Falling for the Killer

“Amazing, right?”

She nodded and laughed again. “I love it,” she said.

“Bet you’ve never been in a place like this before.”

She gave me a look. “I went to college, you know. We did some crazy stuff back then.”

“I bet you did.” I grinned and steered her over to the bar. The place was empty except for Maud, the owner. She stood back near the register, counting bills and polishing glasses. She glanced over as we approached and she frowned, which was basically a smile, coming from her.

“Ah, shit,” Maud said. “Trouble.”

“Maud, this is Ash,” I said. “She’s the new girl. You’ll see her a lot, I think. Ash, meet Maud, the sharpest, oldest battle-axe I know.”

“Dick,” Maud said and held out a wet hand for Ash. “Nice to meet you, new girl.”

Ash shook it and grinned back. “Nice to meet you as well.”

Maud grunted and went back to polishing. “What can I do for you, Gian? Got to say, it’s never a good thing when you walk in that door.”

“Oh, please,” I said. “You love my visits. I spread good cheer and bring wonderful tidings.”

“You come and take my money away,” Maud grumbled. “That why you’re here, running a collection?”

“Actually, I have a present.” I took a wad of bills from my pocket and tossed them onto the bar. Maud’s eyebrows rose and she looked at me.

“The hell’s this?” she asked.

“Closing out some tabs,” I said. “Spread it out however you want.”

She laughed sharply and took the cash. “Did you know he does this?” she asked, looking at Ash. “I bet he only does it when a girl’s around, though. Especially a pretty one like you.”

“Thanks, I think,” Ash said, and shook her head. “But I have no clue what’s happening.”

“Call it charity,” I said. “When I get a little windfall, I like to come to my local bars and cover some tabs. It’s like winning the lottery for everyone.”

“More like helping drunks stay drunk, but hell, people love you for it.” Maud shoved the cash into her drawer. “Not like I’m complaining.”

“Do you do that a lot?” Ash asked me.

“Once a month or so,” I said, shrugging. “Good way to keep the people happy. I like to take care of my neighborhoods.”

“He likes to be liked,” Maud said. “Don’t let his good looks fool you.”

“I’m not fooled,” Ash said, smiling at me a little bit, and I think it was the first genuine smile of the day. “But he’s not so bad underneath it all.”

“I’m a stone-cold killer, girl,” I said, “and don’t you forget it.”

She grinned and Maud rolled her eyes. “You’re such a ham,” Maud said. “I don’t know how anyone buys your shit.”

“They don’t,” Ash said. “I know he’s full of it, but it’s funny to watch him try.”

I laughed even if the joke was at my expense. Whatever made Ash happy right now was fine with me. I wanted the mother of my unborn child in the best mood possible—stress could complicate the pregnancy.

Not that I could avoid all stress for her, but I could do my best.

“Good seeing you, Maud,” I said, and began back toward the door. “Collection’s on Friday. I’ll send Stefano.”

“Tell that little dickhead that he owes me,” Maud said. “You wanna cover a tab? You cover his fucking tab.”

“Stefano can pay his own bills,” I said. “Don’t let him snake his way out of it, either. And don’t let him pay in my money.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Maud said, waving at me. “You have a great day, asshole.”

I grinned and waved back. Ash left with me, and we stepped from the dim biker bar out onto the street.

Something struck me as odd right away. There’d been cars parked out front when we went inside, but the street was suddenly clear. A black SUV rolled down toward us, and as it approached, the windows lowered.

It was like instinct. Something deep inside reacted, like an animal that could smell a hurricane coming. I threw myself on top of Ash, knocking her to the ground an instant before the gunshots started.

They blared like wildfire, like lightning striking the ground all around us. I pinned her to the concrete and covered her as the bullets sprayed. I growled in pain as one hit me in the shoulder, and shrapnel pinged off the wall nearby. Ash screamed below me, but I knew she was okay— she had to be okay— when the door to Maud’s bar burst open, and the old lady appeared with a shotgun in her hands.

She blasted the SUV twice. Huge dents appeared in its side as she screamed incoherently. The gunshots ceased and the SUV peeled off as it drove away, flying wildly down the street.

I rolled to the side, sucked in short breaths of air, then grabbed at Ash. “Aer you okay?” I asked.