Page 33 of The Primary Pest
“Who was that?” asked Dmytro.
“The owner’s son. Like I said, he’s an EMT, but he won’t think anything of me calling this late. He probably figures he’ll have to unblock a toilet.” She leaned closer and indicated Dmytro and Bartosz with her eyes. “They’re not kidnapping you or anything?”
“It’s nothing like that,” he assured her. “They’re security. It’s their job to keep me safe.”
Her eyes widened. “Because of your stalker? You need two bodyguards?”
He nodded. “I acted like a dick, and someone took it personally.”
She seemed surprised by that. “You didn’t act like a dick tonight.”
“Online,” he corrected. “Mostly I act like a dick online. I’m what you’d call a squeaky wheel.”
“What does that mean?”
“I like attention.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “Just ask my parents. If I’m not getting enough attention, I generally do something outrageous. This time it came back to bite me in the ass.”
“That’s pretty self-aware.”
“I’ve been me for a while now.” He smiled faintly while Dmytro looked right through him. “What?”
Dmytro shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m going to end up killing you myself.”
“Sure he’s not your dad?” Muse asked. “He sounds like a dad.”
Ajax blinked. “Notmydad.”
“Come.” Bartosz had gotten the office door open. Now he waved them inside.
“You go,” Ajax ordered Dmytro. “I stay with Muse.”
Dmytro sighed. “I know this might be a novel concept, but as your security detail, we’ll need to keep you with us.”
“We already had this conversation. The robbery has nothing to do with me, and I’m not leaving until I know Muse is with someone who will take care of her. She could be injured badly. She could black out, have a seizure—”
“Oh, don’t I know it.” Dmytro cursed fluently. At least, that’s what it sounded like. He motioned Bartosz back into the office but drew his weapon.
“Whoa. Hey, now.” Muse’s face paled. “No guns. City ordinance.”
“Nice try, but a city can’t override the Second Amendment, and I have a license to carry concealed in this state.”
“That’s not concealed.” She glanced toward Ajax. “Make him put it away.”
Ajax got to his feet between them. “Put it away, Dmytro, you’re scaring her.”
“How exactly am I to protect you if—”
“At least sit, for God’s sake. Jeez.” Much to Ajax’s surprise, Dmytro did as he asked. “Keep your weapon out of sight.”
Through clenched teeth, Dmytro said, “As soon as she’s taken care of, we leave.”
“Fine.” Ajax sat beside Muse again.
“Fine,” Bartosz said from the office. “I feel compelled to say our client is a sitting duck.”
“How many times do I have to say it? This isn’t about me.” Ajax waved his arms to indicate the robbery. “Whoever sent me those threats did not break into your safe house, disable the car, or rob this motel. Statistically speaking, the idea is preposterous. We’re right on the highway here. Any tweaker could have seentheir opportunity to rob this place and taken it. Has anything happened here before?”
“Lotta car burglaries. And we had a carjacking once.” Muse glanced out the window. “Right there. We got security cameras after that.”
