Page 7 of Twister's Salvation

“We got anything in the kitchen?”Sully asked.

“Unless you want expired ramen and mystery mustard, no,” Plug replied and rubbed his shoulder.

“Let’s head out,” Swift said and tossed a towel over his shoulder.“Find a bar.Eat something.Be seen.”

“Agreed,” I said and stood.“Let’s stretch our legs.See what Madison has to offer us.”

We locked up and stepped out onto the street as a crew.Twelve patched, two prospects, and all wearing cuts that still smelled fresh from the road.

We walked in a loose line, not trying to look threatening, just existing.

That was enough.

People moved aside.A few locals glanced up, paused, and kept walking.The city wasn’t used to us yet.They would be.

We hit the end of the block, and someone pointed.“There’s a bar.”

We all saw the sign:The Badger’s Den.

Three doors down from the clubhouse.Lit up.Alive.Music pumping through the glass.Laughter spilling into the street.

A woman stood out front smoking and saw us coming.She narrowed her eyes before flicking the cigarette away.

We filed in, one after another, and stepped into warm light and noise.The kind of place that made you feel like a regular even if it was your first time.

The guys spread out between the bar and the pool tables.

I stepped through last, letting the door close behind me.

The music dipped for a second.People noticed us.

But I wasn’t looking at them.

My eyes went straight to the bar.

She was there.

Tempi.

Behind the counter, she was pouring a drink and laughing at something a customer said.Her hair pulled up, neck exposed, and sleeves rolled to her elbows like she was ready for a fight or a long night, maybe both.

And then she looked up.

Her gaze hit mine and was sharp as a blade.

She didn’t flinch.

Neither did I.

Chapter Four

Tempi

I knew it the second the door opened.

The energy shifted.

It wasn’t the usual bar crowd swagger.No bachelorette screams or sports bros smelling like cologne and Axe body spray.No, this was slower, heavier.Like a warning bell in the back of my mind that said,Pay attention.