Revelations: Book One of the Lalassu by Jennifer Carole Lewis Page A

high-necked T-shirt she’d worn precisely to avoid this particular situation.
    The Huntress uncoiled inside, aware of nearby prey. Dani fought it down, relieved when it settled without the usual struggle, still sated from the previous night. “I’m not happy, Chomp. Can you guess why?” Frustration made her tone sharper than she’d initially intended, and her quarry’s eyes leapt back to her face. Those closest to them gathered their things and scuttled away to more remote areas of the bar.
    “I’m sure we can work this out.” He licked his lips. “Your brothers are good men—”
    “Not in the mood,” she growled through clenched teeth. “What did you tell my brothers?”
    Chomp raised his hands in the universal symbol of surrender. “Look, I haven’t done anything—”
    “First lie.” Dani’s hand shot out, clamping on Chomp’s neck. Her fingers dug deep into his oily skin to get a good grip. She needed him alive and conscious and talking.
    Bam! The cheap wood veneer on the bar splintered as she slammed his head down.
    “Ahh! Not the head! Not the head!” Chomp wailed, pressing meaty palms to the blood oozing from his forehead. The doors slammed repeatedly as the bar emptied. No one wanted to be collateral damage.
    “Want to go for lie number two? What did you tell them?” Dani’s fingers curled around his neck. She would need to scrub for a week to get his dingy oil out of her skin. The knowledge did not improve her temper.
    “You need to be more specific—” Chomp squealed in pain as Dani’s foot smashed into his knee.
    “I am not in the fucking mood to play games, Chomp!” she threatened. He set my brothers up…
    “Then maybe you should leave.” A massive hand clamped on her shoulder and pulled her away.
    Dani looked up. And up at the massive hulk of man-flesh glaring down at the two of them.
    “What the hell am I paying you for? She hit me! Twice!” Chomp whined. His piggish eyes darted back and forth between the two of them. The stench of fear still stung her nose, but gleeful pride started to swell up. He was proud of his little giant of a bodyguard. He thought it would keep him safe.
    Men. Always thinking size matters .
    “It’s time for you to leave. Now,” Hulk informed her.
    Chomp smelled eager, and he’d settled in tight to watch his goon attack.
    “All right, big guy. I wasn’t looking for trouble.” Dani smiled, flashing her dimples. Immediately, Hulk’s grip loosened on her coat. Good. If he’d ripped it, I’d have to kill him.
    She spread her arms, incidentally giving both men a good eyeful of her tight T-shirt. “How about a little bet? A coin toss. I lose, I’ll go right now. I win, I get to ask my questions and you buy me a drink. Deal?”
    Chomp’s rapid exhalation sent a sharp spike of anxiety up her nose, but from the male interest suddenly rising from Hulk, she’d gotten his attention with her proposal. Despite having seen her attack Chomp not five minutes earlier, he was dismissing her as no threat and seeing a potential conquest instead. I hate doing this. She could practically watch his brain cells reach their final conclusion. He was going to try to be charming.
    Some vestige of self-protection remained. “I toss the coin.”
    “No trouble at all.” She winked. “I’ll even let you call it.”
    He let go of her to dig a coin out of his pocket, grinning as if he already had a mental strip reel going. He jerked his hand up and the coin glittered as it flipped in the air. “Heads.”
    “Any way you want it.” Dani watched as his eyes tracked the coin, her knees bent and hands loose. She might only get one shot at this.
    The coin spun and bounced on the bar before settling. Hulk bent over to see what it was and Dani struck. Her foot lashed up and her heel smashed solidly into his temple with a meaty crack. He jerked back, losing his balance, eyes wide in surprise.
    Chomp let out an odd mix of a wail and groan, scrambling away from his would-be