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small comfort in his closeness.
    “I thought as much,” Keaton said, sliding his hand down her arm.
    Her skin crawled where he’d touched it. She needed a bath, but knew she would never be clean again. His filth stained her soul. The gentle jingle of bells was the only sound as he left.
    Kayla looked around the diner, noting the oddly familiar man was gone from the end of the counter. Strange, she hadn’t heard the bells when he’d left.
    Kayla watched Mable cross the diner at a hurried clip, looking towards the windows with every step. She parked herself next to Kayla, leaning against the counter, her thin arms blue in the light. She reached out and rubbed Kayla’s arm with cold hands.
    “You ok, sugar? I can’t bear it when that monster’s around.” She looked down at her shoes. “Sorry I ran out on you like that. I just can’t lose this,” she said, gesturing around the diner.
    Kayla hopped off the stool and picked up her bag, then leaned over and gave Mable a grateful hug. “Don’t worry about it. Take care of yourself. I might be gone for a while. Look after my place?”
    Mable nodded silently.
    Kayla patted the counter as she set money on it to cover the coffee. She walked out, feeling everyone’s eyes on the back of her neck. Even so, she’d miss the comfort of this old place. The door slammed behind her with a resounding thud and she left without a backwards glance.
    * * *
     
    Roo walked beside Kayla as she moved through the night. He hated what had happened inside the diner. Rage burned within him because he’d been powerless to stop that filthy bastard from touching her, from doing whatever he wanted to her.
    He despised that he had to maintain the canine form rather than change and kill Keaton for hurting her. He barely paused when he felt Nyx weaving between his legs. The blasted cat was always trying to trip him.
    You hear what that bastard said?
    I did indeed. The cat’s tail gave an indignant twitch.
    What are we going to do about it?
    The same as we always do. Watch and wait
    Roo growled. I’m tired of watching.
    Roo, there are some things one cannot fix…no matter how one wants to. I’ll stick close this night. The wind doesn’t smell right, Nyx said, moving off.
    Roo grumbled under his breath. Just like a cat to have the last word. Huffing, he lifted his head and sniffed the air. Something followed them and he didn’t like the smell of it, either.
     
     
    3
     
    Kayla walked past the block-long line like she owned the place, not even slowing for the rope that barred her path. If the thick hand of the thug at the door hadn’t come down on her shoulder, she would have walked in and dealt with the nightly drama without a pause in stride. She reached behind her, grasping him under his arm and spinning him around with a swift kick in the stomach. He stumbled back.
    “Never put your hands on me,” she hissed.
    Roo hunched in a snarling pose, pinning the crowd back. The throbbing music in the background heated Kayla’s blood. She slammed a left hook into the new bouncer’s jaw. He slid down the wall, glaring at her.
    “No dogs allowed.”
    She had to hand it to him, he had spunk. She snapped a kick at his throat, pulling it just to give him a taste of what she could do when pushed.
    “Take it up with Keaton, jackass. I’m sure he’d be glad to know, you were the reason I was late picking up the package.” She knew Keaton would take it out of both their hides, but saw no reason for him to know that. “I’m not going in without Roo. I’ll wait if you need to talk with someone.”
    He got up and kept an eye on her as he crossed the room to where Laylan tended bar. They spoke for a few moments before bouncer boy turned ashen and returned.
    He walked past Kayla without saying anything and took his position beside the door again. She nodded to Laylan and went towards the back of the bar. People moved out of her way, and she was glad of it. Roo didn’t like being in tight spaces. As