Mine to Crave (Mine #4)(12)

Jasmine drove her fist into the guy’s face.

He still didn’t let her go.

They were heading for the alley, and Drake raced into that darkness too. He wasn’t just—

“Man, you need to back off.”

Drake stilled. He couldn’t see the guy, but he had caught the flash of light. A knife. The SOB had a knife pressed to Jasmine’s side.

Fury pumped through Drake. “Let the woman go.”

“I told you before…” The man inched forward a bit, and the blade of the knife glinted even more. What had been the jerk’s name? Hardin. Wayne Hardin. “I’m not letting her just get away again. She’s a wanted woman.”

“And you have a knife to her side. Drop it.” Or Drake would drop that bastard.

But Hardin just shook his head. “It’s her eyes, isn’t it? You aren’t the first dumbass to get pulled in by them. She looks all innocent, then you blink, and that innocence is gone. If you gave her the chance, she’d rob you blind, just like she did to the others.”

“Help me…” Jasmine’s voice was so low that Drake had to strain in order to hear it. “Please.”

“I wanted to explain before,” Hardin said, his words rolling right over her soft plea, “but you didn’t give me a chance. I’m a bounty hunter. She’s wanted in Texas—”

“No, I’m not,” Jasmine said, sounding desperate.

“—and I’m taking her back. I’m gonna collect on everything that’s owed to me.”

A bounty hunter? Interesting. Drake braced his legs apart. He kept his hands loose at his sides. “The first thing you’re going to do is drop the knife.”

Hardin laughed. “Seriously? Dumbass, we’re not in your casino anymore…” He pushed forward, coming more into the light, but carefully staying away from the street. So no one else will see you’re a bastard with a knife against a woman’s side. “Your goons aren’t here, and a useless playboy like you sure doesn’t scare me.”

Drake almost smiled at that. He was far, far from useless, especially in a fight. He’d seen more blood and death than Hardin could imagine.

“First, you drop the knife,” Drake said. “Then you let her go.”

“I’m never letting her get away—she’s gonna be my payday!”

“Then…” Drake said, because he wanted to be clear. “I’m going to hurt you. Because I think you hurt her.” That knife was far too close to Jasmine’s side. He knew the fool had cut her. “And you’re going to pay for that.”

“You f*cked her,” Hardin said with certainty. “You fell for the eyes, you f*cked her, and now you want more just like—”

Jasmine drove her elbow back into the guy’s stomach. He grunted and his hold eased on her. When his hold eased, Jasmine shot forward, rushing right toward Drake.

She ran straight into his arms.

And she seemed to…fit.

“Sonofabitch…” Hardin snarled as he leapt after her.

Drake pushed Jasmine behind his back. He kept his focus on Hardin. “I told you what to do…I gave you a chance…” Now he’d just take care of things. His way.

Hardin lunged at him. The guy still had the knife in his hand. A quick chop and Drake sent that knife falling from what he knew were Hardin’s now numb fingers.

First order…drop the knife.

Drake kicked the knife aside. “Bounty hunters don’t drive a knife into women. That’s not the way their business works.”

Jasmine was silent behind him.

“Did he cut you?” Drake demanded without taking his gaze off his current prey.

Hardin swung at him then, a left hook that Drake easily caught—and held—in his fist.

“J-just a little…” Jasmine whispered back.

“A little is too much.” Drake slammed his forehead into Hardin’s. The guy stumbled back, and Drake let loose then. His hits made instant contact, they were brutal in their intensity, and in seconds, Hardin was on the ground. He was—

“Stop!” Jasmine was in front of Drake. His fist was up, ready to strike again.

But he’d never hit her.

And no one else will, either.

He shook his head as that thought snaked through his mind.

“This isn’t your fight. You need to get out of here.” Jasmine looked back down at Hardin. The guy was rising to his feet. “Just leave him here.”

What? “He attacked you with a knife!”

“And you just beat the shit out of him.” Her voice lowered and he was pretty sure he heard her mutter, “Scary. So didn’t see that coming.”

He didn’t want her scared of him. Wait…what the f*ck is happening here?

Her hand went to her side. He grabbed that hand and felt the warmth of her blood on his fingertips. Fury spiked through him. “That beating is just getting started.” She’d lied to him. It wasn’t a little cut. The guy had sliced her.

“Let’s go,” Jasmine said. Her fingers tangled with his. “Just get me out of here, okay?”

Hardin was on his feet. Not advancing. But backing up.

Drake pulled Jasmine closer to his body. “You’re no bounty hunter.”