ABCtales -serial part 1

Just a little idea i came up with for my fellow ABCer's it's a novel i started writing a couple of years ago but faltered with it. I'm going to post what i've written up in parts and would appreciate any ideas on how to go ahead with it; if you're interested read on 'cause here goes part 1

Mateo shuffled uncomfortably, flexing shoulder and leg muscles to ease the stiffness that had been growing steadily over the past hour. It was past midnight, he knew and as far as he was aware she still had a job so she would have to be…
The thought died with a flash as a car’s headlights momentarily illuminated the mouth of the alley in which he stood.
It was true then. When he’d heard the rumours he’d scoffed at the idea; Sas wasn’t that shallow.
The car pulled up outside the house across the street; it wasn’t one of the official Magistery vehicles, the burgeoning hope died before it blossomed fully. It was a private vehicle one of only three in Black Bay all owned by the Donnagh family.
The engine died and the driver’s door opened; a tall, bulky figure climbed out moving confidently around to the passenger side, holding the door open as a woman climbed out. Even in the dull, flickering glow of the street light Mateo recognised her; it was the flick of her head, the way she moved. At his side his knuckles cracked as he clenched his hands into fists but he resisted the urge to charge across the street. A reasonable, rational corner of his mind whispered that he could expect nothing less; he’d been gone over six months and before he’d left she’d given him her ultimatum…
Their faces met in a lingering kiss and she didn’t resist as his arms circled her and pulled her in close. His back was to Mateo and he could see her face over his shoulder. He should just duck away; she would never know he’d seen her or even that he was back he – should. He stepped forward, out of the shadows and waited. It only took a moment for her eyes to find him. She broke the embrace quickly and her companion turned. Mateo remained unmoving until he was sure they had seen him, until they realised who it was then turned slowly back into the alley and the darkness within.
‘Was that him?’ Krieg asked, still with a protective arm around her.
‘Yes.’ Sara answered quietly still staring at the darkness of the alley.
‘Then it’s true, he’s back. Come on, let’s get inside.’
‘He’s gone.’ Sara answered with certainty.
Krieg looked less certain but didn’t bother to argue. ‘Let’s go in anyway.’
Sara pulled away from him. ‘Not tonight ok?’ She could see the annoyance plainly on his features.
‘I won’t have him bothering you Sara, I’ll go to the Magister—’
‘Leave it to me,’ she cut him off mid sentence, ‘I’ll speak to him tomorrow.’
‘I don’t know, he could, well he could get violent or something. I’ve heard that the Journeymen treat their women badly—’
‘He won’t do anything to hurt me.’ Sara said firmly, suddenly annoyed by his stereotyping of the Journeymen.
It was clear that he wanted to press the matter further.
She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on his cheek. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll sort it out.’ She started toward the door of her home.
‘You’re sure you wouldn’t like some company?’
She didn’t bother to turn around, slightly ashamed that her first thought was that Mateo had never been so blatant. ‘Good night Krieg.’ She closed the door behind her and leaned on it hearing the roar of the car as Krieg sped away. Her heart was hammering – he had come back.

Mateo’s arms were a blur of motion as he drove his fists again and again into the padded wooden post. Despite the chill of the early morning air his torso was bare, only covered by a sheen of sweat and the swirling Journeyman tattoos. He didn’t react when he heard the gate open with a squeak, his attention focused fully on the post.
Sara winced slightly with every meaty thump, those same hands had held her, caressed her skin… She drew the thoughts up short, knowing where they would lead but her eyes never left his whip lean form, watching the cords off muscle as they moved smoothly under tanned flesh, waiting for the startlingly green eyes to focus on her. He knew she was there, he always knew no matter how hard she’d tried to sneak up on him and she’d made no effort to hide her arrival this time but he kept his focus squarely on the post.
‘So this is how it’s going to be?’ She said quietly, more to herself than him.
‘I didn’t invite you here.’ He said coldly, never taking his attention from the post.
‘I saw you last night, outside my home.’
He made no reply but then he didn’t need to she knew well that he’d wanted it that way else she’d have never even known he was there.
‘You can’t keep doing this Teo, I won’t have it—’
He stopped, turning to face her, wiping a cloth bound wrist across his forehead and sweeping his dark fringe from his eyes. She was in her Trooper uniform; the pistol holstered at her hip and the stun baton on the other. ‘I heard rumours, I just wanted to see for myself and I did. That’s an end to it.’ His voice remained cold.
‘Rumours?’
‘That you were Krieg Donnagh’s new… That you were with him.’
Sara heard the unsaid word clearly. ‘That’s none of your business.’ Her own voice had grown chilly.
He closed the distance between them, until they were only inches apart. She could feel the heat emanating from his body, tasted his breath on her lips.
‘Is it that easy for you Sas?’ He asked quietly.
‘I gave you every chance.’ She managed, trying to tear her gaze from those intense green orbs.
He reached up and brushed away a stray lock of her auburn hair, the finger tips lingering for a second on her cheek before they fell away. ‘I know.’
It took every ounce of will power not to reach up and touch his skin, to stop herself from closing the distance between them. She clenched her fists so tight she felt her nails digging into her palms.
‘All I asked for was that you stay with me, that you walk away from it.’
‘I know,’ he agreed with her again, closing his eyes, ‘but you knew…’
Her palm settled gently against his cheek, her fingers lacing through his midnight hair. ‘Yes,’ She sighed, ‘but for both our sakes I had to ask.’ She pulled him to her feeling his arms circle her, his hard body press against her. She had to, one last time. ‘You knew what it meant when you left Teo.’ She stepped back, blinking away tears. ‘I asked you to choose and you did. I had to deal with that, I had to move on. I need you to understand that.’ She saw the anger pulling at his eyes as she held him away from her.
‘Tell me you love him. Look me in the eye and tell me that and you’ll never see me again.’
She met his challenging gaze, ‘You have to stay away from me, it’s better for both of us.’ She backed away pushing him back when he started to follow, ‘Teo please.’ She turned and ran for the gate.
‘Sas.’
She resisted the urge to turn and carried on out of the gate.
‘I walked away from it.’ His voice was barely a whisper. He turned to face the post once more and with a savage snarl drove his fist at it. The top foot and a half of the post sheared away with a crack like a rifle shot and he stood staring down at it lying on the dew wet grass. ‘I walked away from it.’