Page 34 of Thor
I tried to wrap my head around that.
Someone wanted Thor dead.My Thor.
I looked at the pictures on my phone.They were blurry, and at that distance I couldn’t make out any details but maybe someone with better tech skills could blow it up enough to recognize the shooter.
Thor lowered the kickstand with a little more force than necessary before sliding off the bike and stalking to the door.I backed up to let him in, and then threw my arms around him, burying my face in his shoulder so he wouldn’t see how close I was to freaking out.His arms came round me and his head rested on top of mine, enclosing me in his solid presence.
Yeah.I loved him.I could admit it to myself, but I wasn’t ready to say the words out loud.Not until I was sure I wasn’t the reason he was in danger.
Other than being really angry, he appeared to be safe.He held me tight for a few minutes.“I’m fine, just fucking pissed.I could see the fucker plain as day.Had him in my sights.If I’d had my damn rifle I could have ended this right here.”
“They’d just send someone else.”
“I know.”He snorted.“Assholes.Whoever is after me is too damn cowardly to show their face.Hiring someone else to do their dirty work.”
I remembered my phone and lifted my head to look up at him.“I have pictures.Not good ones but maybe someone can make something out of them.Maybe trace the sniper back to whoever hired him.”
“Pictures?”
“Yeah.On my phone.Of the guy with the gun.”I pulled my phone out and turned it on, pulling up the photo app and scrolling to the last few images.“See?”
Thor took the phone from me and squinted at the screen thoughtfully.“Shadow might be able to do something with that.He’s a fucking magician with this kind of shit.Okay if I send them to him?”
I nodded, and he keyed in Shadow’s info and hit SEND before handing it back to me.“I need to let Ace know about this.”He pulled out his own phone, and it lit up with an incoming call before he had a chance to do anything.A wry smile curved the corners of his mouth.He hit accept and held the phone up to his ear.“Yeah, Ace?”
I attempted to slip out of his grasp so he could talk to his Prez privately, but he tightened his arm around me.The conversation was short.Ace had been with Shadow when the pictures came through.Thor explained what had gone down.I could hear Ace, plain as day as he barked out the order for Thor to get our asses back to the compound ASAP.The call disconnected, and Thor pocketed his phone.
He let out a deep breath.“You heard?”
“Yeah.”
“You okay with it?Prez will likely want both of us to stay at the clubhouse until this is over.”
I nodded.“Whatever it takes.I want this over too.I don’t have to be out of my other place till the end of the month, and it’s probably not a good idea to open the store until this is over.”The last few glorious nights flashed through my mind.“And I’ve already brought over enough clothes and things here for a few days.I can pack them up to go.”
“Thank you,” he said softly.“I know you’re still on the fence about the whole old lady thing, so this means a lot to me.”
I didn’t have an answer for that, so I kept quiet.Now was not the time to bring up my family connections.Soon, though.
I went to pull away so I could go pack, but he grabbed my hand and drew me back into the circle of his arms.Sliding his fingers through my hair, he tugged my head back and seared a sizzling kiss across my lips.
When he lifted his head, he looked calmer.“Let me check outside first and make sure the coast is clear.Just grab what you need.I can send a prospect back to get anything you miss.I’ll lock up down here.”
I took a deep breath and nodded.
Thor pulled out his gun and checked to make sure it was loaded.I’d never seen him do that before.He’d always made a point of shielding me from the rougher parts of his life.Motioning me to stay back, he sidled up to the door and slid outside in one fluid move.
Suddenly, he wasn’t the comforting, loveable guy I knew.He looked tough.Dangerous.Every bit an ex-SEAL turned bad-assed biker.I suppose it should have scared me, but it just made me realize anyone who thought he was an easy target was in for a surprise.
I just hoped they weren’t related to me.
* * *
Thor
This shit had to stop.There was no longer any doubt.I was the target.Not like it was the first time, but now I had Janet to worry about, and I’d be damned if I’d let her end up as collateral damage.
I prowled the perimeter of the building and parking area.I couldn’t see any visible threats, so I waved Janet out, sweeping the rooftops around us with my gaze as she made the run from the side door and up to the apartment.I backed into the stairwell and kept watch, gun at the ready.
