Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

“Oh, yeah, that’s genius,” I said, seething. “Do you think you can kill us and get away with it? Everyone knows us. The first place the cops will look is at Carter’s family, there is a paper trail of Marin’s trip to Minneapolis, and a police report of your little incident at the mall and last night at the bar, and now the insurance paper trail. Do you think you’ll get to spend the payout from behind bars? Your IQ must be about the size of your dick.”

“You’re hilarious,” Apollo shot back angrily. His eyes narrowed as he motioned to the other men to move in. I widened my stance and lifted my fists in preparation for whatever fight was coming.

Boom! A loud shot rang out behind me. Everyone was startled as we all looked behind me at the source of the noise.

Marin had emerged from the barn with her uncle’s old hunting rifle. She’d fired the first round into the air, but now the gun was trained on the men as she walked forward, pumping another shell into the chamber. I was surprised, but proud of her. I felt almost aroused by her display of bravado, but I knew these men were dangerous.

“I realize a shot gun would have been a little messier, but this will do the job, and I know how to use it, so get the hell off my property!” Marin shouted. “Just leave!”

My eyebrows rose as she came closer. I was worried because I knew they were armed, but there was nothing to be done but stand with her. She kept walking forward holding the gun at the ready. My first instinct was to take it from her, but it would give the others the time to pull their weapons.

“You heard the lady. Get the hell out of here!” I added my stern warning to hers. I knew there was no way in hell I was going to leave her out here alone after this, and I had second thoughts about my family coming for the visit the following week. “And get out of town!”

“You’ll get your money. I just want to be left alone,” Marin added.

Apollo’s eyes shifted from me then to Marin and back again. His two friends had their hands ready to pull out their weapons and I wanted to diffuse the situation.

“That money better get there in the next few days, or else.” Apollo pointed a finger from his unbroken hand at her then moved it in my direction. I didn’t know what the hell he was trying to prove.

“If we see you around here again, we’ll shoot first and ask questions later. Now, be on your way.”

My muscles were coiled and remained so as the three got back into their car and started to back out. I stayed put until they’d cleared the long driveway, then turned toward Marin. She might have put on a brave front, but I could see from her tear-filled eyes that she was terrified and frozen in place, both hands still clutching the gun so hard that her knuckles turned white.

“Hey,” I murmured turning and walking toward her, my gaze never leaving her face. I reached out and wrapped a hand around the gun stock. “It’s over. Let go, honey.”

Marin’s eyes shot up to mine and she started shaking. I gently lifted the gun away and holding it with the barrel pointed at the sky, my arm slid around her waist and pulled her to my side.

“Let’s put this away,” I suggested and all she could do was nod. Two tears slid down her cheeks. “You are pretty badass,” I joked, using my arm to turn her around toward the barn. “Remind me never to get on your bad side. I’m proud of you,” I said softly, kissing her temple.

Inside, I was shaking, too. Would Apollo and his goons be back? I couldn’t take that chance.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” she said shakily. “I just asked myself what Uncle Leonard would do?”

“Well, it was damn awesome.”

Inside the barn, I released her and put the gun back on the wall on the two hooks that had been used to hang it. Gem barked from one of the empty stalls. Apparently, Marin had put her in there to keep her out of the way and I was thankful she was still too small to get up and over the first rung of the gate.

Marin’s hands covered her face, and I could visibly see her body inhale a deep breath. I went to her and wrapped both of my arms around her, pulling her close and sliding one hand up her back between her shoulder blades.

“Listen, I think I’m gonna need some protection from those assholes. They might come after me at my place. Think I can sleep here for a few nights?” I asked, turning my face into her hair and inhaling. I didn’t care about the heat, I just needed to be close, and I hoped joking around would help ease her anxiety. And mine.

Marin’s arms slid around me, and her hands curled into the wet material of my T-shirt. She nodded with a small laugh. “Yes,” she said her voice muffled as her face buried into my chest. “Yes,” she said again.

“Do I have to sleep in the barn with the horses?” I grinned down into her face as she finally looked up at me. All I wanted to do was protect her. My thumb traced the line of her jaw. “Because I think I’m allergic to hay.”

“It didn’t seem to bother you this morning,” she said, with a grin.

“Well, that’s because I was preoccupied,” I kidded. I bent to kiss her gently on the mouth, then moved to the corner of her lips and up to her cheekbone.

“Uh huh,” she sighed into me as my mouth took hers again as I gently cradled her head.

“Bat! Bat!” Gem barked loudly, reminding us