Page 74 of Asking for Trouble

I was cartingtwo garbage bags filled with the broken detritus from the bar brawl down the back hall when I heard a ruckus above the usual bar cacophony of loud music, louder voices, the clatter of boots and heels on the floor, and dishes in the small kitchen.

A noise like something slamming into the wall behind the bar.

I hesitated, straining to listen but unable to hear much beyond the country rock band’s throbbing bass and drums.

After a moment, I continued toward the back door, easing it open to peer through the crack into the poorly lit back lot.

Chaos reigned.

The White Raiders had not gone home with their tail between their legs.

And the original four had been joined by four more.

Eight Raiders to four Fallen brothers and Tempest.

Only it was obvious the Raiders had got the jump on The Fallen because Axe-Man had a knife in one shoulder even as he fought someone and Bat…

Bat was on the ground slumped halfway behind the dumpster for protection because he had a bullet in one thigh.

Tempest stood in front of him like a guard dog, a huge silver gun in her hands steady and trained on the action as if she planned to shoot anyone who stood still for long enough to get a good shot.

Aaron was on the ground under Oscar who was two hundred and sixty pounds of muscle and lard. I winced as his meaty fist landed in Aaron’s face, his nose blooming with blood at the contact.

Without thinking, eyes trained on my man as he was hit again and again, I shoved the door open so hard it banged against the opposite wall loud enough to pop off like a gunshot.

“Hey now, what’s going on here?” I yelled loud enough to pause the fight.

Loud enough, hopefully for Eugene to hear inside the bar.

Geyser used the moment of stillness to fling himself away from Axe-Man and land next to his gun, where it’d been kicked into the dirt. He trained it on the closest target.

Aaron.

Geyser turned his head to sneer at me. “Get the fuck back inside, Faith.”

No.

No, no, no.

Every self-preservation instinct I had fell away to focus on someone other than myself.

All the bravery and boldness I’d been shoring up inside myself surged forth.

There was no way I would let him hurt Aaron.

None.

Consequences could getfucked.

I turned my head slightly to catch Tempest’s eye, relieved she was looking at me even though her gun was still raised and ready.

Please, I tried to convey with my eyes.

And then, I used every single ounce of my strength to throw the bags of glass and broken wood right at Geyser’s head.

Tempest followed my cue and shot Geyser just as he staggered under the weight of the bags.

Right in the arm holding the gun at Aaron.