Hard to Fight - Bella Jewel Page 0,3

where I am. He used to sit up with me for hours after every case, letting me talk for as long as I needed to, then, before he kissed me goodnight, he always told me how proud he was. After I moved out of home and rented my own place, I missed those moments.

He always understood my need for it. After all, it was because of him that I chose to become a Bounty Hunter. He was one, and used to spend hours telling me about his job. It was our thing, our bond, when my mother and sisters were out, my dad and I would laugh and chat, and it was then he would tell me stories. I loved it. It wasn’t just that it was different; it was that he was also doing something good. Something amazing. Keeping criminals off the streets. I knew it was what I wanted to do.

I also knew how hard it would be for me to get into. I had to train, I had to pass tests, I had to be Don’s sidekick for eighteen months before I even got a chance to go on the job alone. It wasn’t easy. I spent years proving myself. Still, I fought until I made my dream come true.

“Thank you, Kady,” I smile, hugging my best friend.

Kady and I have known each other since high school, and had an instant connection. She’s as loud and sassy as me, and there are times it feels as though we were separated at birth. We even look similar, with our long raven hair and piercing green eyes. The only real difference is Kady is taller and leaner, and I was struck with the curves.

“I really have to pee,” she says suddenly, and then her grin appears once more.

“Me too,” I admit.

Hooking arms, we leave the bar after shooting the last order of alcohol. We weave through the dancing, grinding bodies until we hit the long halls that lead to the toilet. There are women standing in line, waiting for the bathroom. Kady groans and tugs my arm, yelling in my ear, “Let’s go out back. I used to work here.”

She pulls me down the hall, past the people and through a large metal door at the end. It opens onto a parking lot and sure enough, there are bathrooms nestled in the large brick building running alongside the club. Kady pulls me over and we use the facilities and fix up our make up before stepping back out.

We’re about to enter the club again, when I hear a soft whimper. Narrowing my eyes, I turn and scan the car park. I can’t see anyone, but there’s a distinct sobbing sound coming from somewhere. “Do you hear that?” I ask Kady.

“I do.”

We investigate, and find a girl crouched around the side of the building. She hears our approach and pulls her knees closer to her chest. She’s gorgeous, blonde and looks up at us with mascara-stained cheeks.

“Are you okay?” I ask, kneeling down in front of her.

“I’m fine,” she sobs, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

“Are you sure?” I push. “You look upset.”

Way to point out the obvious, Grace.

She stares at the both of us, and then begins sobbing again. “My boyfriend dumped me!”

“This calls for alcohol,” Kady announces. “I’ll be back.”

She turns and rushes off, and I keep kneeling in front of the girl. “Did this just happen?”

She shakes her head. “Not exactly. We, well, we were sleeping together and he told me to meet him tonight. He never showed up, said he had something pressing to take care of and that maybe I should go and enjoy myself. When I replied, saying I’d wait, he very clearly told me that wasn’t a good idea and he didn’t think it would work between us.”

I curl my lip in disgust. “Pig!”

She nods. “Right?”

“It sounds to me,” I say, placing a hand on her shoulder, “like he isn’t worth it.”

“But he was so…” she trails off on another sob. “Wonderful!”

Wonderful? Yeah, so great he left her sitting in a dark alley because he was too lazy to break it off to her face.

“Men like that aren’t wonderful, honey,” I say firmly. “Men like that are weak, pathetic and not worth five seconds of your time.”

“You don’t understand, he was so amazing … you know…” she leans in close, “in bed. The best I’ve ever had. I thought … I thought it was because we had something special.”

I shake