“No, I’ll be fine, Magic; get off home, and get some proper rest,” I said. Although I felt better now Magic wanted to stick around.
“Ain’t happening. Get upstairs, and I’ll stay down here tonight. You had an upset girl and a fright. You may have steel balls, but anyone would be shocked after an attempted robbery. Up you go, Bunny, and don’t give me lip.” Magic growled, and I giggled a little before heading for the back hallway, which had stairs leading to my apartment. I didn’t bother messing around with a shower, as I usually did. I just undressed and jumped straight into bed and curled up. Sleep was hard to find, but a pair of searching blue eyes haunted my dreams when I did.
???
“Hey, there’s someone here to see you. Want me to send them back?” Alice asked the next day as I sat in the office doing paperwork. I tried to stay on top of it each week because Magic had a nasty habit of throwing everything into an in-tray and leaving everything a mess.
“Who is it? I’m busy,” I replied, looking up.
“Pyro, from Hellfire. Claims it concerns the incident last night.”
“Wow, that did the rounds quickly, Alice.” I laughed, but underneath, there was an edge of uneasiness.
“Word spreads especially amongst small communities like MCs. Shall I send Pyro back?”
“Yeah, okay,” I agreed without knowing why. I had the perfect excuse not to see him, but I wondered why Pyro was here. Despite the late night, I’d still done my hair and makeup and was dressed in ripped jeans and a tank top. My tats were showing, and I was sure Pyro didn’t realise who I was.
“Hey,” Pyro said, entering a few moments later. He wore a lazy grin as he took a seat.
“Hi,” I returned and held a finger up. Once I finished adding the column of numbers, I lifted my head to find Pyro staring intently.
“How are you doing?”
“Good, thanks to you and Magic. I didn’t know the panic button also went to Magic’s home,” I replied.
“Magic going to teach you to shoot?” Pyro asked, and I huffed before sighing.
“Tell me when Magic has a chance. Everyone knows Magic’s at this bar from eleven in the morning until closing. Magic’s not got time, and shit will be fine.”
“Good job I got time, woman. Come on, get to your feet. Magic has a space outside which he shoots at,” Pyro stated.
“Huh,” I replied dumbly.
“Bunny, you need to understand how to shoot, and I can teach you. If anything like last night happens again, you’ll be able to defend yourself,” Pyro said slowly.
“No!” The word left my mouth in a panic. Pyro quirked an eyebrow as I stared, and I struggled to find an excuse.
“A gun is nothing to be frightened of,” Pyro quipped.
“Er, I disagree there,” I retorted, and Pyro chuckled and threw me back almost twenty years. That chuckle hadn’t changed at all.
“Honey, if you know how to handle a weapon, they’re usually safe in the right hands,” Pyro explained.
“Who decides whose hands are right or not, Pyro?” I challenged, and Pyro let out a full-on laugh. Shivers ran down my spine as Pyro’s smiling eyes came to mine.
“I say. Now get up, and start you on some target training.”
“But I have to do Magic’s paperwork,” I refuted, and Pyro lifted an eyebrow.
“Good job that I cleared it with Magic to train you then.” Suspiciously, I stared at Pyro, feeling betrayed by Magic. Of course, Magic did not know our past, but I think he suspected something. Magic had noted my reaction to Pyro last night. And now Magic was throwing us together, and I wished I knew the reason.
“Fine!” I huffed and got to my feet. Annoyed, I followed Pyro out of the office and into the pub. Magic talked to Alice as we passed, and I sent him a dark look, which he returned mildly, amusement in his eyes. I mouthed the word traitor at Magic, and his eyes crinkled up.
“Don’t we need weapons?” I asked as Pyro approached the exit.
“We’ll start with a handgun first; a shotgun has a kickback. We will work our way up to that Bunny,” Pyro said, holding the door open. Another reminder of the boy he’d once been. Dad had drilled into Pyro’s young head how a woman should be treated, and it seemed, even today, Pyro remembered those lessons.
“Okay.” Silently, I followed Pyro to the back of the bar and through a gate in the fence that encompassed the parking lot. To my surprise, we looked out at a grassy area which was clear of trees. A thick tree trunk lay on the ground, and some jars sat on top. In front of it was a tarpaulin. Strangely, I’d never come out here.