The club has undoubtedly heard how much she used to work. I still can’t believe she’d take back to back night shifts. Wildertold me while she was gone that she worries about money, and it’s only recently that she’s accepting that we’ll take care of her.
I also found out that the house is in Marie’s name. I’m not sure she knows what other accounts Storm has put in her name, but if anything ever happens to us, she is set for life. I never want her to need to live without us, though.
Money doesn’t matter when your heart and soul are ripped into a million pieces.
“As of now, none,” Marie says, reaching into a pocket and pulling another firearm now that she’s facing us. She does it nonchalantly, and I realize she had to have cut out the pocket in her sweatshirt to be able to do that.
She places the gun down for Arsenal to look at and shrugs as he looks from her to the weapon.
“Bra holster. I cut the pocket in my sweatshirt,” she explains. “I have a knife on my other thigh and my stun gun is attached to the back of my bra.”
“I want to see the knife, and I found you a more powerful stun gun I’d like you to try,” Arsenal says, respect in his eyes.
“I’m only going to work as I’m needed,” Marie says, handing those weapons to Arsenal. “Dr. Royal works at the hospital and sometimes has sensitive cases he needs help with. I’m good with patients, blood draws, and keeping my mouth shut. He sometimes has patients come in who need to disappear and stay off the radar.”
“Mafia?” Burner asks. “They’re fucking everywhere in Minneapolis, I swear.”
“Sometimes they’re from the mafia,” Marie admits. “He also works with the omega’s shelter, and they need complete confidentiality. I went into work last night because he texted me for help.”
“He’s not abusing his power right?” Arsenal asks, pursing his lips as he begins to go over the items Marie gave him.
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “Dr. Royal really did need my help. The other nurses there are cunts.”
“Hear, hear,” Nick says, making Marie laugh.
“Okay, one of these guns is still too big for your hands,” Arsenal sighs. “It’s the first issue I see. Also, the recoil on the Smith and Wesson is nasty. Honestly, Storm. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I didn’t want to invest too much in them and you still not like them,” Storm admits.
“I’ve shot guns that were worse,” Marie adds, nonplussed.
Arsenal grins smugly, openly his bag. I pull Marie into my lap as we sit, and I can hear Wilder walking through the hallway toward us. I wonder if Lore is listening from somewhere nearby while we all talk. I can feel him, I just can’t tell where he is exactly.
For all I know, he’s taking a shit.
Arsenal shows off a Springfield nine millimeter, saying, “This will be a dream after the others, Little Queen. There’s very little kick. One thing to sometimes worry about is expelled casings, and this thirty-eight millimeter won’t spit back at you.”
He pulls out the thirty-eight revolver that he’s talking about and I nod in agreement.
“I also wanted to get you something pretty,” Arsenal says with a shrug, pulling out a Kimber to show her.
“Now you’re flirting with my girl,” Wilder laughs, leaning over to admire it. He joined us quietly, simply observing.
“I’m flirting with the pretties,” Arsenal confirms, grinning. “See what you think, Marie.”
My girl picks up the Springfield, testing the weight, and checking to see how it feels with a nod. She goes through that process with all three, and Arsenal chuckles when he sees she’s having a difficult time choosing.
“They’re all yours,” he says. “Ha. As if I’d bring you all these pretty guns and then make you decide which one you wanted. Ain’t no way.”
“Arsenal,” Marie sighs. “I can’t take all of these.”
“Yes, you can,” I say, holding my hand out next to hers to reference. “Who else is he going to give them to?”
“Arsenal put thought into these,” Wilder adds.
“You’re all going to spoil me,” she grumbles.
“Couldn’t happen to a better person,” Arsenal says. “Now, this is a nice knife, Marie. Where did you get it?”
