Chapter 1

How dare he show up on their door step?

Katie flew out the door, a raging inferno of gangly limbs and teenage emotion. She was tall for thirteen. Her shiny blond hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail so it wasn't in her face while she studied her biology textbook. Her bedroom window faced the street. She'd heard the roar of his car first. She pushed herself off of her stomach and peeked through the window as it pulled up to the curb. A tall, dark brute of a man got out of a black, older model vehicle and strode up their lawn toward their house as though he owned the place. He looked more evil than anyone she'd ever seen and she lived in a bad neighbourhood filled with gangs. She'd known right away who he was, which is why, stupid or not, she'd gone in for the intercept.

She shivered under the malevolent look he gave her. His relentless eyes held nothing. They didn't even gleam with life the way normal people's did. What had she been thinking, deciding to confront the guy who'd been hanging around her 18-year-old brother? But she had to do something! Ever since Dexter decided he was big shot gang, he'd been disappearing more and more from his family and falling in with people like Roman Valdez. She couldn't stand it. She was determined to say her piece, even if his body language promised she wouldn't survive the experience.

God, he was big! He was several inches taller than her with thick muscles roping his bare, brown arms. His skin was covered in tattoos. Some she recognized as local gang while others were foreign. All were terrifying to her, signifying blood and death. She hated them on sight. He wore a black sleeveless shirt over what she suspected were more tattoos and rippling chest muscles and a pair of old, torn up blue jeans. Though his clothes looked old and carelessly chosen, they were clean and fit him well. He reeked of death and danger.

She suspected he was Latino, most likely Mexican, given his beautiful skin and eyes, and his last name. Plus, they were only a few hours from the border. She wondered if he was legal. Maybe she could have him deported. They stood facing each other for long minutes, the tension ratcheting up. So far, neither had moved a muscle, but under her fearful blue gaze, his lip quirked a tiny bit.

"I can see your thoughts, little girl."

His deep, accented voice struck at her like a snake. She suppressed the need to shake under his scrutiny. He took a sudden step toward her. She jumped back, hitting the doorframe with a gasp. His hand landed above her head with a thud. He stared down at her with such loathing that she was certain she was about to die. She understood this intimidation tactic though. She wasn't new to the neighbourhood. She did wish she was wearing more than a pair of ratty old sweat shorts with paw prints on the butt and a powder blue tank top. Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice her lack of attire. His entire focus was on her eyes.

She glared right back at him and then poked him in the chest. The dead cast to his eyes flared to life for just a second.

"Back. Off. Our. Porch!" she snapped, shoving herself into him with the intent of off-balancing him and making him stumble backwards so she could leap back inside, slam the door and lock it. All she did was press herself up against the big man.

They both stood frozen like that for several seconds, Katie seriously regretting her actions and wishing she'd let Dexter answer the door after all. She waited breathlessly for Roman to make a move. She didn't have long to wait. His hands landed on her arms like steel vices as he shoved her backwards. Her head bounced off the doorframe. Luckily, her ponytail cushioned the impact.

He bent so his lips were inches from hers. "Never touch me unless you mean it, little girl," he hissed.

She glared up at him, refusing to back down. "You're just a bully!" she snapped.

He shrugged, hands still bruisingly tight on her arms. "Maybe. Be a good kid and get your brother."

Lifting her chin, she stubbornly persisted. "No. I want you to go away and leave him alone. You're bad for him."

His lips tightened for a brief moment and he looked torn between amusement and annoyance. She suspected she didn't want him to fall on the side of annoyance. Oh god, why was she goading this man? She wanted to protect her brother, but what about her? Everything about this brutal human screamed violence. The very air surrounding him was a chaotic mist of death and she'd willingly flung herself into it for family loyalty.

Finally, he let out a tiny huff and said from between gritted teeth, "I will say this once only, chica, then you will back the fuck out of my space before I hurt you. I am the only thing keeping your brother safe on these streets. He is in over his head and he is good people a good friend to me"

He trailed off, making a frustrated sound as though he didn't know how to finish. Katie tilted her head, trying to look past the tattoos and brutality. After a moment of silence, she asked quietly, "You don't normally like people, do you?"

He nodded, his gaze flickering down to her. He studied her as though seeing her for the first time. Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't want someone like him to see her. He was far too predatory. Even at such a young age, she could feel something shifting between them. She tried to edge sideways, but he held her tight against the doorframe as he looked her over. After what felt like ages, he released her. She didn't waste a single second. She turned and hurried inside, leaving him to find Dexter in the comfortable recesses of her family home.

His deep voice followed her back to her room. "Run away, little rabbit, we'll play another time."