Page 35 of The Defiant Wife

She's alone.At midnight.Walking.On a road that is definitely not safe enough for that.And if that wasn't concerning enough, three men trail behind her some distance away.

My jaw tightens instantly.I don't even think.I just react.The motorcycle swings into a sharp U-turn. The engine roars beneath me.Within seconds I'm crossing the road.The distance between us disappears rapidly.

I stop directly in front of her.She gasps.Then moves faster than I've ever seen anyone move in my life.A small bottle appears in her hand.Something sprays directly onto my helmet.

I blink.

What. The. Hell.

For a moment we simply stare at each other.Then recognition flashes across her face.

I slowly raise both hands.A universal sign for don't attack me."It's me." She freezes.I quickly remove my helmet before she decides to spray me again.The second she sees my face, her shoulders drop.

Then she rolls her eyes.Actually rolls her eyes."As much as I appreciate your dramatic entrance, Your Highness, normal people don't . . . rome around at night on bikes."

I stare at her."Did you just spray me?"

"You appeared out of nowhere."

"You assaulted me."

"I defended myself."

I look at the wet marks covering my helmet."What is that?"

"Pepper spray."

I pause.Then nod slowly. Fair. Reasonable, actually.Still offensive.But reasonable.My gaze shifts toward the road behind her. The men are gone now. Probably because a six-foot-two man on a motorcycle suddenly appeared. Smart decision."What are you doing here?"

She crosses her arms. "Walking."

"It's midnight."

"Congratulations. You can tell time."

My eye twitches.She's impossible."I can see that."

"Then why did you ask?"

I inhale slowly. Very slowly. The way people do before committing crimes. "Diya."

"Your Highness." She smiles at me tightly.

"What are you doing outside at midnight?"

She shrugs.As if that's a normal answer. "I was working late."

"Till midnight?"

"Well, Laila wanted to hear a bedtime story so . . . " She shrugs and I sigh.

"The night is dangerous."

She rolls her eyes again. "I carry pepper spray."

"Clearly." I point at my helmet.

She doesn't even look guilty.Not remotely.A small silence falls between us.The street remains empty.I resist the urge to leave her here.