Page 50 of Obscurity (Pros and Cons Mysteries #5)

H e was the same man who’d tried to assault Olive, the one she’d humiliated in front of his friend.

He looked different cleaned up and holding his guitar, but there was no mistaking those cold, predatory eyes.

And as the band began their first song, his eyes found her in the crowd.

Recognition flashed across the man’s face, followed immediately by something dark and vengeful. His fingers never stopped moving on the guitar strings, and his voice never wavered as he sang.

But his gaze remained locked on Olive with unmistakable malice.

Jason tensed beside her as he noticed the dangerous attention. “Olive . . .”

“We need to move,” she whispered. “Now.”

But as they began to ease back through the crowd, Pale Eyes leaned closer to his microphone and spoke directly to the audience.

“This next song goes out to a special lady in the crowd.” His voice carried clearly over the sound system. “Someone who taught me that what goes around, comes around.”

As people began glancing around, Olive’s muscles tensed.

“Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?” Jason whispered.

“Unfortunately, I do.”

Her problems had just multiplied exponentially. Not only was she being hunted by Brad’s security team, but now she had a personal enemy with access to a microphone and a crowd of witnesses.

The question was whether she could disappear into the audience before he found a way to point her out to everyone—including the people who were already looking for her.

When the band took their break between sets, Olive disappeared into the crowd. It seemed like the best place to hide.

But Pale Eyes must have been watching.

He appeared beside her as if materializing from the shadows, moving with the predatory confidence of someone who felt he had the upper hand.

Up close, he looked more dangerous than he had at the gas station. The veneer of being halfway civilized made his underlying menace more pronounced rather than less.

“Well, well.” His voice, practically a growl, was low enough that only she and Jason could hear it over the noise of the crowd. “Look who we got here. Thought you could embarrass me and just walk away?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Olive kept her voice calm, though every muscle in her body tensed for action.

“Right, you don’t.” Pale Eyes stepped closer, invading her personal space in a way that was clearly meant to intimidate. “You cost me face in front of my friend. Made me look like a fool.”

Jason moved slightly, positioning himself between Olive and the aggressive musician.

“I think there’s been some misunderstanding,” he said diplomatically. “Maybe we should just?—”

“Ain’t talking to you, pretty boy,” Pale Eyes snarled, trying to push past Jason to get closer to Olive. “This is between me and the little wildcat here.”

“No, it’s not.” Jason’s voice carried a warning that made several nearby festivalgoers look over curiously.

Pale Eyes didn’t appear to recognize the danger signals. He grabbed Olive’s arm, his fingers digging into her skin. “You’re gonna learn some respect?—”

“You have two seconds to let go of her arm,” Jason growled.

Pale Eyes ignored him. “I was dreamin’ about running into you here?—”

Before he could say anything else, Jason’s fist connected with the man’s jaw.