Slightly Off Balance

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Slightly Off Balance Page 20

by Kaylie Hunter


  “Yup. And I’m not planning on aiming for his toes either.”

  Leo looked at me curiously but then moved back down the hall. Darlene held the rifle, watching the living room. Leo stationed himself against the wall so he could watch both the living room and the bedroom.

  I crouched down next to Everett and wiped the sweat off his forehead with my sleeve. He was unconscious. “How is he?”

  “Wound isn’t that deep, but the bleeding isn’t slowing down.”

  “He’s a tough old bird. He’ll make it,” Darlene said, not turning her attention from the living room as she answered.

  A gunshot blew a hole in the door, but the latch held it closed. Darlene and Leo returned fire. After several rounds, they stopped and waited. A side window was shot out in the living room.

  “He’s baiting us,” Darlene said. “Looking for a read on our location.”

  “Or trying to make an opening large enough,” Leo whispered.

  “Large enough for what?” I asked, dreading the answer.

  “To drop something inside and torch the place,” Darlene whispered.

  “It would be the smart move,” Leo nodded.

  “The smart move? Who the hell are you?” I whispered.

  “An acquaintance of Reel’s who isn’t stable enough to be let loose on the world.”

  “Should I be pointing my gun at you?” Darlene asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Naw. You’re too cute to kill,” Leo said.

  I set the gun down and crawled back into Reel’s room. I opened the top dresser drawer, finding some socks. Crawling to the closet, I dug around for some shoes and was both happy and annoyed to find a pair of women’s tennis shoes.

  “What are you doing?” Leo whispered, poking his head in the bedroom.

  “If I die out here, promise me two things,” I grumbled, as I slid the shoes and socks on.

  “What?”

  “First, get these damn shoes off me. Second, punch Reel. And I mean hard.”

  “Wait—Ryan and Reel are the same person, right?”

  “Yeah,” I nodded, lacing up the second shoe.

  “And why would I punch him?”

  “Hand him the shoes and he’ll know why.”

  I crawled back into the hall and waited.

  “Whatever you are thinking, it’s a stupid idea,” Darlene said.

  “He wants me. Not any of you. When he tries to shoot out the next window or door, I’ll make a run for it in the other direction. He’ll follow me away from the cabin. He won’t waste the time to light it on fire first.”

  “I’ll go,” Leo said, holding my arm to stop me.

  “Won’t work,” Darlene said. “She’s right. He wants her.” She passed the rifle off to Leo and took his handgun. “But you’re not going alone. I will go with you. Then Leo can get Everett out of here and to a hospital.”

  “No deal. I can move faster on my own. Reel will find me in time. Stay with Leo and help get Everett out. If you see Reel, tell him I’ll take the trails to the east for as long as it’s safe to stay on them. He knows these woods.”

  “And if Reel doesn’t find you in time?” Darlene glared, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

  “Then get your shit together and make me proud, sister,” I said, pulling her in for a brief hug.

  A shot rang out through the bedroom window, and I ran for the front door before anyone could argue. Throwing the door open, I jumped off the side of the porch, stumbling before I got my feet back under me again. I started for the east trail as I yelled out behind me, “Come and get me asshole!!”

  A shot rang out, shredding a chunk of bark on a tree as I ran past. I ran faster.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  I was slowing. I couldn’t help it. My jelly legs were unaccustomed to so much exercise. Okay, they weren’t accustomed to any exercise. And neither were my lungs, as each breath seemed to burn in my chest like I was inhaling flames. Sweat dripped off me and ran down my forehead into my eyes, making it even harder to see in the near blackness.

  I knew I had to turn off the trail and attempt to hide before he caught up with me. I might have been almost thirty years younger, but he had been gaining on me, and the shots were getting closer and closer. Ducking to the left, I raced down an open hill and crossed into a patch of trees as another shot rang out. I couldn’t hear where the shot had landed and glanced over my shoulder to see whether I could see anything. As I ran blindly forward, the ground disappeared under my foot, and the next thing I knew, I was rolling down a steep bank, landing in a muddy gulley.

