My shadow?
“The biker dude in all the leather and tattoos.”
Ah. “Not far. Why?” I tilted my head to the side to contemplate the guy and get a better look. He was average as far as appearance went. Short dark hair, medium build and a little scruff on his face, plain brown eyes. He wasn’t handsome and he wasn’t ugly. Someone who just blended into the crowd. There wasn’t anything wrong with that, but I wasn’t interested if he was trying to hit on me. Not to mention the fact that Grim would be pissed.
My gaze roamed his body and noticed the plain t-shirt and jeans that he wore. There was something odd about this guy and his demeanor. He must have been a friend of someone I didn’t know because I’d never seen him before, and we had plenty of these gatherings in recent weeks.
“You two close?”
He didn’t answer my question but gazed into my eyes with a sinister smile and asked another of his own. His voice was low and held an edge that I wasn’t comfortable around. I scooted over on the bench away from him and he tilted his head, contemplating the movement.
“Smart. Not safe to talk to strangers, right?” There was a brief chuckle and then he shrugged. “No worries, darlin’. You’re not the fish I want to catch.”
The longer he sat there and stared the more I felt like this man was not only dangerous, but he wasn’t supposed to be here. My instincts screamed for someone to look over and spot his presence, but everyone was busy chasing down booze or entertainment. Splashing around the pool drew everyone’s attention. My end of the yard was completely ignored. Grim was nowhere in sight and I panicked, rising quickly to my feet.
“I should find my friends.”
“Yes, you should.” He slowly stood and rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as he ticked his head in my direction. “I’ll be seeing you around, honey.”
Feeling a slight bit bold, I swallowed hard and didn’t move, standing my ground even when I fought the urge to flee. “What name should I tell Grim?”
Neither of us was a fool. This guy had a vendetta, and he was simply playing his own demented game.
“Razr.”
I didn’t know what that meant but the threat was clear. My feet moved backward a few steps and he winked, delighting in the fact that I was not only ignorant but growing increasingly afraid. Something in his dark gaze held a promise of not only pain but a sadistic need to torment. Someone screamed as they were tossed into the pool and I glanced away. By the time I turned back around Razr was gone.
Goosebumps rose up on my skin despite the heat and I rubbed my hands over my skin as if I could brush off the icky feeling left behind from Razr’s presence.
“There she is,” a sexy voice announced as arms slipped around my waist from behind.
Gasping, I knocked the masculine hands away and spun around, suddenly terrified. There wasn’t much explanation for my reaction, but I was spooked. Bright sunshine beat down on Grim’s dark head.
“Hey,” he began, reaching out as I scrambled backward and bumped in
to the bench, frantically scanning the entire area for any sign that someone was ready to pop a bullet in his brain.
Call it stupid, but I wasn’t going to let him touch me and place himself in danger. I’d watched enough cop shows to know how this went down.
“Stay back,” I warned.
“The fuck,” Grim cursed, frowning. “What has you so spooked, Trish?”
I held up my hands, taking a couple of steps away. He tracked the movement as his upper lip lifted in a snarl. He wasn’t angry with me. I sensed an animalistic need to protect as he quickly scanned the perimeter. Predators sensed one another. I should have realized that he would pick up on it.
“Someone was here.”
His instincts were spot on. “Yes.”
“Who?”
“Razr,” I whispered.
Grim roared and lunged forward, grabbing my body close and sheltering me within his arms. His entire body went rigid. This time I sank into his warmth and protection as the danger fully sank in.
I could have been killed.
Grim must have realized this at the same time because he yelled for Bodie and a few names I had yet to learn as he scooped me up and ran inside the house. I heard a commotion and a few raised voices. My head spun with the knowledge that someone wanted to hurt Grim and by association, me.