Chapter Four
Mitchell
“So, you’re hot for my girl, huh?”
I glance at Emily as she walks out of the front door of the Cage. The neon sign flickers as if it’s as tired as we are after a long night. It’s one in the morning and finally closing time.
“Your girl?” I ask, raising an eyebrow. For a second, I wondered if I missed some crucial piece of information.
Emily snorts, shoving her keys into her pocket. “My best friend, you idiot,” she says with a laugh. “Evie. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
Evie.
Her name alone conjures up an image in my mind. Her soft, light brown hair framing a face dusted with freckles and those big, brown eyes that somehow managed to be both fierce and vulnerable at the same time. She had guts. I’d give her that. Not many people would have done what she did tonight.
I shrug, leaning against the doorframe. “She’s tough.”
“Tough doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Emily says, crossing her arms and giving me a knowing look. “You know, she didn’t want to come tonight. She only showed up because I guilted her into it.”
“Why?” I ask before I can stop myself.
Emily’s eyes narrow slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Why are you so curious, Mitchell? Thinking about making a move?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m just making conversation.”
“Sure, you are,” she says, grinning as she punches my arm lightly. “Look, I’m not saying you’ve got a chance or anything, but if you did…” She trails off, her grin turning softer. “Evie’s been through a lot. She deserves someone who’ll treat her right.”
I don’t respond right away, my mind still stuck on the memory of Evie’s eyes.
“Relax, big guy,” Emily says, breaking the silence. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Anyway, thanks for looking out for her tonight. I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I say, straightening up. “I was just doing my job.”
Emily raises an eyebrow. “Right. Your job.” She smirks again, shaking her head as she heads toward her car. “Goodnight, Mitchell.”
“Night, Em.”
As she drives off, I stay by the door, the cool night air brushing against my skin.
Evie’s face flashes in my mind again. Those defiant eyes, the way she’d smirked and called me Goliath. The way she stood tall and proud despite her missing leg.
A beauty? Yeah, Emily was right about that. But there was something else about Evie, something that made her stick in my mind long after I should have forgotten her. I want to learn everything about her. What makes her happy? What’s her favorite food? How did she lose her leg?
I shake my head and make my way to my bike.
Whatever those answers are, it doesn’t matter. I can’t bring someone that precious into my life when there are already so many to protect.
If I make one wrong step, everyone is going to be killed. It’s best if I keep all thoughts of Evie as far away as possible.