“Lady, I don’t fuck girls like you and not ones whose eyes are star-struck. Sorry babe, out of luck today,” Dakota snarled, and I danced back.
“Hey! Dakota, don’t talk to me like that. Don’t you recognise me? Yes, it’s been a while, but I’d have known you anywhere!” I exclaimed. Dakota’s nose wrinkled up as he stepped away and looked at me from top to bottom. My brown hair was brushed neatly back in a bun; I wore a buttoned-up blouse and an A-frame skirt that fell below my knees in plaid. My feet were encased in sensible granny shoes, but you try being on your feet all day long. And I wore a blue knit cardigan. Big glasses sat on my nose, distorting my face shape.
“Lady, I got no idea who you are, but I’m sure I never fucked you. So no, and don’t fuckin’ call me Dakota. Name’s Pyro, I dunno how you dug that name out, but it’s been dead years,” Dakota, no, Pyro snarled.
“Dakota, you honestly don’t recognise me?” I urged in a small voice. Hope began draining from me.
“No, I never fucked you once.”
“Jeez, I never claimed you screwed me!” I shot back in a temper. Interest flared in his eyes at that little spark of anger. Fine, Dakota, no, Pyro can sod the hell off!
“Then why are you here?” Pyro asked.
“Because you once told me you’d be there if I ever needed you. Might as well have guessed that was a lie,” I answered, bitterness leeching into my tone. Pyro cocked his head, ignoring the peanut gallery, and stared. Pyro took a second long glance and shook his head.
“Ain’t me that gave you that promise.”
“No, it was a boy called Dakota,” I said sadly. Dakota wasn’t here, and I was drained. All my energy drifted away and left me empty. Dakota had been the last hope of surviving this mess, and I would not jog his memory if he didn’t recognise me. My time with Dakota had meant more to me than him. Hell, I may be on my knees, but I wasn’t ready to beg. Time to put Plan B into action. I drew my shoulders back and straightened.
“Lady, stop saying that name. That’s cursed and dead.”
“Yes, you’re correct. Well, I apologise for bothering you, but I needed help and hoped you’d remember me. Sorry, I’ve wasted our time,” I said with dignity and turned on my heel. As I stepped away, I refused to meet the curious glances of those watching. I felt sympathy and curiosity wafting my way and ignored it. A hand shot out and grasped my upper arm.
“You in trouble?” Pyro demanded.
“That’s none of your business. It was the concern of a man called Dakota,” I said with forced pride and wrenched myself away. Pyro moved to grip me again, and I darted past him, and speed walked to the doors and shoved through. Pyro cursed behind me, and I nearly ran to my vehicle. Halfway to the car, a loud noise made me jump. A second swiftly followed, and then I must have stumbled as I began falling backwards. It was like a tree toppling as I fell full length. My hands gripped my stomach as I toppled backwards, and when I hit the ground, I felt stickiness on them. What had just happened?
???
Pyro
Pyro raced out of the clubhouse, Chance and Shee on his heels as they heard the gunfire. To his surprised eyes, he saw the librarian lying on the ground. Pyro landed next to her head and checked her over. Her face was pale, eyes closed, and her chest barely rose and fell.
“Two gut shots,” Chance snapped into the phone, and Pyro realised Chance had called an emergency.
“What the fuck is this?” Pyro asked as Chance ended the call. Pyro leaned his weight onto the wounds, stemming the stranger from bleeding out.
“You tell me, it was you she came for, brother,” Chance retorted as he saw Clio trying to slip past Chatter and Bear. He was relieved when they stopped her. Louisa Mae was asleep in her room in the back, and Chance did not want his wife or daughter in danger.
“But I don’t recognise her,” Pyro replied, puzzled.
“Woman seemed to know you,” Chance pushed.
“She said she read a magazine, Chance. My guess is she’s in trouble and latched on to me.”
“Why?” Chance challenged as sirens screeched through the air.
“You tell me, brother. But I’ve never met her before in my life. Honestly, bro, you see me defiling a librarian?” Pyro smirked, and Chance shook his head.
“Woman said your name, and only your brothers and Phoe know that. Pyro, rack your brains because something is wrong here,” Chance warned. Pyro rolled his eyes and concentrated on stopping the woman from bleeding out as an ambulance raced onto the forecourt.
???
Janet
Damn, I hurt. Pain shot through my body as I lay with my eyes closed as three men spoke above me. For the third time today, I pretended to be asleep. One was a doctor called Doc Gibbons, the other Dakota, no Pyro, and one was a police officer named Lio. All three were puzzled.
“Still no ID?” Pyro asked.