  I scampering to the side of the gulley, trying to pull myself up to run. I made it about ten feet before I dropped to my knees, unable to keep going. I turned, leaning my back into the muddy slope, nestled between two scraggly bushes, and waited. I could only hope that I was covered in enough mud to hide me in the dark. I wasn’t so lucky.

  “Trying to hide in a hot pink jogging suit is a bit silly,” a man’s voice called from above me. “Even if most of it’s covered in mud.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m tired,” I answered, breathing heavy. “I just can’t run anymore. Maybe if you leave and we try this again in another month or so, it will be more sporting for you.”

  “You’re funny,” he said humorlessly as he jogged down the bank beside me. “Your dad was funny, too.”

  “Is that why you killed him? You have something against people with a sense of humor?”

  “I had something against a man trying to raise another man’s daughter as his own,” he snapped. “Darlene was my daughter, not his. He had no right.”

  “So, he did know? That Darlene wasn’t his?”

  “He knew alright. Said he knew it the moment he saw her, but he didn’t care.”

  “Ever hear of filing for shared custody? You didn’t have to kill him.”

  “I would have just taken her, if it weren’t for your grandpa,” Morgan snorted. “He had evidence against my brother and me. We would have gone to prison. Killing your father was the best option.”

  “For what purpose? You still didn’t have a relationship with Darlene.”

  “That was your mother’s fault,” he laughed, as he slid the last few feet down the bank and stood in front of me in the muck. “Evil bitch. She said she had proof that I murdered your father and that if anything ever happened to her or Darlene, her lawyer would turn the evidence over to the police.”

  “If anything happened to them,” I mumbled, repeating the thought aloud.

  “Oh, you picked up on that did you?” he laughed. “She never once offered to protect you. I would have killed you years ago, but it appeared you had forgotten all about that night. Then that big fella bought the house. I kept in touch enough to know that the two of you were close. I knew it was only a matter of time until you remembered, so I decided your time was up.”

  I snorted. “You make a terrible hitman,” I laughed, thinking of all the times he had tried to kill me. “I mean, the Ferris wheel? The snake? Tampering with my accelerator, chasing me with your truck, the gas leak, and let’s not forget the number of times you shot at me—and missed! Really? Mrs. Crookburn came closer to killing me with her Buick at the bakery.”

  “I’m much better at killing people up close,” he said, pointing the shotgun at my head from only four feet away.

  “Just answer one more question before you pull the trigger.”

  “Make it quick.”

  “Why does my mother hate me?” I asked, looking up at him, hoping to understand after all these years.

  He laughed, lowering the gun. “That’s easy. Because after she had you, she was stuck in this town for the rest of her life. Forever doomed to live in boredom. She knew your father, your uncle, your aunt, and your grandpa would never let her leave and take you with her. You were the anchor that choked the life out of her.”

  I sat in the muck in silence, thinking about what Morgan said. Maybe it was true. Maybe I was the final weight that held my mother imprisoned
in a life she never wanted. Or maybe he was full of shit. I’d probably never know.

  But I knew the rest of what he said was true. My father, my uncle, my aunt, and my grandpa would never have let her take me away from them. They would have protected Darlene the same way. It made sense that my father gave his life trying to protect her. I was willing to do the same.

  I looked back up at Morgan and nodded that I was ready. He slowly raised the gun again, and even in the shadowy darkness, I could see his eyes shine in excitement. What he didn’t know, was that I planned on taking him with me.

  Raising my own gun, I expected him to shoot me immediately, but he was startled by a deep growling-hiss from his left. Covered in dark fur against the muddy bank, the creature stood only a few feet away from Morgan. I couldn’t make out the type of animal in the blackness, but its long, sharp canine teeth glowed against the dark background. Morgan and I both froze, watching it.

  The animal continued hissing and moved side to side, seeming to pace within only a few feet as it watched Morgan. Morgan broke his stance, taking a step back, and the creature leapt, sinking sharp fangs into his thigh as its front claws struck out. Startled, I jumped back, leaning into the muddy bank behind me, and unintentionally pulled the trigger of my gun that was still aimed at Morgan. He fell backward screaming, and I watched in horror as the creature jumped from Morgan’s leg to his face as it attacked. He screamed, trying to tear it off.

