Page 26 of Carver’s Crusade

“You, too. If you need me, call me.” Athena hugs before we part ways in the parking lot.

Instead of going home, I head over to the swap meet. Between filing and billing, I made a list of items I need to ensure I'm prepared if I run into Tony Martin again. Not only do I need to replace my taser, but I now know that I need other weapons in my arsenal. If I can’t find them at Kobey’s, I’ll search elsewhere. Luckily, I have a few contacts who can hook me up with what I need, and one of them has a spot in Kobey’s.

The hum of Kobey’s Swap Meet wraps around me the second I step through the entrance—vendors shouting deals, music thumping from somewhere down the row, the scent of kettle corn and grilled meat hanging thick in the air. It should feel normal. Familiar. I’ve been here a dozen times. Even so, I don’t feel safe. I can’t stop myself from glancing around and searching for Tony. After yesterday, I expect him to pop up every time I’m in public, and that pisses me off.

Three rows down, past the knockoff sunglasses and vintage jerseys, I spot Luis’s booth. He’s leaning back in a folding chair, boots crossed at the ankles, talking to a customer. His table is covered in everything from pocketknives to flashlights to things that blur the line between legal and questionable.

Perfect.

He glances up as I approach, and his expression shifts immediately—easy grin, but his eyes sharpen.

“Raven?” he says, standing. “Didn’t expect to see you today.”

“Hey, Luis.” I force a smile, but it feels thin. “You got a minute?”

He nods toward the customer. “Give me one sec.”

I hover at the edge of the booth, scanning the crowd while I wait. No one stands out. That doesn’t mean anything.

Luis wraps up quickly and turns back to me. “What’s up?”

I lean in slightly, lowering my voice. “I need a new taser.”

His brows lift, surprise flashing across his face. “What happened to the one I sold you?”

“I lost it.”

He studies me for a beat longer than I like. “You okay?”

“Not really,” I admit, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “I have a problem.”

“A man?”

“Isn’t it always?”

He nods solemnly. “There are some nutters out there of the female persuasion, but yeah, the majority of them are men. What do you need?”

“The taser and anything else you can think of that I can use to defend myself if it comes down to it. He’s bigger than me and much stronger.” I also don’t think he’ll be coming for me alone, but I don’t say that.

The easy atmosphere around us fades. Luis straightens, all business now.

“Tell me what’s been going on.”

I give him the modified version of my run-in with Tony, even adjusting my scarf to show him the bruising. It’s less than it was, but not completely gone. Not yet.

I see the anger flash in his eyes before he ducks behind the table and pulls out a taser similar to the one I bought from him previously.

“This one is more powerful,” he says. “Even if you can’t get full contact, it’s strong enough to drop him.”

“What else?” I ask quietly. “What can I carry that can help if the taser isn’t enough?”

Luis doesn’t hesitate. He starts pulling items together—efficient, deliberate.

“Pepper spray,” he says, setting a small canister on the table. “Good range, gives you time to get away.”

A small, heavy flashlight follows. “Bright enough to disorient someone at night, heavy enough to use as a weapon.”

Then a personal alarm. “Loud as hell. Draws attention fast.”