THE CITY OF VANCOUVER is on a peninsula, bounded on three sides by water, so you usually need to cross a bridge to get from the suburbs to downtown. If you take the Lions Gate bridge—preferably not at rush hour—you drive through Stanley Park. That meant we had a pleasant evening stroll through the park to get downtown. Or I did. Ash seemed a lot more comfortable in the city proper.
By the time we arrived downtown, night had fallen. That made Ash anxious, but it didn’t bother me. It was downtown Vancouver. As long as we didn’t stray into a few bad pockets, we were fine.
I was wise enough to avoid suggesting sushi, but I did mention a falafel stand a few blocks away. From the look Ash gave me, that was just as bad. He wanted a burger. I knew a couple places that served amazing gourmet versions, including one just a block over that Daniel loved. But ten-dollar burgers were not on the budget, and even if I would have liked to treat Ash, he would have taken it the wrong way. So we settled for A&W.
Afterward, as we walked, Ash said, “You mentioned buying a prepaid cell earlier.”
“Right.”
“We should do that. In case you and I get separated.” He paused. “Or for your friends. Uh, when they get back.”
“You really think they were—” My chest tightened and I couldn’t get the rest out.
“If they were, we’ll deal. For now, you need that phone.”
I peered down a street of closed shops and scattered bars. “It’s a little late . . .”
“Corner stores sell them these days. Just gotta find one.”
I wasn’t sure that applied in Canada. We didn’t have nearly as many cell providers as they did in the States. But I nodded and let him lead the way down the next street.
We’d gone down four blocks and into two corner stores with no luck. I wanted to ask the clerks if they knew where to buy a phone, but Ash wouldn’t let me near the counter. I suggested he ask. He just rolled his eyes, as if I was naive to think they’d be helpful.
At the third store, a guy was outside talking to himself. Harmless, I was sure, but Ash insisted I go inside with him, though I had to wait by the door.
I heard the drunk guys before I saw them. They were loud enough that feline hearing was not required. They stopped outside the store and peered in. I stepped out of their line of sight, but not before I got a look at them. College guys, wearing sports jerseys and sloppy grins. They slammed the door open hard enough to make the clerk wince.
“Hey!” one yelled as he walked in—though the clerk wasn’t more than a couple meters away. “We want beer. You got beer?”
“We do not sell alcohol in these shops. You must go to a liquor store.”
In unison, two of them repeated the guy’s words, exaggerating his accent. I shook my head. Tourists. There were a couple of provinces that sold alcohol in corner stores, but I was guessing these were Americans. Our lower drinking age is a draw. Which was not to say that all drunken louts are obviously American—only the ones who didn’t realize they couldn’t buy beer in any store.
I’d moved back as far as I could without hiding, but when they took another step, they could see me.
“I bet she knows where we can find beer,” said the redhead in front. “Hey, cutie, make you a deal. Tell us where to find some and you can come drinking with us.”
“No, thank you,” I said, straightening, so it wouldn’t look like I was shrinking against the shelves.
“What makes you think she’d know where to find booze?” Ash came around the counter, gaze fixed on the guys as he moved between me and them.
I whispered for him to let it go, keeping my voice low enough that only he’d hear. He knew exactly why these guys thought I’d know where to find alcohol, but this really wasn’t the time for a lesson in racial stereotyping.
Ash kept moving forward. Stalking forward, like a cat, eyes on his prey, muscles tight, almost gliding across the floor, smooth and silent. The guys just snickered and jostled each other.
“Do you want a chocolate bar before we go?” I said to Ash. “I’m going to grab one.”
His head whipped my way, eyes narrowed in a “What the hell?” look. I was trying to diffuse the situation. Of course, he didn’t see that. He probably thought I was standing there, being insulted, and honestly thinking, You know, I’d like some chocolate.
“You go do that, cutie,” the redhead said. “We’ll get rid of your boyfriend for you.”
“I’m her brother,” Ash said.
“Oh? Good. So then you won’t mind if I . . .” He suggested something we could do together. It wasn’t “go see a movie.” He got about halfway through before Ash took a swing at him. I was already mid-pounce and grabbed Ash’s arm before it made contact. When I wrenched it back, he wheeled on me, lips curled in a snarl.
“You want to fight?” I whispered under my breath. “Fine. But if you do, I’ll need to run before the cops show up.”
He blinked and removed my hand from his arm. Then he nodded and rolled his shoulders. I could feel the rage pulsing off him. The drunk guys just stood there, snickering and lobbing insults. I zeroed in on the fourth guy, a blond who was hanging back, looking uncomfortable. I propelled Ash toward him, saying, “Excuse me,” and he moved aside. I bustled Ash past before the others could block our escape.
“Morons,” Ash muttered as we reached the sidewalk.
“Agreed,” I said. “But picking a fight with them won’t help.”
“So you just put up with that crap?”
“No, I usually have a comeback, unless they’re too drunk to get it, which those guys were. Now, let’s put off buying a phone until morning and—”
“Hey!” The corner store door banged behind us. “Did we say you two rez rats could leave?”
“Keep walking,” I murmured.
“I am,” he said, with a growl that told me it wasn’t easy.
“Hey, you. Half-breed. I’m talking to you.”
Ash slowed, tensing fast, and when I gripped his arm, I could feel the muscles bunching.
“Keep walking, Ash,” I whispered. “Please keep walking.”
“That’s what I’m doing, isn’t it?”
“Yo! Half-breed. Bring your sister back here. We’re not done with her yet. Hell, we haven’t even started with her yet.”
Laughter from the others. I had Ash’s arm in a vise grip now, practically dragging him along, his sneakers scraping the sidewalk, as if he was two seconds from wheeling and charging.
“You shouldn’t have to put up with that,” he muttered as they called out suggestions behind us.
“Every girl has to put up with that. It doesn’t matter what color her skin is.”
Shoes clomped behind us, coming fast.
“Yo, half-breed. Tell you what. You show us where we can get some beer, and we’ll give you a whole case for your sister. That’s a good trade, isn’t it, kemosabe? I know you guys like to trade, and she’s such a pretty little—”
Ash spun and hit the redhead with an uppercut that sent him reeling. I grabbed his arm, but he shook me off. The other three thundered down the sidewalk as their leader recovered and swung at Ash. Ash ducked the blow and came back with a right hook that sent the guy spinning.
“Run,” he snarled over his shoulder at me. “Get out of here.”
That’s what I’d threatened to do. That’s what I should do. Even now, cars were slowing and a group of barhoppers were crossing the road to watch the entertainment.
If it had been one guy, I’d have run. Clearly Ash could take care of himself against one guy. Maybe even two. But the other three were moving in and I knew no one had planned on a fair fight.
As the redhead recovered, I leaped between him and Ash.
“That’s enough,” I said. “You aren’t going to find beer at this hour unless you go to a bar. There are plenty around. Now go find one.”
He shoved me out of the way. I lunged to grab him, but one of his friends caught me, yanked me off my feet, and threw me aside. I heard Ash snarl as I hit the ground. When I turned to scramble up, they were all piling on him. Rage filled me. I grabbed the back of the nearest one’s jacket and heaved. He spun to backhand me, then stopped.
“What the hell?”
He knocked my hands off his jacket and stumbled from the heap, still staring. When he backed away, one of his friends glanced our way. He stared at me. Just stared. My hands flew to my face and I felt it shifting. I lowered my hands. Fur was sprouting on the backs.