Page 24 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

Justine blinked. She released my hand, looking a little embarrassed. “No, not today.”

“I’d like to visit someone, and since I cannot be too far from you…”

“I’m stuck going with you.”

I grimaced at the word “stuck” but held my ground.

After a few moments of consideration, Justine’s face brightened. “Sure, let’s do it.”

After something called a granola bar, which Justine insisted I eat, we were packing up our things when a heavy, pounding knock sounded against the door, causing it to rattle on its hinges.

Justin jumped, her body bumping mine as she did. With a quick look over her shoulder at me, she righted herself and checked that Clark was hidden away. I could feel the dread in her steps, the fear that thickened her scent on my tongue. My magic flared to life, running hot and ready to defend.

My feet braced against the floor as Justine stepped up to her front door and unlatched the bottom locks. With the door unlocked, it only took a moment for the person on the other side to push in.

Disgust and anger flooded my being.

“Hey there, lovely. Do you know what today is?”

A good day to die, I filled in mentally, watching as a thick-necked, heavily bearded man walked into the room like he owned it. It was early morning, and yet he smelled like a disgusting combination of vodka and sweat. I had the undeniable urge to throw him out the door he came in.

Deep in my chest, I was prepared to do what was necessary to protect Justine. The monster that lurked deep inside of me raised its head, no longer resting in wait.

Justine’s body was stiff as a board, fear lacing her usually sweet scent as she forced her chin up to meet this newcomer's gaze. “Rent is due.”

The new guy suddenly noticed me, a frown crossing his face. “Another one of your ‘friends,’ sweetheart? Send him out, and we can take care of this.”

“I told you, Danny, that’s now how I work.”

“And I told you, that’s how it could work.” The thick man stepped closer to her.

“You think she will fuck you for her rent?” I said casually. “What a sad, pitiful excuse for a man you are.”

The man’s jaw dropped. “I’m her landlord, asshole. This is my place. I can do whatever I like.”

“Correction,” I stated. My hand dropped to Justine's shoulder and guided her back behind me. I saw the exact moment that he registered how far down the food chain he truly was here. “You could’ve. But not anymore. She is mine.” The words fell from my lips, and my entire body vibrated with a combination of my temper and an uncorked pulsing energy that I could barely keep ahold of. “Do you understand me? You don’t come here. You don’t talk to her. You don’t even look at her. If you do, I will shove your eyes so far down your throat, you will choke on them.”

Urine. He’d peed a little.

I snarled as he cowered back to the hall. I followed, letting him see all of me. He needed to recognize what was changing here.

“Justine,” I spoke softly, feeling her ragged breathing while she huddled against my arm, “We can drop your rent off today when we go out, can’t we?”

She nodded.

I looked back to him, enjoying the way his pale forehead was mottled with red and streaked with sweat. “It sounds like we have a deal, don’t we, Mr.…”

“Danny Owens.”

I hummed softly. “Say it, Mr. Owens.” My magic simmered under my skin as the deal began.

“Deal. I’ll—I’ll leave Miss Anders alone.”

My chest purred with delight, the deal warming my chest. “Good job, Mr. Owens. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have somewhere to be.”

Cerberus trotted out to take a space next to me, the growl in his chest ringing out. The landlord glanced down for just a moment, and then Justine’s voice cut through the space. “The dog stays, asshole.”

I grinned down at Cerberus then looked back at her. Other than being flushed and a little shaky, Justine’s resolved pose never faltered. So I nodded. “Yes, the dog stays.”