Free Tempered Steel (Steel Riders MC Book 2) by Carmen Faye Page B

two guys, and they really were big — thick, just fucking thick — told him to fuck off, and then the one on James’s left took a swing.
     
    It was kind of like the camera couldn’t keep up with James’s speed. Like maybe the frame rate was too slow. James didn’t bother to block the punch. He attacked the man on the right, moving out of range of the punch. James dealt this man two savage blows to the gut, and then one to the side of his head. Then he spun, coming up into the air, and sidekicked the first man in his neck. And it was over. Just like that.
     
    The last shot had James walking away, saying, “Get those wimps out of here.”
     
    “Wow,” Cyn said.
     
    “Yeah. That was serious,” Daphne agreed.
     
    They made popcorn in the microwave and sat down and watched James flicks. There were several one-on-ones and a few less two-on-ones. There were only a couple of three-on-ones, and then there was a four-on-one where they saw James get serious.
     
    This last video they played over and over, watching James moving from one man to the next, and around them, passing between them, and then, like a storm hits them, all four of them fell down. They just collapsed, like someone had cut their strings. James stood there for a minute, looked around the club, and said, “Next?”
     
    “I can’t figure out what he does to make them all fall down like that,” Cyn said as she stuffed more popcorn into her mouth.
     
    “It doesn’t look like he does anything to them. They just pass out,” Daphne suggested.
     
    “Yeah, but look. James knows it’s about to happen. See how he comes out of his fighting stance and just stands up straight, just before they all collapse? It’s really weird.”
     
    “Weren’t you going to get some work done?” Daphne asked.
     
    “What are you, my mother?”
     
    “I just don’t want this to not work out, because I really want you here.”
     
    “Shit, baby, I’m not going anywhere. So, let’s set up my WiFi router with your connection and we can both play on the computer at the same time.”
     
    “Sweet,” Daphne agreed.
     
    Half an hour later, they were settling back to their computers when Cyn said, “I’m supposed to call him and ask him to go to the range with me today.”
     
    “Who?” Daphne asked without looking from her computer screen.
     
    “Him. You know, HIM .”
     
    She turned to look at Cyn. “ HIM him?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “He’s married, you know.”
     
    “Yes, you mentioned that already. But Hank told me it would be a good idea after last night. So, I’m going to call him. Would you like to come with us to the range?”
     
    She thought about that. “Could I ride behind him?”
     
    “He’s married, you know,” Cyn laughed.
     
    She sighed. “Men like him shouldn’t be allowed to be married. They should be national treasures, and open like national parks. It’s really a shame I like Sally so much. She’s such a great person.”
     
    “So, is that a yes? Or a very whiny no?” Cyn asked.
     
    “It’s a whiny yes, and I really don’t like to shoot guns. They scare me too much. But it would be nice to get out. Maybe we could get some lunch after?”
     
    Cyn picked up her phone and dialed the number Hank had given her last night. “Sounds good. We can stop off at Maison’s Hall as well and check it out.”
     
    “Hello?”
     
    “Um, James? It’s Cyn. Hank gave me this number and suggested that I call you. I hope this isn’t too forward.”
     
    “Not at all, Cyn. What can I do for you?”
     
    Oh god, you could do whatever you wanted with me, that’s what you could do.
     
    Cyn pulled herself together. “I asked Hank for a gun, and he gave me one on the condition I hit the range and get familiar with it. Then he said that you knew where one was close by, and that you could perhaps give me some pointers.”
     
    God, I sound like a robot!
     
    James was quiet, and she pictured him snickering with his phone muted. “Yes,