“Jesus,” Rafe said, seeming to ignore Kane’s sarcasm.
“Seems you guys aren’t holding up your end of the bargain,” Kane added. “That or maybe some of you decided to have a nice, red-meat snack yourselves.”
“Fuck you,” Kalina said. “We’ve gone out of our way to help…”
She stopped herself, realizing she still hadn’t explained everything to Rafe and not wanting this to be how he heard her story. Keeping her cool was difficult in Kane’s presence. She despised the shark hunter and wished she could have a red-meat snack right now.
“Anyway,” Kane said. “I guess I should probably let you two get back to whatever you were discussing. Rafe, be careful with this one. She’s…dangerous.”
Kalina wanted to show him how dangerous she really was. One day maybe they’d be close enough to the water and she could knock his sly ass in and jump in after him.
Oh, the possibilities.
“Douche,” Faith said as she slid behind Kalina and raised a beer bottle at Kane. “Good to see you again.”
“Funny,” Kane said. “You should probably stop drinking and go do your job. Help keep people alive, or I may have to start fishing again.”
“Go fuck yourself,” Faith replied.
As he walked away, Rafe leaned over so his face was closer to Kalina’s and was about to speak when he seemed to notice the shark tooth necklace dangling in front of him. He closed his eyes and silently cursed.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he took off the necklace and shoved it in his pocket.
“How much do you know about us?” she asked.
“That you’re a shark shifter and you’re part of Thane’s team—”
“—and that’s enough,” Kalina said, cutting him off. “Look, I’m sure you’re a great guy, but I’m probably not the best chick for you to get caught up with. My life is messy. It’s…it’s different.”
“I like messy,” he said. “I like different. Besides, who said I was wanting to get caught up with you?”
“Ouch,” Kalina replied.
“Kidding,” he said, “But seriously. Let’s take this slow. How about we go someplace and talk.”
“Ow, what the fuck?!” a woman yelled out a few feet away.
“What’s wrong with you, man?” a man’s voice followed.
“You got a fuckin’ death wish, bro?” another said.
Kalina looked at the crowd formed near the bonfire in time to see a large, tattooed man wearing a black vest with a black bandana tied around his head below a black mohawk with red tips. Even from so far away, the golden blaze of the bonfire poured light onto his menacing face. With clenched teeth that fizzed spit, he swung a heavy right hook and caught the trash talker on the base of the chin. The “death wish” guy went down like a bag of sand, collapsing on the ground in an awkward angle, like he’d suddenly become a pile of silly putty. The tattooed guy wasn’t alone. Others dressed the same way moved into the crowd.
This gang of beach bum bikers didn’t have to say a word as they surrounded the others at the party. They were violence embodied, and Kalina knew something was up. They were there for a reason. One of them shoved an innocent guy out of the way and sent him sprawling across the sand covered deck. Another, a bald guy wearing the same black bandana, snatched up a beautiful brunette who’d been dancing with her man. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in close.
“Let go of me!” she screamed.
“Hey, motherfucker!” her boyfriend yelled as he tried to wrestle the man away from her.
Two of the other goons grabbed the guy and held him back long enough for the bald guy to release his grip on the girl and smash his elbow into her boyfriend’s nose. Blood flowed from the guy’s face and his eyes rolled back in his head.
“Fuckin’ punk ass bitch,” the bald gang banger said.
Kalina looked at Rafe who was watching the scene, stunned, and then she grabbed Faith’s wrist.
“Should we do something?” Kalina asked.
“We’re not super heroes, remember?” Faith reminded her.