Page 58 of Vipers & Roses

“Your explanation doesn’t cut, either,” Cormac states as I detect a hint of hurt behind his eyes, and guilt burrows its way into my conscience.

“I had a bad day and need to let off steam.” I don’t remember driving to the shooting club, but I do remember taking the Glock from the bottom drawer and placing it in my bag with the intention of driving over to Lyons house and killing him. Somewhere from when I left my apartment to when I left the parking garage, I decided to practice at the range first to give me courage, and then I was going to head out to Lyons house in the affluent suburbs. Upon reflection, I’m glad Blake stopped me because I was riding on rage from being threatened by the obviously paid messengers. I shudder, thinking about that moment as my stomach stirs a little in nausea.

“How bad?” Cormac pursues, relinquishing to drop the subject because I haven’t given him enough to be satisfied.

My chest tightens as I make up all sorts of fake scenarios to tell him, but none come close to the truth. So, I decide to tell them the truth, well, part of the truth. “Two men…” I confess, “Um, as I was walking to my car in the parking garage beneath my apartment block, um,” I breathe as rage storms through every cell in my body.

“You were jumped?” Blake cuts in, furrowing his brow.

“Fuck, Rae, why didn’t you say something?” Cormac seethes. “What did they do?”

“Threaten me. I think they confused me with someone else. Anyway, there was a woman from my building who had been stalked and attacked in the parking garage, so I wonder if it was them,” I lie.

“Did you go to the police about them?” Naturally, it’s Cormac who asks this.

“No. There’s no point. They didn’t touch me,” I lie again. “They were just trying to scare me, I think. You know, a lone woman in the dark…the usual scenario.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Anyway, I don’t want to make a big deal.”

There are several moments of silence during which the men seem to reflect on what I was saying, and Blake breaks the bubble first. “Got a description?” His tone sends a shiver down my spine. He seems a world away from his usual likable, charming character.

“No, it was quite dark, so I didn’t see them clearly. I guess two guys in their thirties, wearing sweats with a thuggish demeanor,” I tell him.

“So, you decided to offload your anger at the shooting range?” Cormac clarifies, “Instead of talking to me.”

I cringe. “I’m not looking for a hero, Cormac. Besides, you’ve got enough on your plate with the Nationals coming up.”

“Fuck the Nationals, Rae. Human life is more important-”

“You’ve only just met me,” I interrupt his argument. “How do you know I’m worth ruining your career over?”

“I know,” Cormac says with stealthy confidence that I cannot fathom. “And life goes on beyond swim training and gold medals.”

Blake leans back in his chair, folds his arms across his chest, and starts bumping his knee irritably. Cormac glances in his direction. “Spill, Thorn,” he encourages as Blake chews on the inside of his mouth as if something is eating away at him.

“I’m calling horseshit,” he finally states, watching me closely, and my cheeks burn from being caught out on a lie. “There’s something you’re not telling us, but that’s okay because I know you don’t trust us yet.”

Cormac addresses Blake, “Are you saying her story came out of thin air?”

“No, I’m saying that she’s hiding her reason for purchasing the gun, and I’ll tell you right now, the look on her face when she shoots that gun.” His eyes never leave my face as he answers Cormac. “This girl here,” nodding towards me, “has got revenge on her mind.”

“That's ridiculous,” I argue, sipping my beer to cool the fire burning inside me.

Blake graces me with one of his lady-killer smiles. “I saw the look in your eyes, Rae. That’s the only evidence I need to know that you’ve got plans, and I hope those plans don’t involve doing something you might regret.”

“I don’t think you’re in a position to judge someone else’s moral compass,” I bite, lowering my head to glare at him under my eyelashes, hoping he’d get the message loud and clear before I blurt his little secret.

That smile of his stretches wider, entertained by my temper. “Maybe you should just eat that pizza I made with tender loving care.”

“Why, have you put a date rape drug in it?” I’m half joking, but how well do I know these guys?

“Holy hell, Rae, where are you getting this attitude from?” Blake crows, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table. “That is not how we roll, sweetheart.”

“Here,” Cormac grabs a slice, takes a large bite, and chews. Let me be the queen’s food taster. If I happen to fall asleep right here, drugged out, you’re welcome to take advantage of me.”

“Eat mine instead,” I challenge him, flaring my nostrils heatedly.

“Sure,” he says, folding my slice in half and shoveling it into his mouth. Then, he brushes the crumbs from his hands. “Is this Bernardi sauce?”

That’s the only recipe I use now,” Blake states, shoving a bite of pizza in his mouth. “See what you’re missing out on, Rae. Grandma Bernardi’s ancient Italian tomato sauce recipe.”

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