Passing the Torch (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 1)

Okay. Well. Uh? “Do you have a dog?” Maybe he was bringing it in to be groomed, though I didn’t know where he had put the dog since he drove his bike here.

Hero shook his head again. “Haven’t had a dog for a few years. Mom and Dad had one for a while, but he passed away a couple of months ago.”

My heart dropped at the sadness of losing a pet. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Hero shrugged. “He was old and lived a damn good life. Mom fed him chicken and rice every day, and Dad took him everywhere with him.”

If only everyone could be that good with their pets then I wouldn’t have to cry when that horribly sad commercial came on for the ASPCA. Broke my damn heart every time. “That’s nice.” I looked at the shop and back at him. “So, uh, why are you here, then?”

Might as well get right to it. I had a full day of baths and cuts today and was already running a little behind.

A truck pulled into the lot and parked next to Hero.

Hero nodded to the truck. “I’m here for him.”

Uh, okay? I looked at the side of the truck. Nelson Lock and Key. That still didn’t help me figure out what the hell Hero was doing.

“Hero!” the man in the truck rolled down his window and called. “This the place?” he asked.

Hero gave him a thumbs up. “Sure is. You’re right on time, too.”

Time for what? Did Hero lose the key to his bike or something? I timidly raised my hand. “Uh, can someone clue me in on what’s going on?”

Hero tipped his head to the front door of the shop. “New door and locks, Sunshine.”

I tilted my head to the side and pointed to the door. “My door? That door? The door?” When would I stop sounding so stupid?

“Yes, yes, and yes.” Hero pushed off the bike and stepped toward me. “That door is shit, Sunshine. Anyone could break in if they had half a mind.”

“Who would break into a dog groomers? They're gonna steal my good clippers or something?”

Hero laughed and shook his head. “Well, now that wasn’t what I was thinking, but sure, if they’re expensive.”

“No one is going to break in, Hero.”

Hero nodded to the guy who had gotten out of his truck. “Tim drove all the way over here, and now, you’re just going to send him away?”

“Well…I didn’t… You…” I sputtered. “There isn’t anything truly wrong with the door.” So it stuck a little bit when I tried to lock it. Not really a big deal. And it really only happened when it started to warm up. During the winter, it worked perfectly.

“How about you just open the door and you let him have a look at it?” Hero suggested. “Just looking, no touching,” he promised.

I tipped my head to the side. “Really?”

Hero held up his hands. “Scout’s honor, Sunshine.”

I fished in my purse for the shop key. “Something tells me you are far from a boy scout, Hero,” I muttered under my breath. I stomped over to the door, shoved in the key, and twisted it. Well, I tried to twist it, but it didn’t budge. I moved to block the view of Hero and the door guy and put one hand on the door to push it in while I tried to twist the key again.

“You having a moment with the door, Sunshine? Should we give you two a minute?”

I growled and gave the key a hard twist. It finally budged and unlocked. I tried to yank the key out, but it was now stuck inside. “For Pete’s sake,” I grumbled. I turned around and slapped a smile on my face. “Perhaps the door could use a little lookie lou seeing as it’s refusing to give me back my key.” A gave a small bow to Hero then twisted back around to open the door. I strutted in without a backward glance.

Hero’s rich laugh followed me until the door closed behind me.

“Well,” I muttered, “that was embarrassing. Nothing new when it comes to Hero being around.”

“You talking to yourself now, Sunshine?”

I whirled around and clutched my hand to my chest. “Sweet Jesus, man. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to sneak up on people? They should call you Speedy, not Hero.”