  “Shit, shit, shit,” I whimpered as icy chills ran down my back and I turned to furiously climb up the side of the bank, trying to block out the hissing, growling, and screaming behind me.

  Needing both hands, I tossed the gun and sank my fingers into the muddy tufts of grass to pull myself up. At the top, a solid set of arms lifted me and turned me away from the ledge.

  The blackness of the night prevented me from seeing who held me, but I knew by the scent and feel that it was Reel. “Got-t-t, tt-ttt-ooo, l-l-leavvve,” I stammered, gripping tight to him.

  “I’ve got you,” he whispered. “Is that Morgan down there?”

  “Mmm-monnn-st-tt-ter, got-t-t-t, ’im,” I stuttered, trying to calm my shaking.

  “Holy shit,” Leo said from beside us, leaning over the ledge with a flashlight. “She’s not fool’n’. Something is attacking the shit out of him. I think he’s dead.”

  “What?” Reel said, leaning toward the edge.

  “Noooo!” I yelled, beating on his chest and pulling us away from the ledge. “You, take me home,” I cried. “Right now. Damn it, Reel. Take me home.”

  “You heard her, Leo,” Reel said, picking me up and carrying me in his arms. “Time to get my girl home. She’s as strong as they come, but when she’s done, she’s done.”

  “Yeah, no problem. I promised Darlene we’d find her and bring her back. The quicker the better before she causes any more trouble.”

  “Still can’t believe Darlene punched Rod.”

  “She thought he was you.”

  “That’s why it’s funny.”

  “And you think I’m the crazy one.”

  I listened to their banter as I held Reel close, and my body trembled from the horrific scenes playing in my mind.

  “Shhh,” Reel whispered. “I’m right here.”

  I was with Reel. I was safe.

  I drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  I woke in my own bed, curled up tight against Reel. I knew I should move away, but he felt warm and safe, and I needed more of that.

  “You okay?” he whispered, sensing I was awake.

  “No,” I answered, feeling another round of tears coming. “I killed him, didn’t I?”

  “No, babe,” he said, kissing my forehead, before dragging my body up on top of his so he could see my face. “You didn’t kill anyone.”

  “But he’s dead?”

  “Don’t know yet,” Reel shrugged. “I hope so. But the search party didn’t leave until daylight to go look for a body.”

  “You stayed here? With me?”

  “No place I’d rather be,” he said, cupping my face in his hand. “I love you, Deanna.”

  “You don’t know me,” I sighed, resting my head on his chest.

  I felt his chest rumble as he laughed. “You love to bake because it keeps your mind settled and your hands busy. You easily forgive and seldom anger. You find humor in almost any situation. And when you love,” he said, pulling me up again to face him, “it’s forever. Because you only know how to go all-in.”

  He kissed me. Not the quick peck on the lips or a calming kiss on the forehead, but a passionate kiss. His tongue and hands searching desperately, finding the truth in my response as I clung to him, my hands running through his hair and stroking his chest. I deeply inhaled as the kiss broke and he looked at me.

  “Tell me you love me,” he panted.

  “I love you,” I whispered back, my heart pounding in my chest.

  He rolled us so he rested above me.

  “Tell me again.”

  “I love you,” I grinned.

  He leaned in to kiss me again when a loud pounding on the wall interrupted us.

  “Excuse me, but not only is there not a door on her bedroom, but do you really think it would be okay to deflower my niece while we are all waiting for her in the living room?”

  I heard Aunt Carol snort from the other room.

  “I’m not a virgin, Uncle Mike,” I said, rolling out from under Reel and getting out of bed.

  “Careful,” Reel said, warning me as I stood.

  Sharp pain lanced up my feet, forcing me back down on the bed. “Shit,” I said, looking at the shredded pads of my feet.

  “Good thing you found those tennis shoes, or your feet would really be toast,” Reel said as he sat up.

