“Motherfucker,” Hunter growled, looking over at Jagger. “The fuck are you so calm about this?” he said, shaking his head.
Jagger sighed, rubbing his stubbled jaw. “Because it’s Dean. The only way we could get rid of him is by getting him off this world.”
“I wasn’t talking about getting rid of him. What if he has a gun with him, huh? He’s been following her around, for fuck’s sake!” I gripped Hunter’s hand tighter, turning to look at him.
“Nothing happened yet, Hunter.”
He let out a harsh laugh, taking his hand from mine and standing up. “Is he out there now?” he asked, walking over to the window.
“No, he’s not. My partner said he hasn’t left his car yet and he’s just sitting in an empty parking lot of a gas station. You really think I would’ve come here, showing myself to him?” Bennett asked, amused. God, this wasn’t going to end well at all.
“Hunter, please sit back down,” I said slowly, hoping he would listen.
“That bastard is creeping on you, Goddammit!” I sighed, trying to keep calm.
“I’m aware of that now, Hunter. But that’s why Mr. Bennett is here. Please, sit back down.”
It took Hunter several minutes to pace up and down the living room before sitting back down. I caressed his back and wrapped my other hand around his arm.
“Now, I get the frustration. We’re trying to do our best here. Dean hasn’t left his car in some days. Not sure how he’s surviving but we’ve seen him eat some sandwiches in the past few days and he emptied some bucket multiple times.”
A simultaneous, disgusted sound came out of us at the realization of what Dean was dumping out of his car. What a sad, sad man.
“So you guys are just letting him sit in there?” Jagger asked.
Bennett looked over at him, nodding. “We gotta be careful. We don’t know if he’s got guns with him. Not taking any risks. For now, I need you to be careful and know that I’m around to make sure Dean won’t cross any lines.”
Chapter Eighteen
Harlow
I could feel the tension in the room. Not only was Dean in town, but I could tell Hunter wasn’t going to let that slip easily. No matter how calm he acted right now, I knew Dean and Bennett being around would have consequences. It bothered him that there was someone else protecting me from my father, but he just had to get along with that thought.
Bennett was still in our living room, sipping on his water and talking about all the possible reasons why Dean was in town. The fact that he had even found out where we lived was scary. I knew Dean wasn’t just here to watch us, and since he didn’t leave that stolen car and did his business in a bucket, he couldn’t be safe to be around.
I patted Hunter’s knee, giving him a small smile and hoping he would realize that even I had to keep calm. As much as I loved him, I needed him to step back a little and let the professionals do the work. Sure, Jagger and Hunter were hitmen. They could easily go after Dean. But now that the police were informed, they couldn’t just make Dean disappear. It would be a little too suspicious.
“What if the police tried to show themselves to Dean and let him know they’re around?” I asked, wanting to help the situation. Bennett turned to look at me, shaking his head and lifting the corner of his mouth slightly.
“Gonna be honest with you here, Harlow,” he said, putting his glass down. “Your father knows his way around the cops. He’s a manipulator—”
Jagger’s chuckle interrupted Bennett. “Nothing new,” he muttered, taking another sip of his beer. “And in that case, we need to catch him off guard. See what he’s up to and get to him when he least expects it. I know it’s scary knowing he’s around, but right now, we have no reason to arrest him.”
Hunter let out a harsh laugh this time and we all glanced over to him. “He’s fucking stalking her. Isn’t that enough reason to arrest him?” he asked. He had a point. Stalking was a crime and should be taken seriously. Bennett shook his head. “He’s keeping some distance for now. And the longer we try to just watch him, the more time we get to prepare for anything he could do.”
My head was full. I didn’t want to think about anything Dean would wanna do. He was an alcoholic. Drugs weren’t rare in his system. I looked over at my brother who was watching me closely. I smiled at him, letting him know I was okay. I didn’t need him to worry. We were all okay for now and that’s what mattered.
“What about work?” Jagger then asked and turned to look at Bennett. “Is it safe for me to go to work?” Bennett shrugged.
“What do you do?” he asked, the question sounding a bit empty. Almost as if he already knew the answer.
“Mechanic,” was Jagger’s simple response. Bennett raised a brow, then looked over at Hunter.
“And what do you do?” I looked up at Hunter, pressing my lips into a thin line. I hope he had a good lie prepared for this situation because telling an investigator that you killed people for a living was the wrong answer.
We were waiting for an answer, but Hunter didn’t seem to have one. I glanced over at Jagger, hoping he would help him out. Luckily, Hunter then answered and relief washed over me.
“I cook. At Frankie’s Diner.” Bennett nodded, Jagger gave him a confused look, and I tried not to grin like a fool because even if that wasn’t true, I knew he meant it as an answer to my offer back then when I had asked him to work for Frankie.
***
Hunter
I just accepted Harlow’s offer to work at Frankie’s because of that piece of shit next to us. I didn’t want to work. Hell, I wasn’t even sure if Frankie still needed someone to help out in the kitchen. But the way Harlow beamed at me when I said it told me that the job was still open. Great.
