Page 43 of Autumn Ritual

“I’m not asking,” Cam bit out. “Get your fucking hands off her.”

Rob lifted his lip, but the sneer was smacked clean off his face when the unmistakable sound of a bullet being jacked clipped through the air.

I was free a heartbeat later.

I stumbled, moving blindly to Cam’s side. His arm wrapped protectively around me, and I breathed in the crisp, clean scent of his cologne.

Everything was going to be okay.

“You’re not going to shoot me.” Rob laughed. “There are too many witnesses.”

Cam wasn’t smiling. “I own this town.”

Rob faltered. “What are you? Some kind of street thug?”

Cam didn’t answer.

I brushed my hand down his arm, squeezing him to assure myself he was here. He lifted his knuckles and grazed my jaw absently but didn’t take his eyes off his prey.

Rob straightened his jacket. “Look, buddy, I’ve got a cousin in the DA’s office. A friend of mine is a captain in the FBI. I’m not someone you want as an enemy.”

Cam holstered his weapon. “That’s nice. But you’re on my turf now.”

Rob took a step forward, foolishly thinking he had the upper hand. He lunged for me, but Cam moved to shield me. He grabbed Rob’s wrist, twisting it back at a wrong angle.

My ex sank to the ground. “I’ll have you arrested for assault!”

Cam grunted. Stepping to cage my ex with his thighs, while still keeping a hand on his wrist, Cam pulled a lethal looking knife from a sheath under his suit jacket. That blade had to be eight inches long!

“Sara, don’t look,” Cam warned.

I sucked in a ragged breath but couldn’t make myself look away.

“The lady told you to leave, and then she told you to let her go. Since you don’t listen, you don’t need this.” Cam released his hold on the wrist, and with a lightning movement, shoved Rob’s head to the side.

The knife flashed through the air.

An ear flopped to the ground.

Rob howled.

My dark avenger shot a look in my direction. He didn’t see a look of horror. I wasn’t crippled with disgust.

I freaking smiled.

Cam’s brows knit together. “I told you to look away.”

A manic laugh bubbled from me. “And miss the action?”

Rob leaned over and promptly vomited on the pavement.

Cam stepped back just enough to miss the splash zone. He reached down and wiped his blade on the back of Rob’s jacket.

“One of my guys will escort him out of the Cove,” Cam told me casually.

Growing up around mobsters, I knew that didn’t mean Rob was free to leave town. They would take him to the forest, where his body would never be found.

“Just as long as this doesn’t come back to haunt you!” I said quickly.