Night Falls on the Wicked by Sharie Kohler Read Free Book Online Page A

made her shiver again and slide a glance toward the open blinds. Still light out, but it would be a full moon tonight. She wasn’t crazy enough to take a midnight jog on a full moon. Even before bodies started turning up, she possessed a healthy respect for those three nights a month when the moon was full.
    The door chimed the entrance of more customers and she almost groaned. There was hardly a table left.
    She stopped, her mouth drying as she faced the stranger.
Her stranger
.
    Calling herself an idiot for thinking of him in such terms, she motioned to the counter and a vacant stool. “Have a seat. Be with you in a second.”
    From the corner of her eye, she watched as he moved to the counter and settled his lean frame on a stool with easy movements.
    “What time you get off, Darby?”
    Darby winced, regretting the name tag that let everyone think they could use her name like they were old friends.
    “I don’t know. We’re busy tonight,” she replied to a barrel-chested guy who breathed heavily from his mouth. She’d seen him in here several times, though she couldn’t remember his name. His interest in her wasn’t innocent like the others’. His comments weren’t teasing or cajoling. Heavy Breather had dark, empty eyes. She doubted he’d ever had a woman in his life whom he treated with any measure of respect or kindness.
    As though to confirm this suspicion, he snatched hold of her wrist as she was collecting his glass for a refill. “How come you never look me in the eye?”
    “Come on, let’s not do this,” she murmured, fighting to keep the edge from her voice. “We’ve had kind of a rough day around here.”
    He ignored her request. “I’m paying for good service, right?”
    “You’re paying for a meal. I’m just here to see you get it.” Not the most gracious reply, but Sam never complained about her service before, and her boss’s opinion was the only one that mattered to her right now. And if he objected to her attitude, she’d be leaving in a few weeks anyway. Maybe that was making her feel bold.
    His dinner companion chuckled. “She told you, Ned.”
    Ned flushed red.
    “Yeah, not so quiet and shy, is she?” His friend shook his head with mirth.
    “No, she’s not. Guess she’s just plain dumb.” Ned tugged her closer. “You know that’s what everyone says. That you’re just a little simple here.” He tapped his head right at the temple. “That true? You some retard? Maybe that explains your lack of manners?”
    Heat surged through her at his insulting words. “And is that how you get your kicks?” She angled her head. “I mean, if I’m mentally deficient? Does giving a ‘retard’ a hard time make you feel like a man?”
    His friend hooted and tossed back his head. “Bam! She got you there again!”
    Darby twisted her wrist, trying to break free. Ned clung tighter than ever, his face flushing a purply red and his breathing falling even harder. “Well, aren’t you the smart one after all?”
    “Ah, let her go,” Ned’s friend reprimanded. “You’re scaring her.”
    Ned smiled and she knew that’s what he wanted. What would satisfy him. He was that rare breed of man that thrived on intimidation and fear.
    “Let her go.”
    She recognized the deep, cultured tones before she swung a look over her shoulder.
Ah, hell
. A shudder rippled through her. She didn’t need himto come to her rescue. She had the situation under control.
    The diner quieted—a real feat considering the number of people talking and eating. The clank of glass and silverware stopped. Any moment Sam would poke his head out from the kitchen and then the shit would really hit the fan. He might not mind her less-than-friendly attitude with the customers, but it had never threatened the flow of business before. Sam was a businessman, hoping to retire in the next couple of years. Even he had his limits. She winced. She might be leaving town sooner than planned.
    “It’s nothing,” she growled and