Her cheeks burnt with embarrassment.
His skill at mentally undressing her was second to none and the desire on his face made his intent abundantly clear. Darla felt as though he had just finished reading a menu and decided on her as the main course.
Acknowledging that she had accurately read his desire the beautiful man raised an eyebrow and licked his upper lip a decadently wicked smile toying at the corners of his sensual mouth.
Quinn’s hand brushed her arm and she jumped, inadvertently breaking the connection between her and the handsome stranger.
“Darla I’d like you to meet Sunny,” he said puzzled by her startled reaction.
Still uncomfortably aware of the stranger’s unwanted attention, Darla turned abruptly, dismissing him with her action. Smiling warmly she froze first in shock and then disbelief.
“Dear Lord! You got to be kidding me.” The whispered words escaped her lips before she could stop them. Directly before her was the belt buckle of the one Quinn had called Sunny. As if in slow motion her eyes travelled up the huge expanse of his torso before finally settling on the face towering way above her.
“Hey there little lady, it’s real nice to be meeting you.” The giant man leaned forwards, his hand outstretched in greeting.
In a complete daze Darla reached out, watching as his hand – the size of a shovel – completely engulfed hers in what was a remarkably gentle shake.
“Randolph Sunnington the fourth, at your service.”
Soft green eyes encased in a head at least three times the size of hers twinkled and shone matching the warmth of his smile. His slightly bulbous nose wrinkling at the bridge added to his jovial expression, reflecting a kindness that Darla couldn’t help but find infectious.
“It’s very nice to meet you too Mr Sunnington.” She said finding herself responding to the warmth of his warm smile.
Her reply brought about a light chuckle in the gentle giant, causing his mop of curly dark hair to shake gently along with his generous belly.
“Sunny will do just nicely. Mr Sunnington reminds me too much of me pa. Now let me get you folks a drink. You’ll be wanting one of those fancy lady drinks of course. I think I got me some out back.” Sunny turned to go and fetch whatever it was he referred to as a ‘fancy lady drink’.
“No please, a beer would be just fine,” Darla assured him.
“Are you sure Miss Gray? I don’t want you settling for anything less just to please me.”
“No really I like beer and please just call me Darla.”
Sunny looked at her in horror. “Oh no ma’am, I couldn’t possibly do that. If my ma were to ever hear me address a lady without showing proper respect, why, I’d get a right good thrashing. Now, you two’s grab a stool and I’ll get you those beers- on the house- on account of Quinn bringing the prettiest girl that Redemptions seen in a long time into me bar.”
Darla waited until Sunny had left before turning on Quinn. Eyes flashing with anger, she jabbed him sharply in the ribs. “You could have warned me!” She hissed between clenched teeth.
“Yeah, right! Like that would have worked,” he scoffed gingerly rubbing his chest. “I told you about the demons and that didn’t go down too well, what was I supposed to say? Come and meet my friend the ogre.”
“He’s an ogre!!!!!”
Quinn frowned. “No! He’s just an over-eater,” he mocked, ridiculing her reply. “The guy’s 7’ 8 for crying out loud, what did you think he was?”
“There’s no need to be sarcastic. Believe it or not this would seem pretty weird by most people’s standards.” Seeing Sunny heading back towards them Darla glared at Quinn one last time before blinding the friendly ogre with an ear splitting smile.
Handing them each an opened bottle, Sunny set down on a stool big enough to double as a table. Once seated the giant of a man seemed somewhat less imposing and much closer to their eye level.
Now I know what the high ceilings were for, Darla thought.
“So, Larson Quinn you old dog, what you done gone and got yourself mixed up in this time?” Sunny asked crossing his arms over his ample chest.
Quinn chose to ignore Darla’s wide eyed grin as she silently repeated his name without Sunny seeing. “We were kinda hoping you could tell us. That’s why we’re here, to see if you’ve heard anything ‘cause I gotta be honest with you Sunny we’re shooting blind right now.”
Cautiouly looking all around, Sunny lent in towards the two of them, lowering his voice. “Word has it, there’s a bounty out on the lovely Miss Darla here.”
