Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

deadly water. Anger rushed through her veins like a glacial river in summer. It fortified her, made her relish crushing this pissant bully of a man. The feeling intoxicated, seduced her into believing she could take the monster.
    “Kendrick, it’s time you answered for your sins against me and mine.”
    “You’ve had quite the summer, little girl,” he commented. “Don’t mistake yourself into thinking you’re a match for me.”
    “Oh, I’m no match for bottom feeders.” She enjoyed his halibut mouth opening and closing in an attempt for a quick comeback. Apparently, it had been a while since someone had the nerve to offend him.
    Red color infused his face, making him look like a candidate for a heart attack. “You have any idea who you’re insulting?”
    “Oh, am I insulting? Excuse, me. I thought you were comfortable in your skin. Liked to brag and throw your considerable weight around.” She poked him in the belly. “Might want to lay off the fried food. Bragging can only take you so far, and table muscle gets in the way.”
    “You bitch.”
    “Now, who’s being insulting?” She glanced at Aidan, his lips tilting at the corners. “Are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
    “Well, Sonya, as I’ve used the term on occasion myself, I can’t rightly tell him not to.”
    “I see your point.” She turned back to Kendrick.
    “What game you two playing at?” he asked, his mean eyes squinting.
    “Game?” She narrowed her stare and gave Kendrick a glare that stabbed. “I don’t play games and I refuse to be toyed by you any longer.” She poked him again. Hard. “Lay off me, my family, and my fishing operation. Or you will be floating belly up.”
    “I haven’t messed with you, yet. And I don’t take threats from anyone, least of all a little girl and her puppy of a boyfriend.”
    “Can I hit him now, Sonya?” Aidan asked.
    “No, that’s what he wants you to do.” She had to get Kendrick to throw the first punch. Insults, pushing, and poking hadn’t done it. Maybe this would? “Haven’t messed with me, huh? Like you didn’t sell my dad a compromised boat?”
    “She was sound until he got his hands on her. Your dad always did have a problem with his women.”
    Aidan grabbed her arm, before she could swing, anchoring her clenched fist to her side. Kendrick baited like a pro. She’d be swinging her fistful of rolled quarters first if she wasn’t careful.
    “My dad did enjoy a woman with passion rather than the dead fish, which I’ve heard is more to your liking.”
    That did it.
    She saw him move and did what Aidan had taught her. Just as Kendrick’s sledgehammer fist flew at her face, she jerked her head back and to the side, taking the power out of the punch. His meaty knuckles grazed her cheek, but even that little force had stars twinkling behind her eyes.
    Kendrick was still moving through his swing, when she sucker-punched him in the soft underbelly of his considerable gut, stealing his wind.
    Both crewmen went for Aidan. He was art in motion, a roundhouse kick here, a block there. Though a lucky punch did get him on the chin, and knocked him back into Judd—who’d shown up from somewhere—dropping them both to the floor in a tangled heap of arms and legs.
    Sonya jumped back as Kendrick roared. His breath returned. He was like a bear with a wounded paw and intent on assuaging his rage with her demise. He came at her like a brick wall. She ducked and side-stepped, and then jabbed her boot into the side of his knee. He howled and went down like a bag of concrete.
    Cool .
    The few lessons Aidan had schooled her in that afternoon had paid off. A couple of claps sounded throughout the bar, followed by, “You show him, Sonya.”
    “Break it up!” Garrett stepped between Sonya and Kendrick.
    Somehow, she’d known the fish cop would show as soon as she’d seen Judd.
    “Don’t even try it,” Garrett growled at Kendrick as he came up off the floor with a broken beer bottle raised in his hand.
    Kendrick backed down, spitting out, “Motherfucker,” under his breath.
    Sonya couldn’t help but smile though her cheek throbbed like a son of a bitch. Baiting Kendrick had been a hell of a lot of fun. Scary as all get out, but exhilarating at the same time. Like taking on Jason in Friday the 13 th . She’d faced him, punched him, and taken him down.
    Who was the coward now, baby?
    “What the hell is going on here?” Garrett demanded, staring right at her, his