“I wouldn’t mind you guys working and keep on living, but I’m just a bit worried about her.” Bennett nodded toward Harlow, and for the first time, I agreed with him. “She shouldn’t be working late shifts or walking home alone,” he said. “As long as one of you is always around her, it’ll be fine. I know you got enough shit to handle but maybe try to stay in a bit more until Dean makes the next move.”
“What if we just carry guns? If he tries something, we can defend ourselves,” Jagger said. What was he trying to do? Jesus, Jagger.
“I know Hastings isn’t a safe city, but carrying guns just makes it more difficult if Dean acts up and you pull one on him. Cops could arrest you just the same.” Bennett had a point. He watched Jagger for a while, then turned his head to look at me. “Let me be clear here. I know you two are carrying. But it’s your house,” he said, looking back at Jagger. “And keeping guns in your own home isn’t a crime. But going outside and even thinking about using them could get you in some deep shit.”
“What makes you think we’re carrying?” Jagger asked with his eyebrow shot up. He then lifted his shirt, revealing that he didn’t have a gun tucked into his pants.
Bennett let out a small chuckle, shaking his head and leaning back. “And as soon as I’m out that door, a gun will be tucked in there.”
Jagger leaned back as well. “What makes you think I got guns laying around the house?” he asked, almost challenging.
Bennett tilted his head to the side and a smug grin appeared on his face. “You really think I can’t feel that gun underneath the cushion?” I gave Jagger an annoyed look. Fucking touché, idiot.
I growled, running my hand over my face. “Can you just leave? We got this. She won’t leave the house without one of us and you’ll keep us updated on Dean, deal?” I said, getting up and needing to stretch my legs and relax again before I kicked him out myself. I’d seen enough of him for today.
Harlow’s hand reached up to touch mine, giving me a serious look. “Be nice,” she whispered as if Bennett wouldn’t hear.
He then chuckled, standing up and nodding toward Jagger. “I got your number in case I got news.” He turned to look at Harlow, giving her a smile now. “You keep these two down to earth, yeah? They seem to have more love
for you than themselves.”
Harlow nodded slowly, smiling back at him. “Thank you. For helping out, I mean,” she told him. Right, that was enough of him staring at her. I walked him over to the door and opened it to send him on his way.
Bennett had other plans, though. He stopped and turned to me. His hand once again landed on my shoulder, gripping it a little too tightly for my liking. “Listen, man. I’m here to help. Jagger sees it and your girl sees it too. Now stop giving me those looks. She’s all yours.” With one last pat on my shoulder, he left.
Chapter Nineteen
Hunter
“How many guns are in this house?” Harlow’s voice came off a little too harsh for my liking. She knew we needed them, so why was she only just now asking about it? I turned to her after I closed the door behind Bennett. She was standing with her arms crossed and her head tilted to the side. I glanced over at Jagger, lifting an eyebrow.
“Not my house,” I said, pointing out the obvious. Harlow furrowed her brows, then turned to look at her brother. Good thing she realized we were standing in her own four walls.
“How many?” she asked, trying to sound just as serious as she did the first time. Jagger couldn’t help a grin and I was close to mimicking his face since seeing Harlow like that was more cute than scary.
“Just a bunch,” he told her, then got up from his seat to get himself another beer from the kitchen. Harlow wasn’t happy with that answer, walking straight to the couch Bennett sat on minutes ago, lifting the cushion and picking up the handgun hiding underneath.
“How many? she repeated.
“Jesus Christ,” I said as she waved the gun around like it was a toy. I walked over to stand behind her, reaching for the gun and taking it from her. “I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but these things are dangerous.”
“Yeah, no shit,” she mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest again. I raised an eyebrow at her choice of words. It was amusing, yet this had to be taken seriously. I heard a chuckle from the kitchen and I looked up to see Jagger taking a sip from his beer, leaning against the doorway. “I’m all for hiding dangerous shit from her, but I kinda like this. Her getting all annoyed with you and talking back.”
I rolled my eyes, putting the gun back down on the couch and covering it with the cushion. “I don’t need her to get hurt. She can get as sassy with me as she wants.” I sat back down, running my hands through my hair.
“Nobody answered my question,” Harlow said, now sounding less interested in the number of guns laying around.
“Seven,” was all Jagger said before sitting back down on the recliner. Harlow let out a sigh, letting herself plop down next to me.
“So, what now?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I won’t stop working just because Dean is around,” Jagger said, leaning back and looking at me. “He said there’s another guy watching him, and Dean can’t be in two places at once. So as long they’re watching him, we can go on with our lives.”
“And what if he somehow finds a way to shake them off?” Harlow asked, looking concerned.
“Then Bennett did a shit job. Listen, Low,” he said with a sigh. “I know you’re scared. But staying in and stopping our lives because of that piece of shit is not gonna happen. He won’t get that power over us. Not this time.”