“Shit! That’s not what I wanted to hear.” Quinn hissed resting his knuckles on his hips.
Sunny straightened, full of reproach. “Now now Quinn. There’s no need for that kinda talk around a lady and I won’t be having it. Not in my bar.”
Fighting the urge to laugh and gripping her lip in her teeth, Darla looked triumphantly across at Quinn who glared in response. Had it been anyone other to Sunny, the mood he was in he would most likely of challenged them for daring to tick him off, especially after seeing how much pleasure Darla derived from it. But everyone who drank in Sunny’s knew of his high regard for females and besides there were more pressing matters at hand.
“Who wants her dead?” He almost choked on the words saying them out loud.
Leaning in the giant man once more lowered his voice to little more than a whisper. “Oh no no no! The terms of the bounty are quite clear. Miss Gray must be delivered alive and unharmed. If even one hair on her head is found to be outta place the bounty will automatically be reversed onto the hunter.”
Temporary relief washed over Quinn. “So who fronted the bounty?”
“That’s the crazy thing about all this. No-one knows. There’s just a number to call. And before you ask it’s just a machine. You leave your co-ordinates and they arrange the collection and payment.”
Quinn rubbed his forehead before raking his hand through his hair. “Jeez’ it just keeps getting better.”
“Whoever it is Quinn, they’ve covered their tracks well.” Sunny added.
“You’re not kidding; they took out an agent tonight.” Quinn’s voice was laced with frustration.
“Wow! I didn’t know that was even possible. Whatever this is Quinn, it’s big.”
“No shit!” Distracted by his thoughts Quinn realised too late what he’d said, the thunderous look on Sunny’s face an avid reminder. “Huh, sorry,” he grunted reluctantly.
Sunny gently stroked Darla’s back, giving her a comforting wink in the process, blind to the fact that he was more offended by Quinn’s cursing than she was. “Sounds like you could do with some back up.” Sunny said, returning his attention to Quinn.
“Yeah, I agree. Maisey’s already authorised it on the payroll. So who you got in mind?” he asked curiously.
“Well your old buddy Valmont’s in tonight, got some friends with him too.” Sunny nodded towards the leather booths on the opposite wall.
“The friends, they trustworthy?” Quinn asked glancing in the direction Sunny had indicated.
“The girl’s got some anger issues, but she’ll see you true. The man, he don’t stay much but he’s loyal, you’ll know what I mean when you see him.”
“Thanks man.” Quinn shook the huge hand of the ogre. “I owe you one.”
Sunny chuckled. “No, you owe me five now and I’m counting. I’ll just add it to the list shall I? Ah shucks you don’t owe me squat; you just take real good care of this little lady. Would be an awful shame for anything bad to happen to someone as pretty as her.” Sunny held his hand out to Darla. “I hope I get to meet you again real soon Miss Darla.”
“I would like that very much Sunny.” Darla smiled feeling genuine warmth towards the gentle giant.
Quinn nodded towards Sunny. Gripping Darla’s arm he began leading her across the room in the direction of the booths. “Say nothing and stay behind me.” he warned. Approaching the back of the room Quinn could now make out the other tw
o people occupying the booth alongside Valmont.
The deceptively innocent looking woman sat directly to his left he knew instantly. Larissa! Long dark brown wavy hair with flashes of red framed what could have been a truly beautiful face had it not been for the deadly stare that continually swept the room. Larissa was- if rumour served him right- without doubt a force to be reckoned with.
“Valmont. Good to see you.” Quinn approached the table head on, Darla tucked safely behind him. Sunny’s wasn’t the type of place to creep up on anyone, be it friend or foe.
Valmont slowly rose from his seat piercing intense blue eyes staring intensely at Quinn, before a slow steady smile worked its way across his strikingly handsome face. “Quinn, mon ami. It is good to see you again.”
Embracing his friend in a fierce bear hug Valmont met Darla’s blushing gaze over the top of Quinn’s shoulder.
