ETHAN'S EMPIRE - Laying Down the Rules- formerly PROTECTING OLIVIA

CHAPTER 1 - THE MYSTERY MAN AND THE MOB

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MAY NOT BE DUPLICATED OR TRANSLATED!

****This is a sampling of Ethan's Empire - Laying Down the Rules. You will find the first 20 chapters available for your reading pleasure. The full length novel of 52 chapters is available on Amazon in both paperback and Ebook forms. ****

Olivia

It was close to midnight when I exited the café. It had been a long and exhausting shift, and I was ready for a warm bed. I walked at a fast pace, trying to make it to the shelter quickly and praying there would be a bed left when I got there. Sometimes, they were full and had no space for even one more person. Those were the nights I dreaded the most.

I had a few friends who let me crash on their couch from time to time, but I tried never to overstay my welcome. Even though they were cool about it, I always felt like an imposition. They were all so busy, with some being musicians who traveled often. The nights they were juggling hectic schedules were when I stayed at the shelter. It wasn't all bad. I could get a shower and a decent meal, and that was all I needed.

The streets felt deserted that time of night. But it was New York, and one could never be too careful. I had lived in the city my whole life, and even I still got creeped out sometimes. I walked past the few shops that were still open, glaring into the window fronts and dreaming of things I only wished I could afford.

It was a cool night with a light breeze blowing. Still, it wasn't the wind that made me shiver, but what was waiting up ahead of me—that stretch of street that was a little too dark for my comfort. The long, eerie alley had a way of making the hairs on my neck stand on end. I could see nothing but complete and utter darkness each time I walked past it, and each time, I would imagine all the strange, sinister things that could lurk there. As I got closer, chills went down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around myself for comfort.

I was almost in the clear when I heard whistles and laughter filling the darkness. Out of instinct, I stiffened and began walking even faster. I couldn't see their faces, only heard their voices—they were shouting at me. My heart pounded like a hammer inside my chest. Closing my eyes, I prayed they would just leave me alone. I heard them exit the alleyway behind me and my knees almost buckled. I wasn't sure, but it sounded like there were at least three of them.

Although they were a ways behind me, I could tell they were gaining on me fast. The catcalls continued as they closed in, and one of them shouted, "Turn around, honey! Let's see that pretty face of yours." The sound in his voice shot fear straight through me. My breathing became heavy as I tried to keep myself from going into full panic mode.

One of them finally caught up to me and stepped in front of my path, blocking me. "Hey, sugar," he said, his tone ominous. "We just wanted to get a better peek at you. No harm in that, right?"

I stood frozen in place, fear paralyzing me. Without warning, the creep grabbed my shirt on both sides of my collar and ripped it open, exposing my chest. The crisp air immediately assaulted my skin as I stared into his ice-cold eyes. As my mind attempted to process what was happening, tears streamed down my face, but no words would come.

I heard the others catching up to us. It was then that I realized I might not make it out of this situation. My mind was spinning in a thousand different directions as I tried to grasp the reality of what was about to happen to me. They would rape me. Maybe they'd leave me to die, or maybe they'd just kill me outright. Everything about the man in front of me—the intensity in his voice, the evil in his eyes—left little doubt about his true intentions.

I had to do something. I had to at least try to save myself. As I gathered the will to fight, my brain took over, and my body followed. I glared at the guy in front of me and drew my knee up, hitting him as hard as I could in his groin. He released me with a grunt as pain shot through him. I ran like hell, hearing footsteps pounding into the pavement as they pursued me. They were shouting at me the entire time, and their words fueled me. They were all the motivation I needed to keep running.