by Claire Adams
Hunter faced me, his fingers running along my cheeks. He did not reciprocate the smile I yielded. Instead, his expression was serious.
“Kylie, please stay. I won’t let you go until I find out who’s stalking your house.” His green eyes were expressive and bold. The conviction in his voice was endearing. Being around this tough, bad boy was the best thing that had come from the jacked up few weeks I’d had.
“Okay. I’ll stay.” I kept the rest of my thoughts to myself and laid my head on his strong chest. He wrapped his arm around me, securing me. It was the best feeling in the world.
Without any worries in mind, I fell asleep peacefully in Hunter’s arms.
Chapter Nineteen
Two Days Later
Hunter
“Your mini-me seemed to be his old self again.” Garren returned to my desk, delivering a gun that a customer was coming in to check out. I worked on the papers, issuing the permit and license for the new gun owner.
Vince was reading one of the books Mrs. Tomms gave him days ago. He looked better, finally returning to his cheerful and talkative nature. His cheeks were rosy again.
“He’s doing much better. I think getting him on insulin has made a huge difference. I never thought I’d say anything like it, but I’m grateful the little guy got the flu. We wouldn’t have known he had diabetes otherwise.”
Garren watched as I signed some of the papers that needed my authorization. “That’s great. Are you still checking his blood sugar regularly?”
I handed him the paperwork and stood up from my desk. “Yep. Vince is working hard to live a normal life like the other kids around him. He has taken so well to being a diabetic.”
“That’s great to hear. He is in good hands.” He patted my shoulder, giving me praise for being the hands-on father I hoped to become.
I looked at him as he busied himself with the book he was reading. “The doctor told me that people with diabetes live completely normal lives. He said Vince is improving fast. I hope it only goes well from here on out.”
Garren gave me an affirmative nod.
As we met the customer, I greeted him warmly. I taught him the tips and tricks in using his new gun, as well as the limitations of his use.
“The license and permit serve as an evidence of your huge responsibility to society. Owning a gun does not mean you can use it however you want. It means you have accepted the challenge of embracing duties attributed to the power you now have. I may sound silly, but you should always keep that in mind.”
The young man who purchased the gun looked at me with a bizarre stare. At some point, I thought I scared him. He looked bewildered by my words, but my anxiety was soon replaced by relief when he burst into laughter.
“Yes, sir. I won’t let you down.” He had shaken my hand before he left, promising he would return to ask more about using his gun. I had always talked about that to my customers, and I had no plan of removing that stage of the purchase.
Garren gave me a sarcastic look he used to irritate me, but I just let out a chuckle. Instead, I returned to my desk and worked on the new issuances I made, collating them based on dates and gun types.
No sooner had I sat down than Garren interrupted me.
“Man, there’s someone who wants to talk to you.” For the first time, I heard him nervous. I managed to laugh at him, amused by his sudden mood shift.
“What is it that made your knees shake?” I asked.
He replied with nonverbal language, pointing with his hand over to a man who stood before the display case.
I stood up, brows wrinkled on what the fuss was all about.
The man was thin and pale. His expression was unchanging—a bored look mirrored through his eyes. He kept his gaze on the shelves facing him, staring at the snipers on display as Garren and I walked over to meet him.
“What can I do for you, sir?” I scrutinized him further as I stood before him. He was a thin man who wore a black shirt and dark trousers. He was holding a hat in his one hand and a duffel bag in the other. He was a new face, someone I had never met before.
“I am looking for the Scythe.” His voice was husky and dry. The distinct sound was unmistakable. He searched for the Scythe.
“I’m afraid you’re looking for something illegal, sir,” I responded, keeping my eyes on him. He looked suspicious as hell. I had been living around Mesquite for a long time, meeting everyone from around here, but I’d never seen him before.
He kept his facial expression consistent. “Yes, I know. I don’t care. I want one.”
“Sir, that type of gun is illegal. Normal people can’t buy those without any authorization from the government. It’s a crime to buy or sell something that dangerous.” I explained the rules laid out by the law for him. Despite me explaining further, he didn’t seem to give a shit.
“I know that. No need to give me a lecture. So, how much are you selling it for? I’m willing to pay the price; just name it.” The muscles in his face barely moved.
The asshole was pushing my limits. I wanted to yell at him, just in case he failed to hear my point. Or perhaps he was up to something fishy.
“Why are you buying the gun, sir?”
His expression did not change nor did he move. He kept his eyes on mine, his lids half closed suggesting his bored expression.
“If you’re not selling the gun, then I think I don’t need to waste any more of your day. Thanks for your time.” He looked around once again as if memorizing the place. He turned his back and left, letting his voice linger in the air. I tried to memorize any details prominent about him. He was up to something nefarious, no doubt.
“He’s a weird looking guy. What a waste of time.” Garren looked pissed, but I felt off. I hoped I could have one more look at him, just in case I could find a clue what he was up to.
“Something’s up with that guy. We need to keep an eye out for him. I don’t like the way he thought he could come in here and push us around. Not to mention the asshole wanting to buy something illegal.” I sat back at my desk, still trying to figure out the man’s purpose. There must have been something I missed in the conversation between us.
