Monstrous

Adrea sent Joe in. But he still favored his crippled arm and was extraordinarily little help with anything other than clearing soiled tables.

Somehow, Dimurah endured the evening. After carefully persuading the assassins out of Winter’s Haven for the night, she turned the lock with a relieved breath. But when she spun to put her back to the door, she was horrified to see three men had crept in the back door and now wove around the counter. Heading for her purposefully.

“Stop!” She shouted. Lifting a staying hand.

Acting as though they didn’t hear her, they descended. Faces dark and mouths slack with drink.

She realized the danger she was in, but it was too late. She’d locked herself in. Twirling, she tried to flip the lock.

But one man grabbed her ankles and flipped them out from under her.

Making her land roughly on her stomach. Tossing her arms up to protect her face.

He slid her back. Dragging her to the middle of the floor.