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  “Why?”

  Fuck, I wouldn’t have if I’d have known it would turn into this. Exasperated, she faced him, planting both hands on her lean hips. “Did you kill that missing man?”

  When he didn’t answer she crossed her arms over chest. “Well…did you?” her brows hiked with the last two words.

  “No.”

  “Then why should you pay for something you didn’t do.”

  “You didn’t know.”

  “What? That you were innocent?” She uncrossed her arms and turned back to her glasses. “Brock and Mason knew.”

  “You trust them?”

  “They’ve never given me any reason not to.”

  She turned when she heard his stool scrap on the wood floor, and watched as he paced to the end of the bar then came behind it, stalking her.

  “So you don’t truly know if I’m a killer or not, you just trust that Brock and Mason know.”

  Her heart slammed into the wall of her chest. He was right! She’d gotten him off without being certain he wasn’t the murderer the police were looking for. She took a step back as he slowly approached. “C-customers aren’t supposed to be behind the bar,” she asserted weakly.

  His lips tilted in a mocking smile but he continued his approach.

  “I could lose my job.” She was trying to appeal to his sense of decency. She’d done him a favor. He should be happy about it. She took several steps back, talking as she went. “Monroe won’t like that you’re behind the bar.” When her back hit the furthest end of the bar her heart fluttered. She was trapped. Her eyes darted to the door praying for a customer. Nothing. She was alone with a man that the police had under surveillance for murder.

  “I do not fear Monroe.” His eyes pinned her in place as he approached, towering over her.

  Cindy shook her head, but didn’t respond, her mouth falling open.

  “I fear no man.” His expression hardened.

  Seconds away from screaming for help, Cindy swallowed hard and drew in a deep breath.

  “Why did you help me?” RedKnife demanded, now inches in front of her.

  Cindy lifted her eyes, trying to tamp down her fear of him. He was so close that she had to tilt her head far back just to meet his eyes. “B-because I don’t think you’re guilty.”

  He lifted a hand to touch her cheek. The gesture was done awkwardly, like he’d never stroked a woman’s cheek before.

  Cindy flinched involuntarily then cursed herself as a growl rumbled from his chest before his free hand gently—yet firmly—collared her throat to hold her in place as he once again lifted fingers to her cheek.

  “You give me the benefit of the doubt?”

  Taking a steadying breath, she looked up to meet his eyes determinedly, blinking back the fearful tears that pooled there. “Yes.” It was said with conviction and she shuddered as she watched his eyes darken.

  “It’s not your place.”

  She didn’t move, afraid the slightest gesture could set him off. “If I’ve offended you…I-I apologize.”

  RedKnife’s fingers slide down her cheek until his thumb eased over her bottom lip. “Not offended. Something else.”

  Cindy tested a cautious step back, but the hand around her throat tightened marginally as RedKnife tilted his head and stared down at her, studying her. Then he leaned in and inhaled deeply and his chest rumbled.

  Fuck! What have I done?

  Cindy lifted both hands, placing them firmly against his chest and she pushed. “I…I have to get back to work.”

  His lips peeled back from perfect teeth in a snarl as he growled his displeasure. At first, she’d thought she’d angered him with her words, but then she saw his gaze jerk to the side.

  “RedKnife?”

  Cindy shifted her eyes, startled to find Monroe standing just inside the door. Relief washed over her as RedKnife loosened his grip by a fraction. His eyes came back to her, roving over her features as if taking in every detail as he ignored the CEO.

  “Ms. Sambrano needs to get back to work. I’m not paying her to stand around.”

  Something in the way Monroe made the statement let Cindy know that RedKnife shouldn’t be forced. The CEO wasn’t commanding as he typically would have. No, he was cajoling the larger Walker. It was terrifying even if the man was sexier than any she’d ever seen in her life. She kept her hands on his chest and was about to push at him again when Monroe shook his head imperceptibly.

  She stilled and lifted her eyes to slowly meet RedKnife’s and whispered, “I-I have to get back to work. My boss is here. I need this job. I don’t want to get in trouble.”

  RedKnife’s features contorted into a sneer. “Do you fear him?” RedKnife looked at Monroe, anger and challenge evident in his scowl.

  “No,” Cindy answered quickly, “I just have a lot to do before I get off.”

  He turned his eyes back to her, “When?”

  She shook her head, “When what?”

  “When are you off?” he demanded impatiently.

  Cindy swallowed hard. Why does it matter? Her eyes flitted to the clock that hung behind the bar. “Two.”

  RedKnife leaned in again and Cindy’s heart stuttered to a halt. For a fraction of a second she thought he’d intended on kissing her. Instead, he again inhaled deeply, his cheek brushing over hers as his nose brushed over her hair, another growl rumbling deep in his chest.

  “Two,” he repeated before releasing her and walking out from behind the bar, brushing past Monroe and leaving the Crow’s Nest without another word.

  About the Author

  My pack territory is in Central Montana, between Stone Crow Estates and the North Fortress. Born and raised in an untamed location that bridges the gap between rolling prairies and majestic mountain peaks, I am born to a family that also bridges the gap between cultures. My father’s people boast a fiercely proud Scottish ancestry while my mother’s tribes descend from two savagely beautiful and unique nations that inspire my Skin Walker series.

  I'm a huge fan of MMA, boxing, hockey, 30 Seconds to Mars, DMX, the Killers, and 21 Pilots (“…sometimes quiet is violent”). I also love to read because it encourages me to write. (I hate it when authors add that they love coffee and chocolate. Really? Who doesn't love coffee and chocolate?) Anyway, I love beer...kidding. I don't love beer but we are engaged in a very serious relationship. (Mom, please don't call me when you read this.)

  Check me out at www.susanbliler.com

  Thanks for reading my books and thanks to my awesome fans for all the support and positive feedback. A’hau.

  Other Books by Susan A Bliler

  Territory PrequelTerritory: Prequel: Susan A. Bliler: 9781477694046: Amazon.com: Books

  TerritoryTerritory: Susan Bliler: Amazon.com: Books

  Prince of CatsAmazon.com: Prince of Cats (9781481106757): Susan A Bliler: Books

  FuriousAmazon.com: Furious (9781481171663): Susan A Bliler: Books

  King: Skin Walker Series (Book 1)http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Walkers-King-Susan-Blilerebook/dp/B00GX1PC9E/ref=la_B0064C7QPU_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385501595&sr=1-8

  Conn: Skin Walker Series (Book 5)Skin Walkers: Conn: Susan A Bliler: 9781479127917: Amazon.com: Books

  Leto: Skin Walker Series (Book 6)Amazon.com: Skin Walkers: Leto eBook: Susan Bliler: Books

  Monroe: Skin Walker Series (Book 7)http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Walkers-Monroe-SusanBlilerebook/dp/B00EQJL8FM/ref=la_B0064C7QPU_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385501563&sr=1-3

  Gauge: Skin Walker Series (Book 8) http://www.amazon.com/Gauge-Skin-Walkers-SusanBlilerebook/dp/B00IOB8NFQ/ref=la_B0064C7QPU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397747215&sr=1-1

 

 

 
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