Wise Moves by Mary Burton Read Free Book Online Page B

the engine. “Not by a long shot.”
    As he pulled away, his tires screeching on the pavement, Kristen raised trembling fingers to her forehead. The violent encounter reinforced memories of the murders of the Churchmen and Nancy. Her knees felt week.
    “This isn’t over,” Cambia said. He faced her. “He will be back.”
    “His kind always come back,” she said.
    Dane held her gaze. “I will be here to protect you.”
    But for how long? If Kristen had learned anything this last year it was that she was alone in this world and couldn’t depend on anyone.
    Crystal sniffed. “Why didn’t you just call the cops?”
    Dane faced her. “He’d be back on the streets in a day or two.”
    Crystal nodded. “Yeah. Well, it’s been real, but I better get going.” Her hand on her backpack, she started past Cambia.
    His arm shot out and he grabbed her. “Why’d you come here?”
    She tried to wrestle her arm free but couldn’t. “Sheridan is my friend. We met at the youth center. She said if I had trouble to find her.”
    “What does Tony want with you?”
    Cheap silver bracelets jangled on her wrist as she dug her fingers through her dirty hair. “He’s mad at me.”
    “What did you do? And don’t B.S. me,” Cambia said.
    She shrugged. “I told him not to hide his drug stash at the youth center but he wouldn’t take me seriously. One of the younger kids found it and would have swallowed it if I hadn’t caught him. So I flushed it.”
    Cambia’s jaw tightened then released. “Crystal, stay away from Tony.”
    Mascara stained the delicate skin under her eyes. “Oh, don’t you worry. I want no part of him.”
    Kristen hoped Crystal meant what she said. She’d watched Antonio’s girlfriends take all sorts of abuse only to return to him as if nothing had happened.
    “Mr. Cambia, let her go,” Kristen said.
    Cambia released Crystal. The girl quickly hurried down the steps and across the street. She didn’t look back.
    Kristen straightened, wincing as her bruised ribs shifted. “Some morning.”
    Cambia locked the front door. His gaze shifted to her midsection. “Did he hurt you badly?”
    “Just knocked the wind out of me.”
    Tension radiated from his body. “Let’s get you inside. You could have a broken rib.”
    “My ribs are fine. I just need to change and we can get started working.” When she moved she winced.
    Cambia shook his head. “First you sit and drink a coffee or tea. I want to make sure for myself that you are okay before you do any lifting today.”
    It was tempting to let him baby her, but the truth was she felt better keeping her distance. “I can take care of myself.”
    Irritated, he shoved fingers through his hair. “Yeah, well, right now you don’t have to. Let’s go to the kitchen.”
    She suspected moving a mountain would have been easier than changing his mind right now. “Fine.”
    He followed up the stairs to her small apartment. By the time she reached the small kitchen table, her right side ached.
    “Sit,” he ordered.
    Grateful, she sat at the small table. “Sheridan has coffee stocked in the shelves. I usually drink tea.”
    He brushed her aside. “I’ll make tea.”
    “I’m out. I’d planned to pick some up at the market last night, but forgot.” The truth was the green tea she liked wasn’t on sale and at $3.99 a box it was a luxury she couldn’t afford right now.
    “Fine. Coffee then.”
    As she drew in a careful breath, she studied the deep frown lines on his face. “Where’s the easygoing guy from yesterday?”
    Her comment caught him off guard. With an effort, he shrugged, but tension remained in his body. “I don’t like men that hit women.”
    Dane had saved her and she was arguing with him. She’d been on her own so much she’d forgotten how to take help. “I’m sorry. I should be thanking you.”
    “No problem.” Cambia put grounds in the top of the pot, poured the water in and flicked on the switch. Quickly, the coffeemaker began to