Denial (5 page)

I’m not sure, and maybe I’m just being paranoid.

This game is closer, since it’s boys versus girls. I try not to sink too many shots and Aiden screws up enough to keep it interesting.

Natalia gets a shot on the eight ball. As she leans over the table, Hadley makes a little noise of surprise. “Ohmigod, look at your beautiful butterfly!”

She points at the necklace as Natalia bends down for the shot.

“This?” Nat asks She seems surprised and almost unnerved. “It’s just costume jewelry.”

“I love it. So beautiful the way it catches the light.”

“Thanks.” She misses her shot badly and scratches.

Aiden groans. “This sucks.”

“I think I’m a tired,” Hadley yawns. “Might be time to go home.”

“Okay, I’ll settle up the check,” I say.

By the time I’m done paying, I look over and those guys are gone. At least, they’re not playing pool anymore.

We head outside to the parking lot and it’s even emptier now. “Huh, I thought this place would be packed tonight,” I say, throwing my arm across Nat’s shoulders.

She moves closer to me as a cold wind blows. “It got freezing out,” she shivers.

Aiden is staring at his feet and kicking pebbles. Hadley is falling behind as she checks her phone.

Suddenly Aiden looks up and sniffs the air. It’s funny because for a second he reminds me of a dog. Like, really, a dog. It’s funny because the look on his face somehow puts me on alert.

And then I see them coming.

The three guys from the pool room. And they’re heading for us.

No, for Nat.

“Get it,” the one guy who was staring at me all night, says, loud enough for me to hear.

“Cam!” Nat screams.

The three dudes are all older than me, and two of them are almost as big as me also. But I don’t give a shit. All I do know is they’re trying to hurt Natalia.

I run forward and smash one dude with my shoulder. He makes a low grunt and falls backward onto the pavement. The smallest one throws a punch and it gets me on the jaw, sending a burst of numbness over my face.

I fire a punch back at him and it gets him right on the nose. The guy screams and falls to one knee.

But the last guy But the last guy has gotten past me and is almost on top of Natalia now. Aiden stands in his way and the dude tosses him aside like a bag of leaves.

Aiden hits the pavement and then his head bounces off a car door.

Hadley and Natalia both scream.

“Out of the way, Hadley!” the guy shouts, and sweeps her aside, too.

She stumbles and almost falls.

Nat’s eyes are wide and she shrieks my name. I turn and grab the guy by the back of his shirt as he makes a grab for her necklace.

I throw him and he falls forward. He hits the ground and springs to his feet almost instantly. Looks like he might try and get by me again.

“Just fucking try it. Come on,” I say, meaning it. I want him to give me a reason to hurt him.

He seems to sense this and a grimace spreads over his face, and that turns into a grin as he backs away from us, collecting his slightly wounded buddies. “No problem.

We’ll get you next time. Us or someone else.”

“Bring it, asshole,” Aiden yells from the ground.

When they’re far enough away to be sure, I go to Natalia and she buries her face in my shirt crying.

I look up and see Hadley staring at us, her face a mask.

“How did they know your name?” I ask.

She doesn’t answer…..

Don’t miss Book Nine of The Witches of Santa Anna,
coming soon…