part0048

“What?” Smoke tore his eyes away from the TV and shook his head. “No. I hate this part when Valeria gets shot. I mean, Thulsa Doom shot her with a snake. Who does that?”

He threw a pillow at Smoke. “I ought to knock you out.”

Smoke put the pillow behind his head and said, “I might be big, but I’m not easy to hit. Ruger found that out when he had an episode.”

“Episode? What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say that I think that this world makes him jumpy sometimes. I slipped behind him, and he, or you, nearly coldcocked me. I have a feeling that, were it his body, he would have got me. He’s a warrior, isn’t he? What’s he look like in Titanuus?”

“Funny that you should ask.” Abraham plucked a car magazine from the table, with an old blue four-door Volvo on the cover. He made a funny look and leafed through the pages. “I’ve only got a good look at myself a few times. Or Ruger. I’m sort of a mix of young Sean Connery and Hugh Jackman on steroids. He’s strong. I’m talking animal strong. Moves like the wind and fights like the devil.”

“Humph,” Smoke said. He stretched his arms out over his head and yawned. “Sounds like me.”

Headlights shone through the windows of the remodeled gas station. The crunch of rubber wheels on gravel caught Abraham’s ear. The approaching car engine had a throaty rumble to it.

Smoke nodded. “You were asking about the girls. They are here. I can tell by the noise of the engine. It’s a SRT8 Jeep Cherokee. It’s got a nice groan and rides really smooth on the road. We’ll be taking that back.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows between his knees with his arms folded. “Say, why don’t you play along and have a little fun with them.”

“You mean, play Ruger.”

Smoke shrugged his eyebrows. “Why not? Mandi’s been kinda down, and she’ll be thrilled to see you.” He turned the volume up on the TV.

The car doors slammed shut.

Abraham leaned back and faced the TV.

“No, you have to sit with your back straight, like Ruger,” Smoke said. “I’ve never seen the man slouch. He’s big on posture.”

Abraham sat up and put his hands on his knees.

“That’s better,” Smoke said with a smirk. “And don’t say anything. He doesn’t talk much. I’ll handle it.”

The front door opened. It was made of glass with a steel frame. Sid had a brown grocery bag in one hand and a box of Cokes in the other. Bags of cheese popcorn and boxes of Nutty Butty bars were sticking out of the top of the bag. She wore a pink tank top and low-rise jeans that showed off her navel. Her hair was pulled back in a silky black ponytail.

Mandi entered the room and closed the door behind her. She had four large pizza boxes in her hands.

“Hello, lordlings,” Sid said in a sarcastic voice. “We have completed your snack run.” She dropped the food on the kitchen counter. “How else may we serve you today?”

Abraham watched out the corner of his eye. Turning his head slightly, he could see the women with their backs to them. Mandi set the pizza boxes on the table. She wore a tight gray top and a pair of low-rise jeans that flowed over her curvy hips and flat belly. Her wavy black hair hung down her back. The intoxicating smell of perfume wafted through the air. As the women turned around, he did also. His body temperature started to rise. What is with that sexy getup? Where did they go to buy groceries, the Lion’s Den?

“I see he hasn’t changed the channel.” Mandi walked over, her high heels clicking on the floor. She sat down beside Abraham and glanced between the TV and him. “It’s really not that good.”

Abraham fought the urge to grab Mandi and kiss her.

Sid walked over and sat down on the right side of the sofa, closer to Smoke. She had a slice of pizza in her hand. “Don’t even say, ‘Where is mine?’ You can get it yourself. It’s bad enough we had to run into town to buy your snacks, looking like a pair of hookers.” She started unlacing the straps to her high-heeled shoes. “And you thought this idea wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Do you know how may catcalls we got?”

“Two,” Smoke guessed.

“Huh, I wish it was two. More like twenty,” she glanced at the TV. “Geez, Ruger, won’t you watch something else? Smoke, show him The Punisher or something. Rambo , maybe.”

“If he wants to watch something else, he’ll ask, won’t you, Ruger?”

Abraham kept his stare fixed on the TV and nodded.

Mandi took off her high heels and rubbed her ankles. “I wish you loved rubbing feet as much as you like watching Conan . Did you ever think we might want to watch something else? I’d like to watch women’s Wimbledon.”

“I didn’t know that you were a tennis player,” Smoke said.

“Well, I was—a good one.” She shrugged her chest. “A bit too bouncy, but when I played, the stands were full.” She leaned back on the sofa’s plush arm.

Abraham bent over and lifted her legs up into his lap. Mandi’s painted eyes grew as big as saucers. He started rubbing her feet.