Page 9 of Zane

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While we eat,we catch up on all the things we’ve been doing since I moved across town. Like all old friends, time hasn’t eroded our bond. We laugh and laugh and laugh. I had no idea how locked away and bitter I had become. But watching her laughing and snorting at my antics and jokes, takes me to a place of peacefulness, and I can’t believe how human I feelagain.

When the pizza is devoured, she raises her beer and toasts us. "Here is to correcting the wrongs in life,Zane."

I touch her bottle at the neck with mine and say, "Hear. Hear, Laura." After we drink that toast, I offer one of my own. "Here is toBFF’s."

Her eyebrows raise in surprise and she grins. "Best FriendsForever?"

"Well, that too, but I was thinking more like becoming fuckingfriends."

She dies laughing and says, "Spoken like the badass I remember." She clinks the neck of her bottle against mine, and with her eyes shining brightly as the stars, she says just before her lips pucker over the head, making cock rise up with expectations of a Christmas filled with magic. "Here’s toboth."

As we drink the toast, the door to the pizza joint opens and the little jingle bells hanging on the handle ring out. I hear Blake call from the back. "Merry Christmas to you, but I’m sorry. It’s past closing and I’m shutting down theovens."

As I lower my beer, I look to see who walked in this late at night and the hair on the back of my neck stands straight up. A rush of adrenaline kicks me in the ass, but my training takes over, and I set my drink down quietly. Turning calmly to face Laura, I hear hers clank roughly against the table as it slips from her fingers. She looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her eyes are open wide. She’s scared shitless. I cut my eyes back to the four men who are wearing all black and have hoodies covering their heads and at least one has aweapon.

Luckily, they haven’t heard or seen us. The dim light and corner booth are to our advantage. Immediately, I move to shield her, wrapping my arms around her trembling body. I lean down to whisper in her ear, "Shhh. Lay down." Then I force her over backward and lay on top of her. Keeping her from moving and drawing their attention, I pull my gun out of my waistband. I feel her arms slip around me and she squeezes me tight in a hug that holds me secure while I myself. I lift my face to look into hers. She gives me a sweet peck and a wink and the look in her eyes blows me away, she knows her life is in my hands and she trusts me with it. Knowing how dangerous this situation is, yet knowing how important her trust is to me, my mouth covers hers and I give her a kiss filled with a tongue that tastes all of her and promises to take care of her while I listen to what the thugs aresaying.

They are discussing how much cash could be in the back office in the safe. Knowing I can’t let them get that far inside, I let her lips go, give her the same reassuring wink she gave me and she smiles. She knows that she means more to me than anyone else ever has and I will do whatever it takes to protect her. What we had as children was magical and what we can have as adults can be too. I was teasing her about becoming fucking friends, but I meant it! She is my best friend and I want herforever.

I flip the safety off my gun and put my fingers to her lips. She nods, opens her arms, and lays quiet on the seat under me. I roll off her and crouch down behind the booth. When I lift my head and peek around it, the thugs have advanced to thecounter.

Blake calls from inside the kitchen. "We’re closing early for Christmas. I’m not takingorders."

"Come out, old man. We don’t want your pizza, but we do want your dough." The tall one in the back calls out, and the otherslaugh.

I can tell from the slight slur in his speech that he’s either drunk or high. The man in front reaches up and scratches his arm at the bend of his elbow and I know he, at least, is needing a heroin fix. Chances are they are allstoned.

Blake is quiet in the kitchen. I know he keeps a shotgun in the back office for just this sort of thing, but I’m concerned. Bruce Wayne will need to turn into Batman to get the perp, but giving his command from this distance and without the proper hand signal, I don’t want him turning on Blake instead. Dogs, like humans, are either born with a hero mode or they are not. Although he never flinched in training and I know he will respond to my command, in this situation he needs to help identify the real bad guy. Hopefully, the hambone will have left no doubt who he is supposed toattack.

I start to stand but freeze. Blake looms in the door with his apron on, but thankfully, no gun is visible. "I’m closed. You boys need toleave."

"Not without a Christmaspresent."

"I’m fresh out of gifts," Blakesays.

"Surprise us then," he says and waves his gun at the cash register. Apparently, he is the only one packing heat. That’sgood.

"Merry Christmas then," Blake laughs and stepsaside.

Batman stands behind him growling with a heavy stream of drool dripping off his fangs. His lips are curled all the way up and he looks ferocious. There is no doubt he will attack them. Hero he isthen.

"HOLYFUCK!"

They all scream and panic ensues. Two of them immediately bolt for the door, one falls down on his knees in fear for his life and face plants on the ground, whimpering, covering his head, but the leader raises hisgun.

EVERYTHING GRINDS INTO SLOWMOTION.

The leader aims his gun right atBatman.

I command Batman softly, but firmly. "Get themaggot!"

Blake pulls a shotgun out from behind hisback.

Batman leaps, clearing thebarrier.

I jump to my feet and scream at the top of mylungs.

"BAH HUMBUG,MOTHERFUCKER!"

The sound of gunfire fills the little pizzaparlor.

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