Harlow nodded, then turned to look at me. Her eyes were glassy, and I could tell she was on the verge of letting go some tears. “I don’t want to stay in here because of him, either.” And I knew what that meant. She had her job and she liked to work. She was also pretty damn safe in that diner unless Dean decided to go in. So, all I could do was to accept that offer. I ran my hand over my face before propping my elbows onto my knees, letting my head down. “I guess those people at the diner will have to get used to a new cook.”
Harlow squealed, hugging me from the side with a huge smile on her face. “Thank you!” she said, happier than ever.
“So that shit was real?” Jagger asked. I looked up at him, putting my arm around his sister’s back and pulling her closer to my side.
“Yeah,” I said, now looking at Harlow. “She once asked me if I wanted to take on a normal job. You know, to cover just like you. So, now I have a reason to work there. I’ll take care of her and make some more money I don’t need.”
Harlow rolled her eyes. “Ever thought about giving it to charity?” she asked. Jagger and I both nodded. “They check where the money came from. They don’t take any checks without a background check and our money is pretty much worth shit when it comes to charity,” I told her.
“But we got some people we know who need some help to stay alive. We give some to them each month,” Jagger added.
***
Harlow
And just like that, all the wrongs from being hitmen just disappeared. I knew they were just doing their jobs, helping other people out by killing others—God, that just sounded wrong. But I wasn’t going to interfere in their lives. At least, knowing that they gave back to others was something positive.
“And I pay Bliss’s rent. Least I can do after what she did for me as a kid.” I smiled at Hunter, nodding.
“That’s very sweet of you,” I told him.
“Speaking of the devil,” Jagger muttered while looking out of the window, letting his head fall back against the headrest. I turned to the window and saw Bliss get out of her car, her arms carrying two large paper bags with the logo of the diner she worked at on them.
“It’s Bliss,” I pointed out, getting up to go open the door. Hunter pulled me back down though, getting up himself and walking to the front door to open it for her sister. I took a glance at Jagger, who looked rather annoyed. What was the matter with them?
“Hey, Hun,” Bliss said in her usual happy voice. No matter how loud she was, she did light up a room with her mood. “I hope you guys are hungry because I brought the best chicken wings in town.” I turned to look at her, then got up to hug her. Hunter had taken the bags from her, setting them down on the couch table.
“Hello, darlin’,” she said and hugged me back with a huge smile on her face.
“Hi,” I simply said, enjoying the hug a little too much. Having a friend was nice.
When I stepped back to look at the food Hunter was taking out of the bag, Bliss turned to Jagger and pouted. “If I had known you’d be here, then I would’ve just dropped the food at the doorstep and left.” She was teasing him, and I was just a little confused as to why she was mocking him like that. Jagger rolled his eyes, sitting up straight and reaching for a box of wings.
“Good to see you, Bliss,” he told her.
I looked at Hunter and he shrugged, giving me a quick smile. Was I not reading them correctly? Did I miss something? Clearly, they had a thing for each other just some days ago and now he was all annoyed. I sat back down next to Hunter, still eyeing my brother and Bliss.
“Eat,” Hunter whispered, telling me I should let go of all the thoughts surrounding the other two.
Oh, well. As long as they don’t start a fight everything’s fine. Still, it was amusing, yet confusing.
Chapter Twenty
Harlow
I felt some tension in the room. Hunter and Jagger ate quietly, giving each other almost annoyed looks and Bliss kept on talking about her new man, Kit. She was mostly talking to me since I was the only one asking questions, but I could tell Jagger was listening. He rolled his eyes multiple times and that’s when I realized what was going on. The last time he acted like this was at the diner, when Bliss told us the story of her exes and other guys she met in her life. Oh, my God. My brother was jealous. Because of Bliss.
I must’ve made a surprised face when I finally got the gist of it because Hunter chuckled and shook his head. “Welcome aboard,” he whispered, letting me know he knew about them already. I glanced over at Jagger, who was now cleaning his hands with a wet wipe. He was pissed, ready to leave the living room. I looked back at Hunter, pressing my lips together tightly.
>
Even if I wanted to know more about Bliss and Jagger’s romance, or whatever it was they had, it didn’t feel right to just randomly ask. They obviously kept it secret and I didn’t want to bother them about it. Bliss seemed to have it all under control anyway, making him jealous of the new guy she met some nights ago at a bar.
I had to let it go. It wasn’t my business.
“Excuse me,” Jagger said and got up from the recliner, taking his paper plate with the clean bones on it over to the kitchen. Hunter got up too and followed him with his plate. They started talking quietly, Hunter looking rather concerned.
“Anyway, I’m seeing him again tonight. So, I’ll have to leave soon,” Bliss told me with a smile that definitely didn’t meet her eyes.
“Will you be okay?” I asked. I wasn’t sure why, but something just didn’t feel right. She didn’t seem too enthusiastic about meeting that guy. It was either because of Jagger’s lack of interest in Bliss now, or Kit was treating her badly and she just went to prove to Jagger that she didn’t care about him either. That’s complicated.
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