The leader walked straight to her.

  I saw his partner giving me a suspicious look as he folded his arms over his broad chest. He must have thought he looked pretty damn tough looming up over everyone like that—a girl and a bum with a battered face.

  The redhead refused to look at either of them. She just kept her gazed fixed on the counter in front of her, even as the leader began to speak in a low, menacing voice.

  "You've had your fun," he said, "Now it's time to come home."

  Maybe my guess about her being a rich-girl runaway isn't so far off.

  "I'm not going anywhere with you." The girl growled back, matching the threat in his tone.

  I'll admit, I felt a little flash of pride in her for that. The girl had some grit in her belly, no denying that.

  The man only scoffed.

  "It'll go better if you don't make a scene."

  "Yeah. I'd hate to have to rip out your spleen and show it to you."

  He only smirked at her threats.

  "Big talk. But we both know your Power Levels are way too low to have a chance against us. So why don't you drop the big tough girl act and come with us quietly."

  That little comment was just weird enough I better file it away for later…

  "So what's it going to be? Are you going to play nice? Or do I have to get rough?"

  Her lips twisted into a defiant sneer.

  "Don't threaten me with a good time."

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  Damn it. I'm starting to like this girl.

  From the moment I'd noticed the new arrivals had guns stuffed under their jackets, I had worried this thing was going to get out of hand. And, as it became increasingly clear that the events playing out in front of me was not the "private security guys coming to escort the spoiled rich girl home" scenario I had been desperately hoping for… the time had come to consider what I would do if shit it the fan.

  Would I rush to her aid? Make the evening's second attempt at a heroic rescue?

  It would be easy enough to dive to the floor and scurry for the exit just as fast as my little arms and legs could carry me. The girl was none of my business. Hell, she'd even said so herself.

  And yet…

  Between the grit in her gumption and her defiant moxie, I couldn't help feeling myself slip more and more onto the weird little redhead's side.

  Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one.

  "Listen up! If you fellas don't get out right now I'm calling the cops!"

  Mattie's bellowing filled the diner as she appeared from the kitchen, a phone already in her hand and pressed against her cheek.

  The leader of the suits barely glanced at her.

  "I'm warning you! I don't know what the hell is going on here but I'm not going to stand around and let you manhandle this girl just because you-"

  There was a loud pop! and a bullet blasted through Mattie's forehead.

  "What the hell?"

  The voice was mine. I found I was already on my feet, my empty coffee mug gripped in white knuckles. Somewhere behind me, I heard my stool tumble to the floor.

  The shooter was one of the men posted at the door. He had drawn his weapon and fired in a smooth, fluid motion, with the same calm detachment that he now showed as he moved the pistol, and the long suppressor protruding off the end of its barrel, to cover me.

  "You didn't have to do that," I said.

  The shooter just shrugged. The smoking barrel of his gun did not leave me.

  Poor Mattie stood for a moment, a blank expression settling over her face like she was too stunned to speak, then she toppled backward onto the hard floor and did not move again. The stunned expression remained etched on her face as the light behind her eyes faded into darkness.

  The phone was still clutched in her hand, humming a busy signal.

  The red-haired girl beside me stayed in her seat. She didn't even flinch.

  The leader groaned and pressed the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

  "Shit. Well, so much for the subtle approach."

  He glared at the girl, his eyes flashing fire and fury.

  "No more stalling. It's time to go. Get up and follow us to the van or I'll put a bullet in your brain and drag you out by your heels."

  The girl grinned. She started to laugh until her shoulders shook.

  She threw back her head and howled with laughter.

  And then, with a an abrupt movement and a crack, she smashed her forehead right into the bastard's nose.