Free Twisted World: A Broken World Novel by Kate L. Mary Page B

Why the hell would she be talking to the waitress, and why the hell would she be sticking her neck out for me?
    I wasn’t used to having people care about me, and I sure as hell wasn’t dumb enough to think the Regulator’s son had made that offer out of the kindness of his heart. Despite what the girl seemed to think. Hell, that asshole’s heart was probably so black that if I cut it open, it’d look like the inside of a zombie. Rotten. No, the bastard had done it to impress the girl.
    Glitter ran off, leaving Meg alone at the end of the bar, and even though I knew I needed to stop staring at her—that rich prick was all bent out of shape over it—I couldn’t make myself do it. She was small, not just thin, but short as well, but she was strong. Strong enough to pull herself together after what had almost happened in the bathroom and strong enough to stand up for me. But she was also vulnerable right now. I could see it in the way she gnawed on the inside of her cheek. Something major was eating away at her, only I didn’t know what it could be. With her connections—the Regulator’s son just dying to get his hands on her and her uncle high up in the ranks of the enforcers—she should have been sitting pretty.
    I gauged her to be around twenty, meaning she was born after the virus and could still have two living parents. That right there would be enough to make anyone special in this world. On top of that, she was healthy. A little thin, but in a nice way. She still had curves in all the right places, I knew because I’d seen them firsthand in that bathroom, and her skin was soft and pale. Unmarred by the rough world we now lived in. Even under the shitty lights in this bar her dark hair shined, which was a good sign that she hadn’t suffered from poor nutrition. It was the worry in her green eyes that had me bothered, though. That expression didn’t have a damn thing to do with the attack.
    Glitter came back and held out a piece of paper. Meg looked around as she took it, almost like she was afraid someone was going to see her. She shoved it in her pocket and a frown turned down her lips. When she pulled her hand back out, a different piece of paper was resting in her palm. This one was dirty and crinkled, and based on the expression that crossed her face, I’d say it was important.
    “It’s all set!” the Regulator’s son called.
    Meg shoved the paper back in her pocket as he headed over, but his eyes were on me. He looked like he was ready to pat himself on the back for being so fucking great, or for coming up with such a perfect way to impress Meg. I wasn’t sure which one. Chances were, it was both.
    He stopped in front of me and smiled, but there was something very fake about the expression. Like he stood in front of the mirror every night practicing the gesture, but hadn’t perfected it yet.
    “Dragon knows the plan and your guards will see to it that you get to the house safely. Please give this to the men at the front door.”
    The rich little prick handed me a card and I flipped it over. Jackson Star . Figured. The guy acted like he thought he was the star of the whole fucking world, so it made sense that would be his last name.
    “Thanks,” I muttered even though I didn’t really give a shit. After DC, the little cot Dragon had set up for me would have been a dream come true.
    Jackson turned to Meg, who had both hands shoved in her pockets now. If I hadn’t seen her get attacked with my own two eyes, I never would have guessed it had happened. That was how put together she looked. This chick was badass tough.
    “Charlie’s staying with her dad, but Al asked me to walk you home.” Jackson put his hand on her arm and I found myself flinching for her. After what she’d just gone through, he should be more careful about touching her. Thoughtless asshole.
    “Yeah,” Meg said stammering over the word, but not sounding nervous or scared, just anxious. “That’s a good idea. I should