16
Lainey
Aaron pushed the door aside, letting whomever was on the other side into the room. Cole came into view first, looking serious. He was followed by a clearly pissed-off Payton. No powers were needed to interpret the look on their faces. Cole’s expression changed to a smile when he saw her.
“Offering private lessons now, Aaron?” Cole said, chuckling.
“You’re welcome anytime, you know that.”
Lainey fidgeted, Payton’s gaze burning into her even from across the room. Payton tilted her head, her gaze flicking from Lainey to the door. Lainey walked over to Aaron and spoke quietly to him. “We’ll just be a minute. Talk to Cole. Something’s bugging him.”
The minute she was through the door, Lainey was enveloped in a fierce hug, Payton’s arms wrapping around her neck. She buried her face in Lainey’s shoulder and Lainey felt the wetness from Payton’s tears. She frowned. Payton didn’t cry—ever. “What’s going on?” Payton snuffled, the tears abating, but she only hugged Lainey harder. Shit. “Pay, did you see the man?” Her voice wavered on the last word. He’d been a man, only human, but at the time and in her memories, he felt like a demon with the strength of a hundred men.
Payton finally let her go, only to slug her in the shoulder with one hand while wiping down her cheeks with the other. “Don’t you ever be such an idiot again!”
“Trust me, it wasn’t intentional.” Lainey smiled. She had to cheer Payton up. Lainey was still wobbly enough for both of them. “Don’t worry, Aaron’s already read me the riot act. That’s why we’re here.”
“Cole said he had to find Aaron this morning, and I came along at the last minute, thought we could grab breakfast. The juice bar was closed and so I felt around for your thoughts.” Payton paused, taking in a deep breath. “Lainey, you’re practically screaming it. Are you okay?”
Lainey smiled, a genuine one this time. “Now I am. Aaron had strawberries.” She laughed at the confusion on Payton’s face. “It’s a good thing, trust me. He was there when I needed him, and he’s teaching me what to do if someone ever tries that shit again.”
“Good. It’s about time. So what have you learned? Feel safe yet?”
Lainey’s smile faltered. “Well, it’s not as if I’m going to take over the world in a day. But it’s better than where I was this morning. It’ll take time.”
“Time we might not have anymore.”
A tingle ran up Lainey’s spine. “Payton? What aren’t you telling me?”
Payton’s eyes flashed, and her colors followed for just a moment before she locked everything down. “Follow me.” Payton turned and walked quickly back into the gym. Emotions swirled around both men; confusion from Cole and downright anger and agitation from Aaron. Cole grimaced when he caught sight of them.
“What’s going on, Payton?” he asked.
“It’s nothing.”
Cole stared her down and Lainey swore she could feel heat pass between them. Lainey stepped forward. Aaron had probably already told him, anyway. “Some guy tried to grab me last night.”
Cole’s nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. “What?” He glared over at Payton. Lainey spoke quickly.
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault but my own. I went walking on my own at dusk.” She hesitated. Neither Cole nor Aaron would react well to the reason why she’d gone for a walk. “I got away, but not before I froze.” Lainey frowned. “I don’t know what made him back off, but he did and I’m fine.”
Aaron huffed. “For now. What if he comes back?”
“He was just some homeless guy hanging around.”
Cole and Aaron exchanged glances. Now them, too? What did everyone else know that she didn’t? Lainey was already putting up with Payton keeping things from her. Knowing that everyone in the room was made her stomach feel heavy. Cole spoke first. “Listen, Man, I have the greatest respect for what you do here, you know that. It helped Payton immensely, and saved my own life. But we had months. After this morning, and hearing that, I don’t think we’ve got that kind of time now.”
What. The. Fuck. Was. Going. On?
Aaron nodded before giving Cole that weird chin lift thing guys do. “Lainey, we don’t know what that guy wanted, but Cole’s right on one count. Until we have time to work with each other more, you should have protection.”
“Protection? You’re already there nearly all day.”
His shoulders dropped. “And I wish I could stay there all day, but I wasn’t there last night. What if I’m not again?”
