride?”
“No, I was just surprised that no one had told me; last I heard she was single.”
“He knocked her up, so I told him he had to marry her. Real shotgun wedding, you could say.”
Katie could imagine this bastard holding a gun to someone’s head. She hoped Beth was doing okay.
“Is she still in Howling?”
“Yup, living in a fancy house here in town. Don’t have much to do with her brothers anymore; we’re not good enough now.”
She wasn’t sure what she was meant to say to that, but before she tried he continued.
“You’re a big city cop, I hear.” Mitch moved a bit closer. His breath reeked of alcohol and Katie had to fight the impulse to step back. The fact that he was drunk closing in on midday told her that he’d escalated his alcohol intake since she’d left. She spared a thought for Cubby, wondering how much trouble the Finlay brothers caused him these days.
“Yeah, had a little injury.” She looked down at the brace she still wore. “So I’m home for a few weeks.”
“Now that’s too bad. Maybe I can help you heal.”
Katie couldn’t help it, she laughed. “That was the worst seduction attempt I’ve ever heard, Mitch. Seriously, you need to work on that.” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but she could tell by the color flooding his face that she’d pissed him off.
“What’s wrong, little miss perfect, a real man not good enough for you?”
He pushed his face into hers, but Katie stood her ground. “You point him out and I’ll let you know.”
“Bitch!”
“Need some help, Katie?” Declan O’Donnell appeared in the doorway of the Roar.
“All good here, Declan, thanks.” Katie kept her eyes on Mitch; his type didn’t intimidate her anymore. “Give me a minute then I’ll come inside and join you.” She hadn’t expected him to turn away from her. Declan was a gentleman, unlike the man before her, but at least he stayed in the doorway.
“You need to head home now, Mitch, and sober up,” Katie said.
“I can drink when I like, McBride, and I ain’t drunk, and no one’s telling me different.”
She saw Cubby over Mitch’s shoulder, coming out of the Hoot. His eyes were focused on her, his feet heading in her direction. She needed to calm Mitch down before the sheriff arrived, or he’d end up in the cells.
“You think you’re too good for me, McBride?” Mitch grabbed her good wrist.
“Let go of me, Mitch.”
“Or what?” His smile was sleazy and once that would have upset her, but she’d cut her eye teeth on creeps like this in LA. She jabbed him in the gut, then stepping into his body, she flipped him onto his back. He landed on the ground with a grunt. Bending over him, Katie said, “Don’t touch me again, or next time I won’t go easy on you.”
