Page 48 of Ace

“Like this?”She automatically checked to make sure the safety was on, and the gun was empty when I handed it to her.She was going to be a natural.

She looked down at the rifle.“This isn’t a semi-auto kind of gun.How do I get the cartridges from the magazine to the chamber?”

I explained the lever action, making sure to warn her not to get hit by the spent shell being ejected, watching as she chambered the first round.

“Yup.You got it.”Not that I ever wanted her to be in the position to have to use it, but being able to defend herself would make both of us feel better.

I stood behind her as she took a stance and aimed.“Squeeze slowly, don’t jerk the trigger.”

“The twins already told me that.”She placed her finger on the trigger and took the first shot.

“Shit!”She lowered the muzzle toward the ground and shrugged her shoulder.The Winchester had a harder kick to it than the twenty-two she’d been using the day before.“You could have warned me.”

“Sorry.”I stepped up to massage her shoulder.“Didn’t think about it.You snugged it up like a pro.”

She rolled her eyes.“Nice try.You’re going to pay for that later.”

“Hope so.”I grinned at her.

“One track mind!”Stepping back up to the firing line, she readied herself to give it another try.She worked her way through the remaining rounds in the magazine before stepping back.

I was proud of the way she’d handled the changes in her life.They’d come fast and hard, and instead of constantly whining or complaining she just adjusted.

“I didn’t hit the bullseye a single time.”She glared at the rifle as if it were somehow to blame.

“You hit the target though, and that’s good enough.”I dropped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close to drop a quick kiss on her lips.“If you’re shooting at someone, that’s enough to scare them, even if you don’t injure them.Aim for the chest.It’s your best option.I want you to keep this rifle by your side while I’m gone.You take it wherever you go.Always within hand reach.Understand?”

She nodded, a frown marring the perfection of her forehead.“Okay.I will.”

“Promise,” I insisted.“I want you to keep it handy, and have it loaded.These guys are fucking nasty, and I won’t rest easy until I know they’ve been cancelled.”

She nodded, more firmly this time.“I will.I promise.”

The sound of motorcycle engines echoed loudly in the distance, increasing in volume as they roared up the driveway.I cocked my head, and heard the creak of the gate as the prospects opened it to let them enter.

Deuce and Preacher were back.The mission was a go for daybreak.

* * *

Emma

“It’s time.”

Ace wrapped his arms around me, devouring my lips in a kiss that seared me to the very bottom of my soul.I wanted to hang on to him, keep him with me, tell him not to go.I’d just found him, just discovered how much I could care about someone if I let myself.And now he was leaving and might not come back.It wasn’t fair.

I fought back the tears that wanted to spill from my eyes.I had to be brave.For him.Ace.I didn’t want his last sight of me to be a hot mess of tears and red-rimmed eyes.

I let myself melt into the kiss, firmly refusing to dwell on the what ifs.After too short a time, Ace put his hands on my shoulders and lifted his head.

“I will be back.I promise.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can.I’ve just found you and nothing is going to keep me away from you.”

I wished I could believe him.

He let me go and slung a leg over his motorcycle.Lifting his arm, he signaled to the rest of the Riptide gang and a feeling of total loss swept through me as he rode away, his red taillights disappearing into the horizon.Then, one by one, the rest of the crew roared off down the driveway and out of sight.

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