“Cole wants to teach you how to use a gun,” Payton blurted out. “He’ll teach me too, at the same time. I haven’t gotten a chance yet.”
The rock in Lainey’s stomach grew by another five pounds. She wanted to feel safe again. She’d give almost anything to stop the movie from last night from playing over again in her mind, to stop the shudder running through her every time the man’s face came into view. But to arm herself, to carry a gun? She’d always tried to believe the best in everyone, and it had served her well in life thus far. Lainey glanced over at Cole. Besides, it wasn’t likely this would be exactly legal. Wasn’t Cole worried about his cop buddies finding out?
Aaron stepped over to where she stood and took her hand. “I think it’s a good idea,” he said softly. “I’ll support anything that will keep you safe.” Bright sparks shot out of his aura, and Lainey braced herself, hiding her reaction to the light as best she could. He’d been so radiant since the night before, a complete turnaround from the depressive blacks and grays that had been plaguing him. Hope, concern, love—each emotion was more complex and powerful than the last. It made her feel safe, even if she didn’t know how to respond. Aaron wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “Teach her, Cole.”
“Alright.” Cole smiled at her, his colors flickering blue. He was calm, and Lainey felt the rock in her stomach fall away a little. “I have a couple of semiautomatics we can use. An old friend has a makeshift range outside the city. We’ll make a stop to get you guys some protection, then we’ll go and do a little target practice.”
Lainey looked back at Aaron. Any signs of gray were completely gone, replaced with swirling pink and green—love and hope. She pulled him into a hug. “Thank you.”
Aaron held her tightly against him. “I just want you to be okay.”
Lainey looked out the window as Aaron drove his car around the latest curve in the road and up into the hills. His was far better suited to the drive than her car was, and so she’d quickly accepted when he’d offered to drive them both. Her thoughts were swirling with too much to keep her eyes on the road anyway. She hadn’t sensed anything before the man had turned on her last night, not a flicker to suggest he was about to attack. Then there was Josh—he felt everything and nothing all at once. Only once or twice had she been close enough, either physically or otherwise, to see beneath the blinding aura that covered him nearly completely.
Then came Aaron. Aaron—who had been in love with her for years and she’d never noticed. She’d had her gift her entire life, but if the last few days had taught her anything, it was that she could no longer trust it. Lainey withheld a sound of disgust at herself. It would only make Aaron ask her what she was thinking. She’d been kidding herself all these years when she’d thought she could divine people’s intentions. All she could see was an aura. Maybe she could understand their outward, simple emotions—maybe. Happiness, embarrassment, impatience, but anything deeper? They were just colors, and she’d treated them as if she were seeing inside their souls. Lainey’s jaw tightened. She wouldn’t do that again.
Her world had been small for years, working at the same juice bar, most of her friendships casual and with gym attendees, sometimes the occasional other customer. Her life had shifted some when Payton arrived on the gym’s doorstep, only the shift was so subtle Lainey hadn’t noticed it at the time. It had been building, though, slowly, only to accelerate the past few days into madness that had her driving to an illegal range
to learn how to shoot a gun, how to defend herself—really, how to kill someone—with Aaron. The world had suddenly become a dangerous place. She’d never had her guard up, never assumed any stranger was going to be trouble. She couldn’t afford to do that anymore.
Her mind wandered back to something Aaron had said once, trying to convince her to try out a class. If it came down to her life or that of someone else’s, she couldn’t hesitate, not for a second—they wouldn’t. She was no pushover, but Lainey preferred to nod and smile than to say what she was really thinking. She felt emotions as strongly as she saw them, and avoided negativity. Better to brush off degrading remarks or spiteful conversations than to influence someone’s aura and watch it churn gray. But it had turned out to be a dangerous outlook, one that had left her unprepared. She wasn’t going to be the passive little girl hiding in the corner anymore. She’d seen Payton’s strength and she wanted it. Lainey was leaving that girl behind, and becoming a woman who held her head high, who protected herself. No matter how afraid she was, it was time to start now.
