Page 30 of Talon
“Back on topic,” Lurch said.“Do you know where he keeps them?Or his pistols?”
“The rifles are in his home.He keeps the 30-06 over the door unless he’s hunting something.He calls it his security system.I’m not sure where the others are, other than inside his place.Same with the pistols, except for his 9mm.That he keeps in his truck.”
“Good to know,” Ghost said with a node.“What about you?Do you carry?Can you shoot?”
“I can.”She nodded.“And I don’t carry often because I can’t at work.I do keep a pistol in my truck though.”
“She also has pistols stashed around her apartment so she can get to one quickly if something happens,” Talon piped up behind her.
She turned and scowled at him.She didn’t like telling people about her pistols.It made her feel paranoid, plus, the best defense was surprise and telling too many people meant that element of surprise was all too easily lost.
“They need to know so we can make sure you’re safe,” Talon said with a shrug.
“Hot damn.You found a good one,” Malice hooted.“How well do you shoot?”He turned his gaze to her.
“With a pistol or a rifle?”she asked with a frown as she wasn’t sure what they were looking for.
“Give me the pistol first.”Malice watched her with one lifted brow as if he was challenging her to impress him.
She didn’t know that she would, but she wasn’t going to lie in order to look better to this group.
“Depends on the pistol, how well it’s sighted in and how familiar I am with it, but with my .38, I can hit what I’m aiming at, as long as they’re close.As in under ten feet.With either of my .45s I can hit a grouping the size of a baseball at ten yards.”
“What’s your .38?”Ghost asked.
“It’s a snub nose revolver.My dad always called it a hideaway piece.The whole thing isn’t much bigger than my palm.”She held her hand out, palm up to show how big it was.
“Did you bring anything with you?”Lurch asked.
Madison looked up, meeting his gaze but kept her mouth shut.Her father had taught her well that the best way to use a weapon was to have surprise on your side.Telling this room full of people that she had a .45 in the backpack she’d packed that morning went against that.
But Talon kept telling her she could trust them.Still.It was harder than she’d ever thought to break past her father’s voice echoing in her head.
Talon squeezed her shoulder.“You can tell him.”His voice was soft behind her.
“But it’s not just him.It’s everyone here.”Her words were barely more than a whisper.
“If you’re worried that we’ll take it away, you can relax.I’m not looking to disarm you.I just want to know what’s on the property and if we should give you one to carry while you’re here.I want you able to defend yourself, should you feel you need to.”
Relief washed through her.She didn’t know for sure that was what had worried her but knowing they were more likely to give her a weapon than take her pistol away, made her feel much better.
She looked down at her hands for the span of a few seconds before looking up and meeting Lurch’s gaze.
“I have one of my .45s in my backpack.”
“Is there a reason you’re not carrying?”
“I’m not allowed to carry at work.I’m afraid I’ll get fired and I need my job.”
“But you’re not at work now,” Ghost put in.
“But we came straight from there.He picked me up and we hit the road.”She tilted the top of her head toward Talon, hoping they would know what she meant.
Ghost scowled.“And you didn’t put it on as soon as you walked out?”
Her face heated.“I didn’t know how anyone would take it if I were carrying.I didn’t want to upset any of you.”
Behind her she felt Talon’s hands shift on her shoulders and heard him moving.She didn’t know what he was doing but for him to bend and whisper in her ear was probably the last thing.