Feeling embarrassed and slightly angry she fixed him with a scathing stare. Here was the man that no more than ten minutes ago had blatantly undressed her with his beautiful entrancing eyes, devouring her in one simple look.
“I heard you’d gone to ground,” Quinn said to the tall blonde man with the sensual French accent.
“Ah mon ami and I had heard you were now princess’ little bitch but it appears that we were both wrong.” Patting Quinn on the shoulder Valmont turned to his companions. “May I introduce you to my friends?”
Quinn nodded to the dark haired woman who reciprocated. “Larissa I have heard of although we have never officially met before today.”
“Then that just leaves my friend Gallion Litheron.” Valmont swept his hand in the direction of the strange looking man seated opposite.
Short cropped jet black spikey hair enhanced a slightly elongated, pointed face. Exotic emerald green eyes that rose slightly in the corners gave the young man an exotic appearance, full of wisdom and knowledge.
Closing his eyes the slender man inclined his head slightly in greeting and in doing so Darla caught a fleeting glimpse of his ears. Larger in size than those of an average male, but what drew a small gasp from her lips was the way they raised almost to a point at the top.
Returned to his seat Valmont smiled mischievously as he raised his eyebrows in curiosity. “So, who is it you appear to be hiding back there?”
Reaching behind, Quinn pulled Darla to his side to meet the group unconsciously keeping a protective arm around her waist. Comforted by his support she lowered her hood unavoidably noting the distinct narrowing of Valmont’s eyes.
“Darla this is an old friend of mine Valmont D’morte.”
Rising once again, towering above her, Valmont took her hand in his. “Darla. A beautiful name, for a beautiful woman.”
She watched almost mesmerised as he raised her hand to his lips, prolonging the intimacy of his touch slightly longer than was necessary. His entrancing eye’s captivated her. “Enchante,” he whispered his voice caressing her like liquid silk.
“Valmont!” Quinn’s tone was a clear warning.
Valmont straightened slowly, releasing her hand. “Relax mon ami. I was just being polite. It wasn’t as if I was going to eat her.”
Puzzled by his strange choice of words Darla was about to reply but before she could speak Larissa lunged forward, dragging her down to the floor beneath the table.
“What the…………?” Looking up in surprise she could see the dark haired woman now crouched on all fours on top of the table. Her face- a mask of ferocious intensity- fixed on something beyond her line of sight.
“Stay put.” She hissed before pouncing from the surface.
Darla was stunned. In that brief moment before she had leapt Larissa’s eyes had undoubtedly changed, transformed. Turning from a natural soft brown the pupils had altered both in shape and size, turning entirely black. Twisting beneath the table Darla saw Larissa land directly on the back of a man almost double her size, taking him down to the floor with unnatural strength and ability.
In a matter of seconds all hell broke loose in Sunny’s. Tables and chairs were strewn about the room and the sound of breaking glass was everywhere.
Peering out from her position of safety she could see Gallion Litheron in the centre of the floor wielding a short bladed sword in each hand the beauty and grace of his movements almost hypnotic.
A quick search found Valmont hunched over a figure whose arms and legs twitched violently beneath him. Having dealt with one assailant Larissa charged fearlessly towards another. Grabbing the man by the head she swung her legs up in the air catching a second man’s neck in a scissor hold; snapping it with a sharp twist of her thighs. Even before the dead man had hit the floor, Larissa had flipped the first one over on to his chest plunging her fist full force into his spine. Darla heard the snapping of bone even above the angry growl that escaped the ferocious woman’s throat.
Without pause Larissa dived across Quinn’s back removing one of the three assailants that were attacking him. Before the man could regain his balance Quinn plunged a dagger into his chest bring the blade back around in a wide arc slicing through the throats of the other two assassins.
Spying Darla’s head poking out from beneath the table three of a group of five assassins broke away leaving the remaining two to advance on Valmont.
