Page 6 of Obscurity

The smile she offered was perfectly calibrated—wide enough to seem genuine, but not so broad as to appear nervous. Her shoulders remained relaxed despite the adrenaline coursing through her system, and she kept her breathing steady and controlled even as she memorized the exact distance to each potential threat.

She headed toward the exit with measured steps that looked casual but kept her balanced and ready to react.

She was almost to the door when Pale Eyes shuffled around her and stepped directly into her path, close enough that she could smell stale beer and tobacco on his breath.

“Maybe you didn’t hear us.” His voice was low and threatening as he grabbed her arm. “Some places ain’t meant for outsiders. But we could make an exception for you. Maybe make a deal.”

Her skin crawled as he looked her up and down. “What kind of deal?”

He grinned as if victorious and stepped closer. “Why don’t you let me show you a good time?”

Behind him, his friend hooted in encouragement.

Olive’s stomach roiled with disgust. This place wasn’t meant for out-of-towners. It was only for locals—and maybe not all locals. Some locals probably knew better than to come in here.

She’d made a serious mistake by coming inside.

She looked at the man leering at her.

Then every muscle inside her coiled like a spring ready to unleash.

CHAPTER 3

Pale Eyes reached for her.

As he did, Olive caught his wrist and twisted it sharply to the left while stepping back with her right foot.

The leverage sent him stumbling forward, off-balance and cursing.

Before he could recover, she pivoted behind him and applied pressure to the nerve cluster at the base of his neck with her thumb.

“Touch me again, and you’ll be eating through a straw.” Her voice carried a calm authority that came from years of professional experience. She increased the pressure just enough to make him gasp. “Are we clear?”

“What in the world, lady?—”

She released him with a small shove that sent him stumbling toward the beer cooler, his boots scraping against the linoleum as he fought to regain his balance.

The second man started forward, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment for his friend.

But he stopped dead when he noticed Olive’s stare. She made sure that her eyes held a cold challenge. Made sure her stanceremained perfectly balanced with hands loose at her sides but ready.

She dared him to give her a reason to demonstrate her skills again.

He took a step back instead.

Smart man.

“Gentlemen.” Olive straightened her shoulders with deliberate calm, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her sleeve as if the entire encounter had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “Thanks again for the directions. I’m sure we won’t have any more misunderstandings.”

The bell chimed as she walked out. She kept her movements unhurried despite the adrenaline coursing through her system.

Whatever she did, she couldn’t show fear. If she did, these men might come back for round two.

Behind her, Pale Eyes cursed, and his friend told him to “let it go.”

Wise advice.

She scanned the area for additional threats. The gravel parking lot was empty except for the two pickup trucks she’d seen when she arrived.