Page 88 of Panther's Magpie
I grit my teeth. “Believe what you want. All this talking is a waste. I should put a bullet in you right now.”
He laughs. “Oh, you definitely should, but you haven’t. You know why? I know why. You are too moral. There are too many civilians around, and you know a gunshot won’t go unnoticed. I mean, I say go for it.”
This guy is certifiable. Here he is taunting me to shoot him. There’s more to this than meets the eye. Sure, I don’t want to kill him with a bunch of civilians around, but not one of them would rat on me.
No, there is more at play. He’s not here alone.
“You would like that, wouldn’t you?” I tell him.
He grins wider. “You know that sweet little blond is turning out to be quite a feisty woman. I personally love when they fight back. Gets me so hard.”
He grabs his junk.
Maggie burrows in closer to me. She doesn’t like his words.
“I’ll give you another chance since you seem to have found my girl here. You want to trade?” Adlet smiles wider.
He knows. He knows that she means something to me, which painted a bigger target on her back.
Fuck.
“She will be staying with me.” Is all I say.
“Hmm. Too bad. You sure you don’t want to pull that trigger? I mean, you’ll never find your blond, but the carnage from mymen would be a sight to see. I’d only be disappointed I wasn’t here to witness it.”
Pulling my gun away from his head, I hiss at him, “Get out of here before I change my mind. If I see you again, I will kill you dead. To hell with the consequences.”
He doesn’t move quickly. Instead, he laughs as he walks around us. I turn so Maggie doesn’t have to see him.
“Don’t worry, Little Mouse. We will get that alone time I promised. I can’t wait to watch you break so beautifully.”
I keep my mouth shut as he strides down the street. I keep watching until he climbs into a car and drives away. Only then do I turn around and cup Maggie’s cheeks.
“Magpie? Are you okay?”
She has tears in her eyes as she shakes her head. “No. I’m not.”
It’s the most honest thing she’s said. She’s scared to death. I don’t blame her. I should have never kept her here. I should have sent her far away. I am supposed to be keeping her safe, and here she was accosted under the care of my own men.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I can get you out of here so you’re safe.”
She looks up at me, confused. “Like back to your house?”
“No. Like out of the country if that’s what it takes,” I tell her.
She pulls away. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I’m safest with you.”
“It doesn’t feel that way. He almost had you.”
She shakes her head. “He cornered me for sure, but I wasn’t paying attention. I let my guard down. I learned my lesson. I need to always be aware of my surroundings. He won’t catch me off guard again.”
I sigh, pulling her into my arms. “I don’t like this.”
It’s an admission I would have never said before, but I find it easy to be myself with Maggie. She’s my safe place as much as I am hers.
“Me either, but it’s the life you live. I want to live it too.”
I press a kiss to her temple. “Fine, but I’m teaching you how to use a gun and getting you a concealed carry permit. I want one on your hip anytime you come into town.”
