He smiled. “I’m glad he’s making me do things the hard way,” he continued in a calm, almost soothing voice. “He deserves exactly what comes next.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I said nothing. Instead, I pressed my lips to the center of his chest, right over his heart, and held him tight. If he needed comfort, I would give it. Now. Forever.
I wasn’t sure what came next, not exactly, but tonight in this moment? It was ours.
And for now, that was enough.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Vandal
Demon Head Guns wasn’t loud the way a bar was loud. It had a different kind of noise, the kind that was controlled and purposeful. There was the muted thump of shots from the other side of the range alleys and the metallic clack of magazines being ejected. The alleys inside were filled with the low murmur of men talking like they understood that sound carried, and the raucous roars of those who didn’t give a shit.
The second we stepped inside I felt Macy’s hand tighten around mine. She wasn’t panicked, not yet, just ready and bracing for the next step.
Her eyes tracked every detail from the display cases of handguns and rifles, the walls lined with ammo, the heavy range door in the back, the outdoor range just outside the large windows, and the cameras in the corners.
She noted it all. The people, the exits and the sounds. She wasn’t looking for trouble. She just wanted to make sure she recognized the shape of it in a place where the weapons were on display.
“You okay?” I asked.
She nodded too fast. “Yeah,” she sighed. “I’m fine.”
I smiled to myself because I knew her too damn well. That particularI’m finemeant she was keeping it to herself becauseshe didn’t want to be a problem. “Figured you might want to get out of the clubhouse for a few hours. New walls and fresh air.”
The tension eased from her small frame just enough that she was able to let out a full breath. “I was starting to feel like a caged animal.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Me too. Lockdown is worse.”
She swallowed hard. “You meanthatwasn’t lockdown?”
I shook my head, ready to explain the difference when a familiar voice called out.
“Look who finally came up for air.” Hades, one of our prospects, laughed, grinning when I shot him the finger. “Guess you decided to let off some steam?” His gaze flicked to Macy, at least three questions swimming in his eyes.
“Something like that,” I answered. “Got any open alleys? Private preferably.”
“Just one,” Maverick answered when he emerged from the back, cleaning his hands on an old red rag. “All the gear?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. My plan for the day was to make Macy feel better and if not better, maybe just a little safer.
Maverick and Hades worked together to get ear and eye protection, enough guns and ammo to get us through a couple hours. “Here you go. Have fun and be safe.”
“Thanks,” Macy said quietly and then followed me past all the occupied alleys until we made it to the last one. It was private so she wouldn’t be distracted—or scared—by other people with guns being so close. The heavy door shut behind us, and it was damn near silent. She wrapped her arms around her waist and sighed heavily.
“Breathe, Mace. You’re in good hands, I promise.” I winked when she arched a brow my way.
“Didn’t realizethat’swhat we’re here for.”
I laughed, relaxing to see she wasn’t just a big fucking ball of fear. “You never know.”
She tightened her grip around her waist and looked around the room with wide, terrified eyes. “I think I might be too jumpy for a firearm.”
I laughed out loud at her blunt honesty. “Well that’s because you’re jumpy as fuck right now. You gotta get comfortable with it.”
“Oh, is that all?” she asked sarcastically.
“Yep. You won’t always be so jumpy and if you don’t believe now, that’s okay. I believe it enough for both of us.”
