Chapter 7

“This baby girl is lost,” said the man behind me, making the hair on my neck stand. I shuddered, taking a step as if that could save me from these men’s leering eyes.

“Kruger!” Jake’s voice bellowed.

I gasped as I looked at the man, Kruger, taking a hesitant step back, recognizing the danger in Jake’s voice. That makes us two. I thought. I turned to face Jake, and the fury in his eyes was unmistakable. Jaw clenched, muscles taut, Jake advanced towards me, pushing through the crowd like a predator closing in on its prey.

“Touch her and you won’t see the sun for days.” Jake snarled, his voice low and threatening.

Kruger stammered, “I-I didn’t know, Crusher. She just came—”

“I don’t give a damn! You stay away from her,” Jake roared, his anger pulsating through the air.

I stood frozen, caught between Jake’s fury and the uneasy glances of onlookers. The crowd hushed and Jake gave me a look that made me wish I hadn’t come here.

His anger wasn’t just directed at Kruger; it was aimed at me. B