Tattoos And Territory.

Chapter 2: The Devil You Know

The car engine growled again. Closer.

Thea's blood turned to ice.

Knox didn't move. His eyes flicked to the door, then back to her. Calculating. Reading her like a map he'd already memorized.

"Someone out there looking for you?" His voice was low. Dangerous. But not toward her.

She couldn't speak. Could barely breathe.

The engine cut. A door slammed.

Knox moved. Fast. His hand closed around her wrist—not rough, but unbreakable. He pulled her behind the bar, one hand pressing her shoulder down.

"Stay low. Don't make a sound."

The bar door screamed open.

"We're closed," Knox said. Ice in every syllable.

"I'm not here for a drink." The voice was familiar. Too familiar. Thea's stomach twisted. Marcus. He'd found her. Already.

"I'm looking for a girl," Marcus continued. "Dark hair. About yea high. Looks like she hasn't slept in a week."

Knox didn't glance at her. Didn't betray a thing.

"Haven't seen her."

Footsteps. Heavy. Getting closer. "Funny. Someone saw her walk in here."

"Then someone lied." Knox stepped around the bar, putting himself between Marcus and the hidden Thea. "This is my place. My town. And I don't like strangers accusing me of hiding things."

Silence stretched. Thea could hear her own heartbeat.

Then Marcus laughed. Low. Ugly. "Alright, alright. No need for trouble. But if you do see her…" Something slid across the bar. Paper? A card? "There's a reward."

The door screamed again. Boots on gravel. Engine starting. Tires spitting dust.

Then silence.

Knox looked down at her. Still crouched. Still shaking.

"You want to tell me why a man like that is hunting you?"

Thea met his eyes. Fear and something else—defiance, maybe. "You first. Why did you hide me?"

He stared at her for a long moment. Then something flickered in those dark eyes. Not softness. Recognition.

"Because I know what it looks like when someone's running from a monster."

He held out his hand.

"And in my territory? Monsters answer to me."

Thea should've refused. Should've walked out that door and kept running.

But his hand stayed outstretched. Steady. Unwavering.

And for the first time in months, she didn't feel like prey.

She took it.