Page 10 of Far From Sherwood Forest

“We’ll be here,” Bethany says, looking up at John with hearts in her eyes.

John bumps his shoulder into mine with a stupid, happy grin on his face, then heads off to the restrooms while I walk over to the bar. I order another round of all the same drinks and take a seat on one of the stools to wait. I peer over my shoulder to see Bethany and Emma both leaning over the table toward each other and talking. They peek over at me and grin, Emma’s cheeks flushing a soft pink.

Shit.

I give her a tight smile before turning back around. As I do, someone’s shoulder bumps into mine as they take a seat on the stool beside me. When I look over, the first thing I notice is just how broad those shoulders are, the familiar state park shirt and a dark brown jacket stretched tight over them. I lift my gaze, and the dark sunglasses momentarily give me pause.

Who the hell wears sunglasses inside a bar?

But they don’t stop me from recognizing him.

My next thought?

I’m fucked.

I go to stand, but Henry’s hand shoots out and grabs onto my arm, forcing me to lower back onto the stool so hard that it teeters under me. My heart is in my throat as fear turns my blood to ice. I hate this reaction, as though my body has forgotten who I used to be and that I used to fight with and run from this man for a damn living.

How the hell did he find me?

Henry keeps one hand on my arm as he removes his sunglasses, and I get my first look into those intense brown eyes for the first time in five years. A chill wraps around my spine, coiling tight until my back straightens. His gaze is so much harder, so much colder, than it used to be, filled with even more loathing and distrust than it ever was before.

As he moves one side of his jacket to place his glasses in the inside pocket, I get a peek of the gun clipped to his belt. He holdshis jacket open until he’s sure I’ve gotten a good look.

“You and I have some unfinished business, Robin.”

I forgot just how deep his voice is, practically a damn growl.

Despite my pulse pounding away in my ears, I give him my best nonchalant smile. “That’s funny since I have no idea who you are.”

I onlywishI was telling the truth. There have been plenty of times I’ve wished I could forget all about my life in Sherwood Forest because I know I’ll never be able to go back. Even if I could, would I want to? I miss all my other friends, sure, but, in a way, I got exactly what I wanted.

I’m no longer Robin Hood.

He leans closer until I smell something a little woodsy and a little smokey. “Then I guess I’m just going to have to remind you.” Letting go of my arm, he stands, nudging his stool to the side. “Let’s go.”

I swallow before I look up at him so he doesn’t see it, keeping the grin on my face. “You think I’m just going to walk out of here with you?”

“You will if you don’t want something bad to happen to that pretty thing you were sitting with.”

My face falls, and I glare up at him.

The truth is, I don’t know exactly how much involvement the Sheriff had in Marian’s death. I know he wasn’t happy when she chose me instead of him, and I know he was at the castle that day that I sent my cousin, Will, to fetch her and bring her to the forest. His face was less infamous than mine or John’s, and I thought by sending him I was putting her in less danger. Will came back to our camp late that night with the news that she was struck by an arrow as they were fleeing the castle.

Whatever happened, I won’t let Henry hurt someone else because of me.

I don’t expect him to start shooting up a crowded bar, but,then again, I don’t know what he’s capable of anymore. I could distract him and stall for time until John gets back, but…

This is between me and the Sheriff.

Without glancing back at our table or searching for John, I stand and let Henry guide me out of the bar.

It turns out a kid who refuses to take candy from a stranger is smarter than I am.

That was almost easier than I expected.

It was also so much more satisfying.

I wasn’t surprised by the cocky grin he gave me after he got over the initial shock from seeing me, the same one he used to have constantly plastered on his face. The one I used to dream of wiping from existence.