Seeing the trio heading towards her Darla crawled from beneath the table. Backing into the corner she realised she was trapped and defenceless. Scrambling over the top of the booth she attempted to escape knowing that while she was trapped in the confining booth she was vulnerable. One of the assailants lunged grabbing her ankle with the purpose of dragging her down. Kicking out with her free foot she caught the attacker in the jaw forcing him to release his hold just long enough for her to drop to the floor on the other side.
Jumping to her feet she dug her heels in preparing to sprint to safety but as her body surged forward her head whipped backwards a handful of her hair grasped firmly in one of her assailants’ hands drawing pools of tears to her eyes from the intense burning on her scalp.
“I’ve got her,” he snarled triumphantly to the others, his voice a gravelly hiss.
Completely defenceless she fought against him as she was dragged out, spun around and slammed face down, her body pressed firmly against the vibrant green felt of the pool table, the stinking putrid weight of her attacker holding her firmly in place.
“Grab her arms. I’ll tie them.” The foul stench of her attackers’ breath so close to her face spurred Darla into action.
Fear coursed through her body, her eyes frantically searching for something, anything that would help her. Seeing the pool cue lying just before her she realised time was of the essence, if they succeeded in binding her hands she would be defenceless. With a last burst of energy she lunged forward stretching her fingers and grasped the cue.
Now armed, her years of training in her father’s dojang came flooding back. She swung the weapon with all her might catching her captor directly cross his ear with the butt of the cue. Temporarily stunned the man loosened his grip and she slid from underneath him pivoting around just in time to see the other two men bearing down on her.
Adrenaline surged through her body. In all her years of training never once had she had to use her skills to survive.
Careening to the side to a void the grasp of one man Darla vaulted up on to the pool table. The two of them laughed realising she had nowhere left to run before lunging straight for her legs. Jabbing the cue firmly into the pool table Darla summersaulted in a fluid arc above their heads landing solidly behind them. One of the attackers pivoted to face her and took a sharp blow to the stomach, doubling in pain. Rolling across his back Darla kicked the other man in the chest sending him flying into one of the booths. Dropping to the floor in a sweeping motion she swung the pool cue slamming it into the back of the first assailant’s legs, bringing him to his knees.
Spinning the cue in her hands she brought it down across the back of his head rendering him unconscious.
Th
e other man charged at her from the booth. Darla thrust the butt of the cue into his chest and heard the crack of his ribs as the wood snapped in two. Even before he hit the floor Darla retrieved the broken half of the cue and with both pieces of wood clasped firmly in her hands she turned ready to defend herself to the last.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Quinn and the others stood staring directly at Darla, each registering their own degree of shock and surprize. Broken bodies, tables and chairs lay scattered around the room shadowed by the flickering lights overhead and the only sound was the click of the juke box as it loaded it’s next song, filling the destroyed bar with the ironic sound of Johnny Cash singing ‘Gods gonna cut you down’.
The pounding quake of the floor beneath their feet signalled the return of Sunny as he strode towards them drinking in the scene of carnage that had only moments before resembled a bar. “What the……………! Can’t a man be changing a barrel without all hell breaking loose?”
Effortlessly lifting the nearest body onto the long wooden bar with only one hand Sunny began rifling through his pockets. “Ain’t nobody damages me bar without paying for it. Quinn, are these here all death-seekers?” He asked dragging out handfuls of cash.
“Yeah,” he snarled not taking his eyes off of Darla. “Send them back where they came from.”
He stared entranced at the heaving of her breasts, the beads of moisture on her brow and the defensive way in which she still clung so fiercely to the broken pieces of the cue. Never had he seen a woman look so damn desirable and his body screamed out for her. “Valmont would you and the others please give us a minute?”
Responding immediately to his request the others began assisting Sunny with the clean-up. Quinn stepped across the fallen men that lay between them. Grabbing her arm in a vice like grip he marched her back towards a clearer space in the furthest corner of the room.
“Are you ok?” Releasing her arm he angrily ran his hands over her body checking for any sign of injury.
“I’m fine.” Darla actually felt better than fine, she felt in control, exhilarated, ALIVE; a sensation that had been missing from her life for longer than she cared to remember.
Redemption - A Darla Gray Novel Page 10