  I tried to stop myself, I really did. My arm flung forward, and my fist slammed into his mouth. Intentional or reactionary, it didn’t matter. I was mad. I forced myself onto my sore feet and limped into the other room.

  I heard Reel cussing and Uncle Mike laughing.

  “Deanna,” Reel called, following me out.

  “Don’t talk to me,” I snapped, flopping onto the couch. “The least you could have done was thrown out your old girlfriend’s crap before declaring your love for me.”

  “They are your tennis shoes!” Reel laughed, holding the back of his hand to his lower lip. He tossed a muddy shoe onto the floor in front of me. I looked down and tried to understand. “You were eighteen and drove out to my fishing cabin to seduce me, remember?” Reel grinned, sitting next to me on the couch.

  “Damn, I forgot about that.”

  “What?” Uncle Mike yelled.

  “I don’t know this story,” Tansey said, leaning forward in her chair. “What happened?”

  “She had been drinking. I paddled her ass for driving and then took her home. She had taken off her shoes when she got there, though, and I was so mad I hadn’t noticed.”

  “You noticed other apparel being removed though.”

  “It’s been burned in my mind for years. I’m not likely to forget.”

  “You left two days later,” I sighed.

  “I had to return to the Army. You knew that. And I wasn’t going to start something I wasn’t sure I could finish,” he said, pulling me over and tucking me into his shoulder. “I can’t believe you sucker-punched me.”

  “You somehow deserved it, even if my reason wasn’t accurate.”

  “Probably so,” he chuckled.

  “Look at how cute of a couple you two make,” Rod grinned, turning his devilish eyes on Tansey.

  “Not happening,” she told him, shaking her head.

  “A bet’s a bet, Tansey,” Rod said.

  “What bet?” I asked.

  “I was sixteen! It doesn’t count!” Tansey yelled, getting up from the couch and tossing a throw pillow at Rod.

  “What bet?” I asked again.

  “She agreed to date me if you and Reel ever hooked up,” Rod said. />
  “What? How do I not know about this?”

  “Like it was ever in the realm of possibilities,” Tansey said, throwing her arms up in the air. “And, I can’t be held to that bet. I wasn’t even old enough to vote yet.”

  “No, I think Rod’s right,” Reel chuckled. “A bet’s a bet.”

  “He’s laughing again,” Wayne said as he entered the apartment with Bones and Leo. “That’s so damn freaky.”

  “Did you find him?” Reel asked, the laughter draining from his face as he pulled his arm tighter around me.

  “No. Sorry, man,” Bones said, shaking his head. “We found a lot of blood, the guns, and what looked like badger tracks, but he must have crawled away after you left.”

  “But I shot him,” I said, looking up at Bones.

  Everyone turned and looked at me.

  “In the foot or the knee?” Bridget asked.

  “In the chest,” I answered. “When the creature attacked, I jumped and shot him on accident. But I was already aiming the gun at his chest.”

  “Umm, Tweedle,” Uncle Mike said, scrubbing his hand across his forehead. “Did you have your eyes open when you pulled the trigger?”

  “Of course not, but I opened them right after, and he had fallen backwards, so I must have hit him.”

  “What?” Wayne asked, seeming confused.

  Aunt Carol, Tansey, and Bridget broke out laughing.

  Reel sighed and leaned his head back on the couch. “You never told me that you close your eyes when you shoot.”

  “She closes her eyes when she catches a ball too,” Uncle Mike chuckled.

  “I shot him!” I yelled. “I know I did. Why else would he have fallen backward?”

  “Tripped on a root?” Leo said.

  “Slipped in the mud?” Wayne said.

  “Surprised that you pulled the trigger and tripped over his own two feet?” Bones said.

  “Fell over laughing,” Reel said, which earned him an elbow to the ribs. “Ow! Sorry, babe.”

  “I shot him,” I pouted.

  “I believe you,” Bridget said. “Close your eyes and think back for a moment. What noise did you hear right after you pulled the trigger?”

  I sat up straighter and closed my eyes, concentrating on the moment. I pulled the trigger and right before I opened my eyes again, I heard Morgan.

 

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