Thankfully, we had a busy day at the gun shop. More customers came by to ask for additional tips about their guns, even requesting for a short gun practice at the range. Some purchased guns, both from new and previous customers. The daily sales were pretty good, enough to surpass the average sales we had for the week before.
After we had closed the gun shop, Vince and I drove home. We reached our house safely and found Kylie waiting outside on the front porch. I parked the car in the garage and apologized for getting home late.
“Have you been here long?” Vince came running along, bringing his bag with him.
“A little bit. No biggie.” She smiled, and my heart raced.
I unlocked the door immediately for her to come inside.
“It’s been the third day now. I should get my key duplicated so you could have your own.” She shook her head; her cheeks turned rosy pink.
“No, it’s fine. No worries about it, Hunter.”
Vince sat on the couch and turned on the television. I watched as he took his book out of his bag, looking eager to continue with his latest book adventure.
“You need it. Sometimes, we come home late, and you can’t be outside for too long. It’s for your own safety as well.” I wanted to reach out and touch her, but not in front of Vince. Not yet at least.
She nodded, agreeing. “Thank you.”
Vince was reading the book out loud, the kid getting down harder words than I had at his age for sure. I laughed as I watched him, distracted by his loud voice.
Kylie laughed as well, finding it funny that Vince seemed to notice the awkwardness between the two of us as we tried to figure out what to do. You didn’t sleep with someone twice and then treat them like a friend a few days later. It was on me to make a move, but I needed to figure a few things out first, and I would.
“B
y the way.” I stopped laughing, returning to my sober self. “I’m planning to go hog hunting soon. You should come along. Watch how I shoot the hogs. That way you can learn how to shoot at a moving target.”
She stood up straight. She nodded, her eyes determined and eager to witness the scene. “I would like that. I think.”
I’d like it too. Any excuse for more time with her was a good enough reason for me to suggest just about anything. “Just in case you see something again, you won’t be afraid to pull the trigger anymore.” I smiled and reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears. God, she was beautiful. Insanely so.
Chapter Twenty
Kylie
The rest of the evening was spent doing much of nothing, and I must have been more tired than I thought. I passed out on the couch and woke up in Hunter’s bed alone just after two in the afternoon. I must have been exhausted. I never sleep that long.
After scrambling some eggs for the little guy, I dropped down on the couch next to him with a smile on my face. He was growing on me, and I wasn’t sure if I was falling in love with him or Hunter faster. We watched TV for a couple of hours before Vince went to find some of his toys and his coloring book.
I hadn’t relaxed so much in forever. It was bliss.
Vince was busy coloring the rest of his books while I watched his favorite cartoons on the television. I was getting used to all the kid shows he watched, and honestly, I was starting to like them.
“What color do you want, Kylie? Red or pink?” He pointed to the rose that was on the first page of his book. I picked the red one, telling him it’s the prettier of the two. He continued his activity as I kept my eyes on him, amused by how productive he was during his Sunday morning.
Sunday was my day off at the convenience store. It was a blessing in disguise, though. Days off during the weekends enabled me to spend more time with Vince, which was quickly becoming my favorite thing to do.
“How about this girl’s hair, Kylie?” He pointed to the next page where a pretty girl held a rose.
I smiled at him and picked the color yellow. “That girl looks like me. Curls on the end of the long hair. Golden blonde will do.” He took the crayon happily from my hand, smiling at me as he nodded.
“Yeah, she looks like you. Except that you’re prettier.” He returned his attention to the book, coloring in the girl’s hair with the yellow.
I stroked Vince’s hair as I watched him enjoy his hobby. Living with the Yonnies was one of the best things in life. It felt like I was a part of a family. Vince was like a son to me.
“Are you hungry, Vince?” I asked him, his eyes still focused on the girl he was coloring.
“Not yet.”
I looked at the clock and stood up from my seat. “Nonetheless, I better get us something to eat before you get hungry. A superhero must not go starving.” I walked to the kitchen to start cooking the meat Hunter left in the fridge from before he left that morning.
“Hey. I’m home. Anyone here?” The sound of Hunter’s voice caused my stomach to tighten as I worked in the kitchen.
“In here. Just getting dinner together,” I called out, trying not to think about how nice it was to play family with Hunter and Vince. Could it turn into something else? Something more? I prayed it would.
“My Aunt Brenda is stopping by to pick up some papers on her way through town.” Hunter moved closer to me and smiled. “You’ll like her.”
“Is she coming in time for dinner?”
“I don’t think so. Speaking of dinner. I’m starving. Let me wash up and I’ll be right there.”
I watched him go before going into the kitchen and finishing things up. I called Hunter and Vince into the kitchen and prepared our plates. Pork barbecue with stewed veggies on the side. The aroma of the food was truly delicious, making my stomach grumble in hunger.
“I told you, you are the better cook between the two of us. Right, Vince?” Hunter smiled as we sat across the table from each other, stealing glances at one another through the whole meal.
“Yep,” Vince mumbled through his mouthful, causing us to chuckle.
As I took a slice of the pork in my mouth, Hunter surprised me with his plan he had in mind for the night.
