Batting it away, I throw up my hands in defense. “Just sayin’ Claire’s right.Smoke.Show.”
“Wait,” Noia jumps in. “So that means if Logan moves back to Lakeside like you said, Reyna would be working with him. Am I right?”
Reyna blinks, looking confused. “Logan.” Her forehead scrunches up. “Wait, are you talking about Logan Cade?”
“Yeah,” Lizzy answers. “He’s training for the Captain’s position at Lakeside Fire Search and Rescue.”
“I’ve heard rumors there’s going to be a new Captain in the next couple of months,” Reyna says thoughtfully. “No one knows who it is yet, though. I’ve heard stories about Logan. He’s done some pretty dangerous rescues.”
“Yup. My brother is a real-life action hero. But don’t tell him I said that. He hates it.”
“Most heroes do. I’ve never met him, just heard stories.”
“Well, you’ll get your chance next weekend,” I add. “If you want, we can fix it so you can volunteer with him. Meet him before anyone else from Lakeside Fire.”
“I mean, if there’s a chance we’ll be working together, it might be a good idea to get to know him. On a professional level, I mean.”
While Reyna focuses on stabbing at her salad, I exchange maniacal grins with my friends. “Sure. Professional all the way.”
thirty-six
My bicepsand shoulders hum with power as I lift the axe over my head and throw.
Bullseye!
“Damn,” Ryder huffs, clearly both put off and impressed as he watches my axe hit the target. “You know, most normal people go running or go a few rounds with a punching bag when they’re pissed off.”
I roll my shoulders, feeling some of the tension in my gut finally start to ease after an hour of hurling sharpened steel. “Yeah, well, you know I’m not normal people.”
Stepping up to the line, Ryder squares his stance as he prepares to throw. “So, you gonna tell me what’s got you so worked up, or am I supposed to guess?”
He launches his axe, landing just left of center with a satisfying thunk. “Got an update from Dylan. Looks like the Triple Six goons could be heading this way. He traced the burner phone to somewhere in southern California.”
“Shit.” Ryder’s expression darkens as he yanks his axe from the target. “That’s unnerving as shit.”
“Tell me about it.” Tightening my grip, I step back to the throwing line.
“What the hell would a fitness guru want with the mafia, anyway?” he asks, wiping sweat from his brow.
I adjust my stance, testing the weight of the axe. “Dylan thinks Ryan is trying to sell them his half of the business in order to get out from under the debt he owes them.”
“That makes no fucking sense. Why would a Vegas crime family want to own part of a fitness chain?”
“Money laundering?” I shrug before launching the axe again. It hits just above the bullseye. “Hell if I know. But the problem he keeps running into is that Sasha has first say. And there’s no way in hell she’d ever to sell to them.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“It took some convincing, but she’s going to stay with me until this all blows over.” I grab my beer off the small table behind us and take a long pull. “She’s not too happy about it, though.”
“No surprise there,” Ryder snorts.
“Yep, stubborn as hell,” I agree, unable to keep the affection out of my voice.
Ryder gives me a knowing look. “And you’re just doing this out of the goodness of your heart, right? Nothing to do with how you want to keep fucking her?”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, man.” He throws his axe, hitting dead center again. “I’ve known you for over a decade. I’ve seen you with plenty of women, and not one of them has ever gotten under your skin like she does.”
