Page 8 of Beyond Enemy Vows

"I haven't finished my drink." I lift the glass defiantly.

Niko reaches past me, takes it from my hand, and drains it in one swallow. The gesture is so unexpected, so possessive, it catches me off guard. Heat floods my cheeks before I can stop it.

"Now you have."

I'm torn between outrage and something else.

Connor comes over and clears his throat. "Everything alright here?"

"Fine," I say automatically, then realize how that sounds. "I mean, he's— we know each other."

"Old friends," Niko says, standing, and pulls out his wallet. He places several bills on the counter; way more than my drinks cost.

Connor hesitates for a moment, looks at me, then back down at the stack of bills and takes it, walking away.

I slide off the stool. "I'm leaving."

"I'll drive you. It's raining again."

I stop and turn to him. "I walked. I can walk back. Besides, it's barely misting."

"Calli. I'll take you."

"I don't need you to take me anywhere."

"I didn't ask if you needed me," he says, coming up to me. "I said I'm taking you."

We stare each other down.

He doesn't blink.

"I didn't come this far to leave you walking home alone in the dark."

I laugh, short and sharp. "And how exactly did you find me, by the way? That's not creepy at all."

He doesn't rise to the bait. "Like I said, you told me Ireland. That was all I needed."

"What, so you just searched every pub in the country until you found me?"

"I don't need to explain my methods."

"And I don't need a ride."

"Stubborn," he says. "Who would have thought."

I don't acknowledge his remark.

I turn to Connor. "Thanks for the drinks. And the company."

Connor nods, but his eyes flick between me and Niko. "Sure you're alright?"

Niko’s jaw flexes and then he answers for me. "She's fine.”

This only makes me more determined to prove him wrong, so I head toward the door, ignoring Niko completely. The second I step outside, I realize how wrong I was. It's not misting, it's pouring. I stop and grit my teeth.

I hear the pub door open and close behind me, then footsteps. I don't turn around.

"Calli." His voice cuts through the sound of rain. "No need to get wet."