So why did Shayne?
Suzi wasn’t done yet. She placed her finger on her chin and tapped it, as if deep in thought. “I mean, couldn’t you tell that Jesse was never interested in you? He told me the only reason he even talked to you was to win a bet. We used to laugh over your obese body, and how you believed someone like him could ever be interested in a whale like you. After we were done, he’d spending hours making love to me.”
She gave Anna a look of disdain and gestured towards her own body. “Why would he want you when he could have this? He begged me to leave town with him. You were never in the running.”
SHAYNE APPROACHED THE two and caught the tail end of their conversation. Rage flooded his body as he realized exactly who the woman was. He could smell the demon essence she was drenched in. The scent of sulfur surrounded her. She was a demon whore, and it showed on her ravaged body.
Nate and Luke flanked him. They heard and saw the same things Shayne did, and from the expressions on their faces, they weren't too pleased. The ugly blonde-haired woman was cold, cruel, and callous. All three of them knew what they were dealing with, and they were committed to protecting Anna. It wasn’t their first rodeo with evil.
Stepping up to Anna, Shayne turned her face and kissed her in greeting. In one short glance, he could see everything she was feeling. Her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with tears. She sat perfectly rigid, struggling to keep control over her emotions. His face tightened and his body trembled in anger at the bitch who had caused it.
He smiled down at Anna, his eyes only for her. “Miss me?” he asked softly, not surprised when she didn't respond. She stared back at him, her eyes unblinking. After a moment, she nodded.
Suzi eased her lips into a practiced, seductive smile. They had been surgically enhanced to be bigger, and they looked out of place on her weathered face. “I missed you, and I don’t even know you, handsome,” she simpered. “My name's Suzi.” She extended her hand to Shayne, while completely ignoring Anna like she was trash beneath her feet.
Shayne ignored her hand. It didn't slow Suzi down. “I doubt we're going to be strangers for long, though,” she continued, her eyes devouring his body. She reminded him of a snake stretching its jaws wide to engulf its prey. Shayne had never felt more disgusted in his life.
With one hand on Anna’s elbow, he slid her off the stool, to place her wrap around her. He then pulled her into his arms, wanting to offer her the reassurance of his embrace. She felt cold to the touch. Her body trembled slightly against him, but she didn’t look at his face.
He sneered at Suzi, putting considerable disgust in his expression as his eyes traveled down her body. “If you believe that, then you're in for a serious disappointment,” he coldly informed her. “Why would any man in his right mind trade a beautiful young woman like Anna for an old, used up slut like you? I mean, really. Are you the grandma of one of her old high school friends or what?”
Shayne was determined to drive his point home. The bitch in front of them needed to learn she wasn’t anything special. He was furious at what she'd done to Anna, both past and present.
Keeping his cold gaze locked on Suzi, he asked, “Boys, are either of you interested?” His voice was cold as ice.
They replied in a chorus of, “Hell, no!” and, “Wouldn’t touch her with your dick, man!” Shayne mentally rolled his eyes. Hundreds of years old, and they still hadn't managed to hit any type of maturity.
Suzi sauntered to him. Arrogance gleamed from her eyes, and Shayne realized she truly believed any man would prefer her over Anna. “How about I give you my number?” She sneered when she glanced at Anna. “I have no doubt you’ll want to use it later.” She leaned forward, allowing him a view of her breasts. “By the way, I don’t mind sloppy seconds.”
“Are you that slow?” Shayne asked, in disbelief. “There is nothing about you I’d want. You’re disgusting, inside and out. Because of jealousy, you’ve wasted years attempting to cut down and break the woman in front of you. Why? Because you realized a long time ago she has something you’ll never have: class, heart, and timeless beauty.” Suzi flinched at his words.
He looked at Anna with pride before telling Suzi, “Get a nice long look at real beauty as we walk toward that door. Because lady, I can guarantee you will never see that when you look in the mirror.”
Suzi stood silently and glared at them, without any response.
Someone started to clap. Within seconds, everyone within hearing range was applauding his speech. Somebody hollered out, “Amen, brother.” Another person said, “Put her in her place.” Within moments, the applause was deafening.
Anna slowly pulled out of his arms and looked at the small crowd in disbelief. The woman sitting at the machine next to her jumped up and pulled her into a bear hug.
Looking at Shayne past Anna's shoulder, the woman frowned and said, “If you wouldn’t have said something, I was going to. I couldn’t have taken another moment of listening to the things that broad was saying. No human being deserves to be talked to like that. I don't care what size they are.”
Releasing Anna, she smiled at her and continued, “There isn’t one thing wrong with you, honey, and don’t you ever let anyone convince you otherwise. I’m sure this big, strapping fellow next to you won’t mind proving how attractive he finds you!” With a wink and a laugh, she returned to the slot machine and continued playing.
ANNA COULDN’T BELIEVE the support she was receiving. She'd always assumed
