Page 79 of UNAwere

My eyes snap back to Jude, and I see he’s staring at me, jaw clenched.

‘Ex-Karver?’

He nods. ‘Alpha Warner took a few in when they came and pledged themselves. There were a few hundred who weren’t fans of Lucia’s leadership.’

I’m eyeing the man again. ‘How do you know this guy is?’

‘I’ve seen him before.’

‘Is that why he’s looking at us?’

‘Yes.’

‘Should we be worried?’

‘No.’

‘Why?’

His fist clenches where it’s resting on the table. ‘Because I’ll rip out his spine if he touches you.’

My heart stutters.

Before I can open my mouth and ask him why, the pretty waitress is back, beaming down at us.

‘Are you two ready to order? Drinks?’

‘Oh.’ I quickly pick up the menu and scan through it.

‘I’ll get a coffee and the breakfast plate,’ Jude says, still watching me.

‘Ahhhhh!’ I use my finger to guide my way through the menu. ‘Oh boy, why is this menu three pages long?’ I flip through them. ‘Sorry! Um… Sorry, I… I won’t be a sec…’

The waitress laughs. ‘Do you want me to come bac—?’

‘I’ll get an iced tea and the BLT, please.’ I close the menu and let out a breath.

When she’s gone, I look up at Jude and see he’s still watching me. There’s a crease in his brow, and his mouth is soft again. And I’ve come to the decision that I hate when he gazes at me like this, because it’s a look that tells me things I don’t understand, things I’m scared to face.

‘Sorry,’ I murmur.

‘You don’t ever have to say that word to me, Red.’ He glances down at his hands, and the crease deepens. ‘Ever.’

‘What if I stole bacon off your plate?’

He sighs, and the expression is gone, replaced by resigned exasperation. ‘No.’

‘Whaaaaat if I spilt your coffee on you?’

‘No.’

I hum. ‘Okay, big games then. What if I burnt your house down?’

He snorts. ‘I live in Warner’s mansion.’

I raise my brows. ‘That’s new information.’

‘It’s easier,’ he murmurs, shrugging. ‘And my room is in a wing at the back of the house, so it suits me.’