I had been in the Tavern for less than ten minutes, but those five guys might as well have grown up here. They were rough, rowdy boys, the kind who thrived on chaos. The guy with the wrench prowled closer… too close for comfort. I slid out of the booth, slow and deliberate, my heart thumping louder than the jukebox. I crossed the floor, slapping five twenties onto the table—no change, just a statement.
Bruno, the leader, loomed tall and imposing, his blond hair catching the dim light. The shadows twisted around him like faithful followers. Years of survival had taught me one crucial lesson: confidence was my only shield. I knew I had to say something, anything, or I could end up six feet under. But I held my ground, meeting his icy gaze without flinching. Silence clung to the air, thick and heavy, as I waited. No words escaped my lips.
Bruno’s jacket bore his name in bold letters. He radiated calm, a predator sizing up its prey. Behind me, the other four closed in; I caught their movements in the bar’s mirror—the shuffle of boots, the clink of metal. One gripped a pipe, another a muffler, and my skin crawled at what that meant. I stood there, heart racing, a lone wolf surrounded by a pack. The room dropped into a suffocating silence. I could taste the whiskey on Bruno’s breath, the stench of danger thickening between us . . .
Iron Rebel Audio Book: Chapter One
Iron Rebel PDF Version: Chapter One