“After we finish dinner, prepare your gun and get dressed. We are going hog hunting tonight.”
“Really? Wait. Where is Vince going to be?” I asked. The plan had my heart racing in my chest. Before, I was looking forward to trying target shooting over moving targets. Now that it reminded me about using my gun again, I felt overwhelmed. I hadn’t used my gun for quite some time and had honestly started to wonder why I even had the damn thing.
I needed to do it this time. I was pulling the trigger that night. Period.
“Yeah. Where am I going to be, Dad? Am I going too?” Vince asked.
As if on cue, someone knocked on the door. Hunter stood and smiled. “Nope. It’s going to take Aunt Brenda a little while to dig through your grandfather’s old chest of drawers to find what she’s looking for. She’ll be here while you’re off in dreamland.” He winked before walking to the door.
I was nervous meeting someone in his family for some reason, but Vince made me feel much better.
“Oh, Kylie. You’re going to like Aunt Brenda.” He leaned closer and whispered, “She always brings candy!”
“Who’s in here!” An older woman with a great smile walked into the kitchen and Vince yelled and ran toward her. “Come here, munchkin!”
“Aunt B, I want you to meet my friend, Kylie. I’m going to take her out to the barn to show her how to shoot. You know, hanging out for a little bit? Shouldn’t be too long.”
I extended my hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, dear.” She glanced over at Hunter, still hugging Vince. “I don’t mind at all. Take your time.”
After we spoke for a minute more, I walked to the back to change, worried that I was going to mess things up. I wasn’t a gun type of gal, but I’d done all right so far. I took a deep breath and prepared myself both physically and mentally. I knew I should do my best to focus on this hunting. It was the only chance for me to channel my inner strength and confidence for protecting myself.
I tied my hair up after changing into my comfortable pants and hoodie jacket. Carrying the gun fully loaded with a complete magazine in it, I went down to meet Hunter in the living room.
“You sure that Vince is going to be okay?” I glanced over my shoulder toward the office. I could hear him and Aunt Brenda in there cackling about something.
“Oh, yeah. We’ll lock up, and we’re just going out back. Besides, Brenda loves that kid like he was her grandson. And these bastard pigs aren’t too far. They’ve been tearing up the yard, remember?”
“How could I forget.” I walked over to him and put my hand on his chest. “Kiss me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He reached up and cupped my face, pulling me close for a long, probing kiss.
I jerked back as Vince called out to me. “I’ll be back.” I smiled and turned, going to check on the little guy. He was either talking in his sleep or I was hearing things. He was out like a light by the time I opened his door. Weird.
Hunter was sitting in the living room when I returned, checking one of his long-range guns. He looked like a bad ass killer ready for the shooting battle in the woods.
He stood up from his seat, swinging the gun’s attached sling around his body. He walked to the gun cabinet and pulled out a shotgun, surprising me a little.
“Do we need something that big?” I smiled as he gave me a cocky grin.
“Yeah. Those hogs are huge.” His eyes rolled over me as approval filled his expression. “You ready?”
I could feel the nerves returning inside of me. I gulped, nodding afterward as a signal of a thrifty, optimistic answer. “Yeah. I guess.”
“Let’s go then.” He held my hand, pulling me out of the house. All the madness and worries in my head vanished in the wind as we
walked out under the moonlight.
It felt like the first night I spent with him. The night that left an imprint on my entire life. How could I forget that moment I shared with him under the light of the stars and the moon?
It made me feel so alive.
While we strolled out in the dark, he led the way toward the back of his yard. The gun practice area he set up was still silent, no signs of anything that rooted up from the green grass. He kept walking, determined to explore the forest and search for the hogs that ruined his properties.
Before we laid foot in the area were plenty of trees shaded the wild hogs, he faced me with a threatening look.
“Remember, those hogs are not the kindest animals you’ll meet in the forest. They are wild and dangerous. If they spot any enemies or threats near them, they won’t hesitate to battle them with all their might.” His green eyes glistened under the moonlight. I nodded, keeping him aware that I was listening to his reminders.
“Also, I’ll let you take the first shot. This time, don’t hesitate. It will not kill the hog, but it will slow him down. Don’t think about it much; I’ll protect you over the course of this practice.” I let out a heavy exhale, but affirmed his words.
He released my hand and positioned his gun, holding it in combat mode. I did the same, handling the gun tight. We turned our flashlights on, which was attached to the harness he had me wear before we left the house.
As we searched for the hogs, I was focusing on two things. The hogs were the primary goal, but protecting myself and Hunter was of higher importance. I kept my senses sharp as we continued our hunt, trying to be the first to spot the enemy.
Just as I was to take another step in the expedition, I spotted one huge hog gazing at me. His eyes were reflecting his madness and need to run me down, eager to kill me before I could do it. My body froze, my fingers glued to the grip on my gun.
I remembered the man’s silhouette. The man who laid foot in my house without any permission. The trespasser who took advantage of my property, locking his target on me. I felt the same dangerous vibe from this hog. His eyes were telling me that I should retreat, that the man and this hog were stronger than me.