Aaron pulled up behind Cole’s car on a dusty road, and Lainey opened her door. Setting her back straight, she stood and walked over to where Payton and Cole were standing, waiting. Payton turned toward her and smiled. She sensed Aaron walk up behind her as he passed her, joining Cole and placing a gun alongside Cole’s stash on the hood of his car. Quiet caution colored him, but Lainey still felt wary. Aaron looked far more comfortable with a gun in his hands than she’d expected.
Cole gathered up three pistols and several boxes of ammunition, stashing them in cases before turning to walk down a sandy trail. Aaron tucked his gun into his back waistband and took Lainey’s hand. “Come, the range is just down here.” They followed Cole down the trail, walking between two hills before arriving in a circular clearing. Cole was already dragging over a target for them to practice on.
“Have you ever used a gun before?” Cole asked her. He placed a gun he’d been holding on a small folding table he’d set in front of them.
“Never.”
He gestured at one of the pistols lying on the table. “Go ahead. Pick one up and see how it feels in your hand.” Lainey gingerly picked up one by the butt. Her fingers wrapped comfortably around the grip. It was a little smaller than the one Aaron had been holding before, and she was surprised how natural it felt.
“First lesson,” Cole spoke again. “Always treat any gun as if it’s loaded.” Lainey nodded.
“Second. Never point a gun at something you’re not willing to destroy.”
An image of the man from the night before ran through her mind, but this time he was falling backward, a neat circle drilled in his forehead. Lainey shivered and the pistol shook lightly in her hands. Cole’s brow wrinkled and he looked over at Aaron. Before Lainey steadied her hands, Aaron’s large ones came around her shoulders and rested over hers, lightly supporting her grip and surrounding her with warmth. Cole nodded at him over her shoulder before walking over to where Payton stood and helping her.
One of Aaron’s legs curled around hers as he positioned himself behind her. His voice spoke quietly into her ear. “Rule three,” he said, adjusting her finger position. “Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.” He showed her how to rest her finger against the side of the frame. “Last rule for today. Be aware of what’s around and behind your target. Bullets miss, and can go through your target.” He looked over at Cole, nodding, then spoke again, louder this time. “Range is hot.” His mouth curved into a smile. “Let’s try this.”
Aaron’s grip tightened on her hands as he helped her position her arms. His touch was calming and she could feel his firm body press lightly against hers. “Keep your grip tight.” He squeezed her hands one last time before dropping his hands down to rest on her hips. “It’s going to be loud, but keep your grip on the gun.” Nerves skittered along her skin and she held her breath as she moved her finger down to the trigger.
The sound blasted through her brain as the gun jerked in her hand. Lainey had heard gunfire before. Living where she did, it was unavoidable, but she’d never been standing right next to it.
“Holy crap.” For just a few seconds, Lainey lost track of everything, until the weight of the pistol as her arms drooped brought her back to reality. She pointed the gun down and then turned to Aaron, who was grinning widely and trying very hard not to laugh.
“Hey.” She socked him in the shoulder.
“What? It’s funny.”
Lainey frowned. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
Cole grinned again, his eyes sparkling. Touching her shoulder, he turned her forward again. “Look.” He pointed at the target, where a neat hole had drilled itself through the guy’s forehead. “You’re a natural. But maybe you should try for center mass next time.”
“Next time?”
“You want to try that again now?”
The happy look on Aaron’s face washed away any lingering fear. “Fuck yeah.”
17
Lainey
The entire drive back from the range, nothing could dampen Lainey’s spirits. It was like a small fire had been set alight inside her, warming her through her body. Whether from feeling happy, safe again, or even arousal—Aaron still glowed a soft pink next to her the entire time—Lainey couldn’t stay worried anymore. She didn’t care, either. She held the small bag in her lap that held the gun Cole had loaned her. Learning to use it was pointless if she didn’t have one, but Lainey had had no idea how long getting a license was going to take, until Cole pressed the gun back into her hand as they packed everything away.
“Cole?” She’d expected him to be by the book on California gun laws, but he was uncharacteristically somber after the fun they’d had that afternoon.
“Keep it, Lainey, and don’t hesitate to use it if you need to. Promise me.”
