Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security #5) - Marie James Page 0,2

I used to hate guns, and I’m only now considering the use of one for protection. Coming home to a kicked in door and a trashed house will make a person change their stance on a few things.

“It’s for your safety,” she urges. “Put the cleaning shit down and let’s go.”

Safe.

What a concept. I was never worried about my safety before. Like most women, I took precautions when they were needed. I don’t walk alone at night. I very seldomly go to bars or clubs, and when I do it’s always with a friend. I don’t leave drinks unattended or meet strangers off of dating apps.

A couple of weeks ago I was safe.

Then I fell victim to a burglary. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel completely safe again. It doesn’t matter that I changed the locks and situated my furniture where I would be alerted if someone tried to sneak in.

I still can’t sleep in total darkness. I still take quick showers in place of the long, relaxing ones I used to take because I’m terrified of getting caught off guard. Hell, I’ve been washing my hair in the kitchen sink because I’m terrified of getting caught completely naked with soap in my eyes. I peek out of my windows each time I hear a noise, wondering if today is going to be the day they come back and take more than my damn television.

My privacy was invaded, my sanctuary violated. My skin crawls just thinking about it, and I have to drop the sponge and rub at the goosebumps forming on my arms.

“I don’t think this is the right solution,” I mutter as I turn to face her. I hate the look of sympathy in her eyes.

“You wanted to do this.”

“You wanted me to do this,” I clarify. “I simply mentioned taking a self-defense class.”

I roll my eyes as I pick up the sponge and the bottle of cleaner I was using and carry them back to the kitchen.

“This is a self-defense class,” she argues. “Wouldn’t you rather shoot than have to grapple with some guy three times your size?”

I spin around and glare at her.

Her hands go up beside her ears. “That wasn’t a jab at how small you are, but physics is a real thing, Hayden. Even a skilled hundred-pound fighter would have trouble wrestling with a two-hundred-pound man. Is that what you’re wearing?”

I look down at the blouse and slacks I’m still wearing from work.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, let’s go. If you do well in class, I’ll take you for dinner after.”

Knowing I won’t be able to get out of it, I grumble as I grab my purse. Parker doesn’t complain once as I spend the next minute locking the two deadbolts on my front door, and she only groans once when I realize I didn’t leave the front porch light on, and I have to unlock it again to turn it on.

“This is going to be a lot of fun,” Parker says with a wide grin as we drive to the gun range. “I showed you the pictures online, right?”

“More than once,” I mutter as I watch the city rush by through the passenger window.

“These guys are so hot. The guy teaching the class has a beard and tattoos. He’s so sexy.”

I would feel like she’s more interested in flirting during class than supporting me, but I know that she’s worried about me. I haven’t taken the burglary well at all.

“Just type in hashtag Blackbridge Special on your phone and you can see for yourself,” she urges.

I oblige her because it’s easier than arguing. I turn the phone to face her. “This guy?”

“Hot, right?”

“This guy is your type, not mine.”

“That would mean something if you had a type.”

I ignore the jab.

“Look at the other guys. All of their pictures are on their website, but I’m calling dibs on the instructor.”

“Dibs?” I mutter as I swipe through the images on the phone. I’d never tell her, but all the guys are good looking in their own way. The images are like a damned photo gallery for hot models rather than a security firm. It makes me wonder if clients let them slide with half-assed work just because they’re handsome. “Dibs is for kids fighting over a game system controller, not for claiming a man you’ve never met before.”

“Are you saying you want dibs on the instructor?”

I look up at her. “What? No. I’m not interested in any of them.”

Plus, the guy showcased on the website as tonight’s instructor