I was part of the Iron Vultures.
It wasn’t guaranteed protection, but it would be a hell of a lot harder for Wade to get to me as long as I stayed with the gang.
Diesel shifted his weight to his off leg and pushed off from the bar, walking away without another word.
I saluted his back with my beer.
“Don’t take it personally.” A man with light brown hair and hazel eyes slid onto the stool beside me. “That’s just Diesel.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Colt.”
Colt. I’d heard his name a couple times but never seen him.
It took a second for me to place my hand in his.
His worn denim jeans had a rip at the knee, and he wore them with a vintage Metallica T-shirt ripped at the throat.
“Nice rings.” I dipped my beer toward the two rings on his fingers.
“Thanks.” He pressed his thumb against the ring on his forefinger and sent it spinning. Red and black flashed as the diamonds and spades embedded against a silver band whirled past. A boyish smile put creases in his cheeks and brightened his eyes. “Heard what you did with Blaze’s bike. Pretty impressive.”
He emphasised pretty, or maybe my libido was already drunk and horny. At this point, I’d accept anything that took my mind off Wade. “I do my best.” I finished my beer and set it on the bar.
Colt didn’t move to give me more space, and I didn’t move away. We stared at each other, and a silent battle of wills pulsed through me. “Good thing I’m not trying to stare down Diesel. Pretty sure he should be like a world record holder or something.”
Colt blinked.
I laughed and grabbed another beer. “That was too easy.”
“Damn.” He chuckled and dragged a hand through his hair. “You’re good. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“What?”
He opened his beer and tapped the neck of the bottle against mine. “That.”
I had no idea what he meant, but the beer and the friendly conversation did wonders for me.
I picked at bits of grime around my nails and sipped my second beer. “What can I say? I’m an enigma.”
3
COLT
Enigma. One of my favorite words. Interesting that she’d use it. I spun the ring on my forefinger and smirked. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
She lifted one shoulder in a sharp shrug, her gaze never wavering. “I said what I said.”
I’d spent three weeks watching her from the other side of the yard. Not in a creepy kind of way, but because she didn’t take any bullshit.
Okay, so looking at it from her perspective, it might’ve been a little creepy. She moved without any wasted motion.
I appreciated that. And tonight, she’d checked the room.
I knew that look.
Hell, weallknew that look of marking exits.
“Enigma implies mystery.” I stretched my arm along the bar, making sure I didn’t touch her but close enough to matter. If shewanted to leave, she had a wide open spot to my right. “Wouldn’t really call you mysterious.”
“No?” She finished her second beer, crossed her legs, and leaned forward. “What would you call me, since you think you know so much.”