She’d tilted her head to the side. Why was Cole so worried about her? Payton wasn’t enough effort? “Why?”
Aaron wrapped her up in a hug. “Because I won’t be able to sleep at night if you don’t. Keep yourself safe, Lainey. For me?”
“Okay.”
The fading sunlight painted the sky in pinks and oranges, echoing Aaron’s aura. Lainey felt more at peace than she had in days. Eager to extend the evening, she quickly agreed when Aaron’s phone pinged with a text from Cole inviting them for a drink at the bar Payton worked at. When they arrived, Aaron pulled in and waited for her to go inside with Payton and Cole, promising to join them once he’d checked on the gym and locked up for the night.
As they walked in, Rita waved at them from across the room and Payton made a beeline for the bar. “Hey!”
Lainey walked over and Rita leaned over the bar and pulled her into a hug. “Rita? Everything okay?”
Rita’s nose brushed her hair as she pulled Lainey in close. “Your friend I don’t like has been here all night. He’s asking for you.”
Huh? Lainey pulled back and Rita gestured at a large man sitting over at one of the back tables. Josh. Lainey’s good mood fled as Payton followed her gaze and snorted. “Well, this is awkward.”
Josh looked up at the sound and his gaze snapped to Lainey. Before she could figure out anywhere in the bar to hide, he ambled over. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight, Josh.”
“I’ve been around. I looked for you today. Can I talk to you for just a second?” He looked over at Payton and Cole. “Alone.” Cole’s body tensed and he started to stand up. Lainey beat him to it, looking hard at Payton.
Please hear me, please hear me. She needed to get Josh out of there before Aaron showed up and it ruined the afternoon they’d shared together.
Payton nodded at her sharply, and then placed a hand on Cole’s chest. “We’ll be right here, Lainey,” Payton said, staring right in her eyes. “Don’t be long.”
Lainey returned the nod before taking Josh’s elbow and guiding him back to his table. “What do you want?”
“So there’s this carniva
l at the pier tomorrow.”
She stood. “I’m kinda busy, Josh.”
Josh’s gaze darted over to Cole, who stared straight back, before jerking back to her. His eyes were over bright again and he bit down on his bottom lip.
“Lainey,” his voice cracked on her name. “Please.”
Shit, he was begging. “What do you want, Josh?”
“I . . . just . . . I was really rude to you before. I lost my temper. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been smoking around you, and then storming off like that.”
Lainey felt the fight leave her. She hated confrontation, and the guy was apologizing. Then she remembered what he’d said about Aaron right before that—ordering her to stay away from him. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the white twisting around him. Was he really sorry or just saying what she wanted to hear?
“I was such a dumb asshole.” His head dropped forward and he took her hand. It tingled in his grasp. “I’m not that guy, Lainey, not usually. I need you to know that.”
“Okay.”
“Will you accept my apology?” He smiled and shrugged. “Please?”
“You scared me, Josh. I didn’t know what to think.”
He closed his fingers around her hand, gripping it lightly, and she resisted the urge to yank it out of his grasp. It just felt . . . wrong. There wasn’t any other way to explain it.
“Let me take you to the carnival, show you a good time.”
“Here,” Rita walked over to the table and placed a shot of vodka in front of her, raising her eyebrows at Josh. “You look like you could do with this.” Lainey picked up the shot as Rita left, and drank it. She still hated the burn, but the glow afterward was worth it. She looked over at Josh. Crap, he was still waiting for an answer. Lainey didn’t want to go anywhere much with him, but it wasn’t likely he’d leave peacefully until she agreed. Even though Cole was here, she didn’t want him getting into any trouble on her behalf. He’d already done enough that day. Besides, if she was trying to avoid trouble, she still had to get rid of Josh before Aaron returned. Maybe she should just agree to go. It would be a public place in the middle of the day. She had to tell him soon that she didn’t want to see him again, and it was as good a place as any to do that. It was also a much better idea to bring that up when Josh hadn’t been sitting in Rita’s bar downing gin for half the day.
Lainey (Dreamcatchers Romantic Suspense Series Book 4) Page 10