Page 41 of Switch
A lady pushing a kid in an expensive-looking stroller gives me the stink eye as she struts past.I wasn’t talking to her.
It’s just that Fallon belongs to me.
Until he gets a clue about that, I’d appreciate him keeping his hands off of other people, and vice versa.How much is that to ask?
He’s here to ask about the cards.I’d have done the same thing in his position.Without going inside, though, I can’t tell if he’s getting any good information.The flirty sales associate holds up a finger and spends some time tapping at her phone.Well, she must not be that hot for him, then, if she’s distracted by her damn electronic device.I feel like that behavior screams “She’s not that into you.”
Good.Also, she’s missing out.But good.
Fallon shoves his hands into the pockets of his well-fitting jeans and glances around the store while he waits, which tells me he probably hasn’t gotten any good information.He’d be in a better mood if he had, right?
If he had, he’d be leaving, which I’d very much like him to do.
Chocolate wafts my way, mixed with the smell of beer.The next couple of blocks are a mix of food establishments and office buildings, including Midnight Cookies.My stomach rumbles.I could go for something sweet.
The ding of a bell and Fallon calling out a thank-you to the sales clerk have me hanging back by the corner of the building.It’s darker now, and he’s not looking around, but still.If he’s being watched, someone else shouldn’t notice I’m following.
Instead of returning to his car like I expect, he keeps going past the collectibles place, which is closed, and the one with the wine slushies that seems to be hosting a painting class inside.As he continues to the next block and pauses in front of a flower shop, I could swear I see movement; someone coming from the alley that runs between the wine place and the flower shop.
Which isn’t too alarming, until I see the person hoist something into the air.Something that’s shaped an awful lot like a baseball bat.
“Fallon!”I’m running before I even realize, shouting even though I’m not sure he’ll hear me.
The guy with the bat does, which makes him turn.And when he turns, Fallon ducks and loses his footing.Then I’ve got a bat-wielding asshole coming at me with his arm high, but by then I’ve got my knife out.His raised arm lets me get a shot in his ribs.
I want it deep.I want to twist it in his side, make him bleed for threatening to hurt Fallon.My angle’s off, though.It’s not the damage I want, but I’m rewarded with the heat of blood on my fingers.
There’s enough light from the shop window to make out that this person has a goofy-ass ski mask on, but that’s about all I can tell.The person grunts and brings their arm down when my knife sinks in, clipping my shoulder with the weapon.It’s aluminum.Dammit.Hurts like hell.
“PJ?”
The tremor in Fallon’s voice steals my focus, and I get rewarded with another whack across my upper back before whoever the attacker is runs away.
For a split second, I’m tempted to follow.If I hustle I can run this guy down.Pull off that mask and make him pay.But Fallon’s pained groan pulls me back to the present.More than anything, I need him to be all right.
“You okay?”I grab his hands and look him over.“Your palms are bleeding.”
“It’s not bad.My hands skidded on the pavement when I fell.”He sounds off, which makes sense.Someone did try to bash his head in.
Oh yeah, and he’s eyeing me with too much curiosity.Which also makes sense.
“What are you doing here, PJ?”
Right.There’s a story on the tip of my tongue.The cookie place is nearby.I happened to be walking past here.
“I was following you.”
“You were what?”
“Those cards had me worried about you.Needed to be sure you weren’t in danger.”
“That guy…” He’s shaking some.“Was that guy trying to kill me?”
“I don’t know.Sure seemed that way.”But if I find him, I’ll gut him and leave him on Fallon’s doorstep.Or her.Or them.I’m equal opportunity in all things these days.
I realize Fallon’s shaking harder.“Hey.”I pull him in and wrap my arms around him.His heart thuds against my chest.“It’s okay.You’re going to be okay.”
“What are you doing here?”Fallon asks for the second time.
