“Anyone is and we find out, I’ll personally take care of them,” Slade said straight-faced.
“What about this modeling thing with Rose? Who is even going to be there?” Rylan asked.
“I’m working on finding out a guest list. She’ll be safe there and occupied while we take care of this. Hopefully it works out to our advantage. It should be done and over with by the time she’s getting dropped off by Mulgoff,” Mercury told them.
* * * *
“I don’t want to touch it,” Rose told Rome and he was getting pissed off.
“You need to. I want you to feel capable, empowered, and ready in any situation. You’ve improved your self-defense skills, now this is next,” Rome told her.
“You’re such a liar. I suck at self-defense.”
“You choose to suck at it because you don’t want to think about ever having to use it. I didn’t want you to ever have to use it nor ever have to shoot a gun, but God knows in this crazy world we live in, baby, that it could very well happen. Would you rather be prepared, or unprepared?”
“You’re mad at me about the modeling Saturday, aren’t you?” she asked him.
Rome exhaled. “I don’t fucking like it.”
“It’s good money and I kind of enjoy it.”
“You don’t need to show off your tits to feel good about yourself,” he snapped at her and she gasped. He grabbed her by her sweater and pulled her close.
“These are mine and my brothers’. God knows what Mulgoff will have you wearing. I saw the fucking blue diamond sitting against the deep cleavage of your breasts and so did a shit load of other men. You’re part of me. Part of us, and you belong to us, no one else. It pisses me off to think about you showing off this body and wearing some expensive jewelry while men check you out, not the gems.”
“I love you, Rome. If it upsets you this much then I’ll make it the last time.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want you happy, and aroused, not angry and grumpy,” she teased and lifted up on tiptoes and kissed his chin. He slid his hand along her ass and hip and suckled against her neck.
“Now make me happy and learn how to shoot a gun.”
She stepped back and he could see her hands shaking.
“Nice and steady. The safety lock is on. Just lift it up and get a feel for it and then point toward the target,” he told her.
She lifted it up and gripped it. “It’s heavy.”
“It’s an easy one to shoot and handle. When you get better and more comfortable I’ll buy you a lighter one.”
“I won’t need my own. I won’t ever be shooting one other than today,” she said to him.
He placed his hands on her hips and stood behind her. “I’m going to put on these ear protectors. It will be hard to hear me so I’ll tap your waist to shoot.” He placed the safety head and ear covers on her and then put ones on himself, too. He had already gone over the safety and how to shoot the gun before she actually picked it up. Hopefully she remembered the rules.
He reached out and clicked off the safety. “The safety is off. Point, aim, and pull the trigger,” he said to her and lowered his arms. She re-gripped the gun and he gave her hip a tap. She shot it.
He gave her hip a tap again and she shot again. He tapped her hip and she continued to shoot.
“How did I do?” she asked, swinging around with the gun and he grabbed her arm and pointed it down and onto the counter.
“Jesus, Rose, remember about safety? Don’t point it at anything unless you’re planning on shooting it. Shit,” he scolded and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and let go of the gun. He grabbed it and put on the safety then looked at the target.
“I’ll be damned. Look at that shit,” he said and she smiled wide, pulling off the protective gear.
“You shot that gun perfectly. You’re a natural.”
“More like beginner’s luck. Well, see ya later,” she said and went to walk away but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close.
“Oh, no way, baby. You wait for me.” He kissed along her neck and ran his hands up under her sweater, cupping her breasts. She moaned into his mouth and he lifted her up so she straddled his waist. “Let’s grab the stuff and head inside. You got me locked, loaded, and ready,” he said and she chuckled.