The passengers gasped and screamed, but Dom ignored them for a second as he looked over at Abe. “Next year, I’m getting you acting lessons,” he said with a wide grin.
Abe narrowed his eyes on Dom, but there was no missing that he was fighting a smile. “Trent seemed to think my acting wasn’t that bad.”
Dom snorted at the mention of the A-list movie star they’d both met while Dom was on a job protecting the man. Trent had also helped them out of a nasty spot not long ago that had required some very creative acting. “Trent just wanted in your pants.”
Rising from his seat, Dom grabbed the unconscious man by the back of his shirt and lifted him up so that he could shove him into his empty seat. He looked over his shoulder at the server who was staring at him with his mouth hanging open. “You got any duct tape?”
“I-I-I don’t think so.”
“You didn’t bring any?” Abe teased.
“Don’t tell Rowe. He’ll never let me live it down.” His boss at Ward Security was a big proponent of duct tape. He believed it was one of the few critical things that should be kept handy at all times and that it solved all problems. Dom couldn’t argue with Rowe.
Grabbing the top of the mask, Dom ripped it off to reveal the face of a twentysomething punk. The asshole probably thought it would be an easy score. Grab some cash, credit cards, and maybe some jewelry, then jump off before the cops could catch up.
Bending down, he grabbed the gun and thrust it at Abe. “Take this and keep it trained on the asshole.” He turned to the server again. “There’s just one car that way, right?” The server quickly nodded. “What about the other direction?”
“There’s just the kitchen car and then the engine.”
“Excellent. Go lock the door at that end. There shouldn’t be anyone coming from that direction, but this covers my back. I’m going to take care of that car.”
“Wait!” Abe called when Dom started for the other car. “Don’t you need this?” He held up the gun.
“Nah. Too dangerous. Close quarters and I don’t wanna give the bastard a reason to shoot immediately.”
“Try not to give him a reason, period,” Abe muttered.
Dom leaned down and stole a rough kiss. “Never. Be right back.”
He quickly turned back to the server, so he didn’t have to look at the worry in Abe’s eyes any longer. “Hand everyone’s stuff back and call the cops.”
As he walked down the car toward the rear, he heard other passengers ask if he was a cop. Before he could answer, he heard Abe reply that he was a security agent with Ward Security and that they were all safe. He couldn’t help the bubble of warmth that grew in his chest to hear the pride filling Abe’s voice.
Dom paused and took a deep breath before opening the door. A whoosh of cold air rushed past him and down the car. The train was continuing to make its steady progress along the tracks, weaving around the city proper. The sun had set nearly an hour earlier, and the darkness was growing deeper. But there was no missing the masked gunman as he paced up and down the car. For the moment, his back was to Dom as he moved to the opposite end of the car, but that wasn’t going to last.
Pulling open the door, Dom stepped inside while the robber whipped around to face him. Dom threw his hands up immediately, showing that he was unarmed.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“The-the other guy. Your partner. He sent me to ask you a question,” Dom stammered as he slowly walked toward the other man.
“What?”
“He wants me to ask you a question.”
While his face was hidden by his ski mask, the man’s posture made Dom think that he was stunned by his comment. “Are you insane? He did not!”
“Of course he did.”
“Then what does he want?”
Dom grinned for a second. With one hand, he grabbed the muzzle of the gun and jerked it upward to point at the ceiling. With his right, he slammed his fist into the man’s mask-covered nose and then kicked him in the balls. The robber dropped to the ground with a loud moan, using one hand to cup his face and the other to cover his nuts. Dom stood over him, holding the weapon.
“Your friend wants to know if you regret getting on this train now!”Sweaty, sore, and sated, Abe stretched out in the bed under Dom’s wonderful weight. The hero of the day had his face buried in Abe’s neck, and his breath was slowing back to normal. Their fancy dinner was derailed to a lengthy interview with the police at the train depot. They settled on picking up some Chinese on the way home, and dessert had turned into fucking on the couch.