inn

e wind whip a strand of hair across my face. The door had been wrenched off half its hinges the night befor

laced with the irritation of

rick walls, and wore leather jackets emblazoned with the snarling iron skull of the Ironhead Rogue

e grunted, his eyes scanning t

f the rest of the cabin. A sarcastic smile touched my l

man,he was listening, every muscle tensed. I imagined his hand on t

He seemed like the type to lead with his fists, not his brain. The one behind h

Ironhead Rogues gotten so desperate for entertainment

took a step toward me, his hand clen

tical as it swept over me, from my bare feet to my defiant expression. "Have you

esence was the most boring thing in the world. "I sleep like a rock. Unle

ore. His eyes were fixed on a spot near the fireplace. A small p

my throat. A cold d

hen I made a sound of disgust. "Damn it," I muttered, "looks

nvinced, but he had no proof. The turpentine fumes wer

came from the radio on Finn's shoulder. A clip

turning to leave. Finn lingered for a moment, his sharp

with a sound of finality. I leaned my back against the solid wood, my legs suddenly weak. A

d of their engines fading into the storm, bef

stiff with pain. He looked at me, his blue

wasn't a compliment or an accusa

at. I walked to a small wooden chest in the cor

off your shirt," I ordered. "I need to ge

him compliant. He took off his soaked jacket, then stripped

eath

d abdomen, testaments to a life of violence. But I didn't let my eyes linger. I forced my

r the tense scene. I took a small, sharp knife from the kit and held the tip i

" he asked, h

off not knowing," I s

entire body went rigid, the muscles in his back and shoulders cording

ing. I could feel the heat radiating from his skin, smell the unique, earthy scent of him beneath the blood a

s. He let out a sharp, controlled hiss o

ill," I

et came free with a sickening squelch. I dropped it in

rst wa

he while, I felt his eyes on me. He watched my every move, his expression unreadable in the dancing lamplight

hummed in the air, making the simple act of dressing a wound feel dangerously

kept buried and chained, knew