Running With the Devil by Lorelei James

serious dent in her dignity however. She slowly settled back on her knees, attempting to literally cover her ass.
    “Ma’am? You okay?” A silver-haired man and his equally silver-haired female companion had hunkered down beside her, wrinkled faces heavy with concern.
    Kenna managed a small, “Ooof.”
    They assisted her to her feet amidst the leering crowd, who’d given them a wide berth but no offers of help.
    The sweet little old lady—who sported a baggy fuchsia leather halter and matching leather hotpants—gently tugged Kenna’s Lycra skirt down from her hips. She readjusted her tank top and clucked over the scrapes just starting to bleed.
    The man muttered, “Sad, when you aren’t even safe in broad daylight in South Dakota.”
    “Thanks for helping me.” Kenna’s body began to pulsate with pain. Spots danced in front of her eyes, distorting her vision.
    “Sweetie, you really should go to the first aid station.”
    “She really ought to go to the cops,” the man grumbled.
    “I’ll be fine in a minute.” She closed her eyes and staggered backwards. “I’m waiting for a friend.”
    “Kenna!” Marissa’s panicked voice cut through the air. Strong hands steadied her. The familiar scent of patchouli soothed her. “Oh God! Honey, what happened?”
    “Purse snatcher.” She grimaced when shooting pain zapped her in the head. “Failed attempt, fortunately.”
    “Where are the police?” Marissa demanded.
    “That’s what we wondered.”
    Marissa took charge and reassured the worried older couple. “It’s okay. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of. Thank you.”
    Kenna peeled her eyes open, one lid at a time. “I just need to sit down.” She stumbled toward the wooden bench facing the street.
    Marissa muttered and plopped next to her, handing over a bottle of water. “Drink this. You look like you’re gonna pass out, chica. ”
    “Feel like it too.” She drank, careful not to guzzle it all at once, lest she add throwing up to her public humiliation. “I can’t believe this happened to me on top of what happened last night.”
    “What happened last night?”
    She took another sip. “After we left the bar, someone shot at us at the apartment complex.”
    Marissa gasped. “ Shot at you? Are you sure?”
    “Yep.”
    “Why?” A total expression of bafflement deepened the frown lines between Marissa’s eyes.
    “I don’t know.”
    “Where did you go after someone shot at you? To the police station?”
    “No. I went with Drake.”
    “To the campground? Dammit, you could have stayed with me. Why didn’t you call me last night?”
    Kenna hedged. “Because I was really freaked out. I’m still freaked out. That’s why I called you today. This whole thing with Drake…I don’t know if I trust him, even if he supposedly was a friend of Jerry’s.”
    A soft hand stopped her from taking another drink. “I’m glad you called me. I’ve been worried sick about you and this Drake person.”
    When Marissa didn’t elaborate, Kenna said, “Why?”
    “Don’t get mad, but I don’t trust him either.” Marissa expelled a heavy sigh. “I learned some pretty disturbing things about my so-called friend Jerry when I went to Daytona this spring. So disturbing, in fact, I told him there was no way I’d let you hang out with him during Sturgis this year. No matter how much money he offered. I cut all ties with him shortly afterward.”
    Kenna’s stomach rolled over. But she’d kept in touch with Jerry via email without Marissa knowing. Crap.
    “Then he wound up murdered.” Marissa shivered. “I wish I’d known what kind of person he’d become. He was always so sweet and harmless when we were younger.” Marissa’s enormous brown eyes shimmered with tears. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a lousy friend. And when this guy showed up out of the blue, claiming to be a buddy of Jerry’s…I didn’t want to tip him off that I knew what kind of guy Jerry really was. He was so determined