Page 21 of Lady Killer

If that’s how it’s gonna be, partner, then that’s how it’s gonna be . . . Draw on the count of four . . .

“While I appreciate your commitment to whatever superfluous role you believe might be required of you, I would remind you that I am not required to entertain Miss Torres’s presence in my classroom if it disrupts her classmates. . .”

One . . .

Luz clawed her way even deeper into my thigh.

“Everest,” she whispered, and I could feel her eyes burrowing into my skull, begging me to look at her.

Just hold on,darling.

Two . . .

Locke continued to belabor his point, his confidence growing with each word as he assumed what felt like control of the exchange between us.

As if he could threaten Starbright in front of me and not reap the consequences.

Three . . .

“ . . . so unless you would like your charge to be dismissed from this course, I would suggest you compose yourself.”

Draw!

Faster than lightning, I jumped to stand and unholstered my girls.

Thelma and Louise came out guns a’blazing. Locke never even got the chance to pop off a single shot.

“Pew, pew, pew, pew!”

Four perfect finger blasters, straight to the chest.

Locke’s mouth hung open as I blew the smoke off my guns and re-holstered them.

The girls did good.

The entire class was silent as I tipped my imaginary cowboy hat to him and sat back down in my seat, giving Luz a quick wink and a click of my tongue. “You like that, little lady?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she said, disbelief written all over her face.

“Clinical, morally, or socially?”

“Mr. Collins, I am going to have to ask to you leave,” Locke boomed, having found his voice again.

I cracked my neck from side to side and stretched out my knuckles.

Looks like we’re headed to round two . . .

Before I could do anything, Luz grabbed me by the arm and stood up. “We were just leaving, Professor Blackwell, my apologies.”

Well, I didn’t like that at all.

If anyone should be apologizing here, it was Locke for making her feel unwelcome. . . and for being such a piss-poor sport when it came to finger duels.

“Not a word,” she cut out under her breath as she dragged me down the aisle with a strength that I wouldn’t have guessed her capable of.

She should really consider some more physical training as well . . .

“You know, if you wanted to get me alone, my darling, all you had to do was ask,” I said as we made our way out of the class, giving Locke the old two-finger salute as we stepped out the door.

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