Page 60 of Twister's Salvation

“I’m fine,” I added quickly.

“Don’t do that.”She stood and walked toward me, brows furrowed.“Don’t downplay it.Don’t act like it’s fine.Are you hurt?”

I hesitated.“A little.”

Britta’s hands clenched at her sides.“Tempi.”

“I’m okay.I just caught some glass.”

“Where?”she demanded.

I rolled up my sleeve and showed her the edge of the bandage on my arm.

She hissed.“Son of a bitch.”

“It’s not deep,” I said.“Twister cleaned it up, patched it.”

She paced away a few steps, then turned around.“Do you know how lucky you are?That could’ve hit your face.Or your neck.Or your—”

“Iknow,” I said, softer.

She closed her eyes and exhaled through her nose.

“I don’t want you getting caught up in this,” I added.“I don’t want you in the crosshairs.”

“Stop right there,” Britta snapped.“I’m already in this, Tempi.We run a bar together.I’m your best friend.You think I’m gonna sit on my hands while people start chucking bricks at the people you care about?”

I blinked at her.

“Yeah,” she said, voice quieter now.“I see it.I know this thing with Twister isn’t just some fun fling.He matters to you.Which means this isn’t just about the club anymore.It’s aboutyou.And if you think I’m backing away from that, you don’t know me at all.”

Emotion clogged my throat.

Swift shifted at the end of the bar, but still said nothing.Silent backup.

“I don’t even know how to feel,” I admitted.“It’s all happening so fast.One minute I’m dancing to Halestorm, the next I’m getting bandaged up after some maniac tries to make a point with a brick.”

“Did they leave a note?”

I nodded.“Yeah.It said, ‘This is your last chance.Leave or it all burns.’”

Britta’s eyes widened.“Okay, that’s some movie-villain bullshit right there.What the hell.”

I shrugged.“Twister has guys trying to track it down.Someone named The Ledger might be involved.It’s...messy.”

“No kidding.”

I looked down at my hands.“I didn’t expect any of this when he walked into the bar that day.”

Britta’s tone softened.“Nobody ever expects it.The moment something, or someone, shakes your whole world up, it never comes with a warning label.”

Swift finally spoke, his voice deep and calm.“He’s not gonna let anything happen to her.”

I looked up in surprise.

He met my eyes.“He’d die before he let anyone touch her again.”

Britta studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.“Okay then.”