Hunter Wars Omnibus Edition (Books 1 - 3)

by SD Tanner

  He must have dozed off and when he awoke the bedside light was on and he could hear water running in the Jacuzzi. Over the noise of the running bubbling water, he could hear the sound of a woman singing. Grabbing his M4A1, he got out of bed and padded quietly to the bathroom. He saw the bathroom was lit with candles and BD was sitting in the bath with her breasts floating in the bubbling water and her blonde curls pinned high on her head.

  Lowering his weapon and smiling, he said softly, ‘Hello baby.’

  BD gave him a flirtatious look and said cheekily, ‘Put your gun down, Pax, and bring your other gun over here.’

  Still smiling at her, he leaned his gun against the bathroom cupboard. Stripping off his t-shirt, ACU pants and socks, he climbed into the bubbling bath and said, ‘I must be dreamin’.’

  While he admired her, she shrugged and said, ‘If you say so.’

  He felt sad knowing none of this could be happening and sighing, he said, ‘I’d rather I wasn’t.’

  Somehow making her question sound flirtatious, she asked, ‘Don’t you think it’s odd you know you’re dreaming, Pax?’

  ‘If I’m not dreamin’, how can ya be here?’ He asked honestly. ‘I buried ya, baby.’

  ‘I know,’ BD replied sympathetically. ‘Under the pecan tree. It was very sweet and sentimental of you.’

  Feeling deeply disappointed by his own clarity, he said sadly, ‘You only know that ‘cos I know that and I’m dreamin’.’

  Pouting she shook her head and asked, ‘What would I have to do to convince you that you’re not dreaming?’

  ‘I dunno, baby,’ he replied honestly. ‘But this ain’t the worst dream I’ve had since ya died.’

  Reaching across the water, she gently stroked his face with her hand and said softly, ‘You’re quite sentimental, you know.’

  Taking her hand from his face, he kissed her wet perfumed palm and said, ‘No, I doan know that.’

  She laughed and said, ‘Believe me or don’t, Pax. I don’t care, but I don’t want to waste the night.’

  Standing up in the Jacuzzi, the water ran down her naked body and drew his attention to her curves. She put her hand out to him and said, ‘Let’s go to bed.’

  Dream or otherwise, he wasn’t saying no to that offer and he pushed himself up out of the water, taking her hand and kissing her. He’d never been known for his imagination and he was surprised how real her body felt in his arms. This may be a wet dream, he thought, but it’s one I’m prepared to have. Later, lying in bed with BD curled into the crook of his arm and feeling more than satisfied, he wondered whether he would remember this dream when he woke up.

  Answering his unspoken question, she said, ‘Of course you’ll remember it, Pax. You’re not dreaming.’

  Enjoying the feeling of her in his arms, he chuckled and said, ‘Ya’ll hafta leave me some evidence, baby.’

  She sighed and said, ‘I’m here for a reason.’

  Cheekily, he replied, ‘I know. Ya missed havin’ hot sex with me.’

  Sitting up, she looked back at him and said archly, ‘You’re still conceited then.’

  Even though he was dreaming, he couldn’t help but admire her full breasts and he reached across and tweaked her nipple playfully. Leaning into him, so her breast filled his hand, she asked, ‘Don’t you want to know what I’m here for?’

  Feeling bored with his imaginary conversation with BD, he looked up at her and replied bluntly, ‘Go on. Tell me. But this is kinda like watchin’ porn with a plot. I doan need the plot.’

  Rolling her eyes at him, she said, ‘Don’t be vulgar, Pax. I’ve been watching you.’

  Screwing up his face, he said dubiously, ‘That’s jus’ creepy.’

  ‘No it’s not,’ she replied tartly. ‘I love you and I want you to be happy.’

  Feeling his stomach flip, he smiled and said honestly, ‘I love ya too, baby.’

  ‘I know,’ she replied simply. Putting her arm on his chest, she leaned even closer to his face and said, ‘But you have to go back.’

  He shook his head and said, ‘Nah. I promised to find ya boy and I’m gonna do that.’

  Still leaning on his chest, she played her fingers through his untidy mop of hair and said gently, ‘He’s with me. Here.’

  Feeling slightly alarmed, he looked around the dimly lit room and feeling BD sharply tug his hair, she said abruptly, ‘Don’t be silly, Pax. I mean he’s here on the other side with me, so there’s no point going to look for him.’

  With more than a little relief, he asked, ‘Is he alright?’

  She smiled and replied, ‘Of course he is. He’s with his mother.’ With a slight frown, she added, ‘But you need to go back, Pax. Your brothers need you. Lots of people need you. You have to let me go. Move on and be happy again.’

  He sighed and said sadly, ‘But I miss ya.’

  ‘I know you do,’ she replied softly. ‘But life is for the living. Enjoy your time on earth, Pax. Don’t waste it wanting something you can’t have. And I truly love you and I want you to be happy.’

  Looking down at nothing, he continued to feel a deep sadness. BD tugged sharply on his hair again and she said sternly, ‘Let it go, Pax. We’ll see one another again, but right now you have to get on with being alive. Stop being stubborn.’

  Feeling a slight spark of hope, he asked, ‘We’ll see one another again?’

  ‘Of course,’ BD replied with a flirtatious smile. ‘But not until you’re done here. Go away and be happy, lover!’

  Feeling a weight lifting, he asked with a grin, ‘Will ya visit me again?’

  With a flick of her head, she said, ‘Maybe, but you really ought to have sex with the living.’ Smiling back at him, she said flirtatiously, ‘But while I’m here…’ Agreeing with her entirely, he smiled and pulled her to him again.

  He was woken by the sunlight shining brightly in through the window and turning in the bed, he was surprised to find he was alone and naked. Usually, unless he was at one of the bases, he slept fully dressed and ready to defend himself. Flicking the covers off his body, he swung himself out of bed and still only half awake, he walked to the bathroom. To his surprise, the Jacuzzi was full of water and, almost slipping, he looked down and saw there were small puddles of water on the floor. He walked to the bath, ran his hands through the water and thought it still smelt slightly perfumed. He sat on the edge of the bath and saw his M4A1 leaning against the bathroom cupboard, his clothes were lying on the damp floor and wondered how the bath could be full of water. The taps in the bathroom didn’t work and he knew the Jacuzzi was dry and empty the day before.

  He thought about his dream and puzzled over how real it felt and looking at his wet feet, he remembered he asked for evidence and wondered if this was BD’s way of telling him he hadn’t been dreaming. Hearing a door open downstairs, he immediately moved silently for his gun and stood next to the door to his room. Still naked and with his M4A1 aimed at the door, he listened to heavy footsteps stamping up the stairs.

  ‘Hey dumbass!’ Gears shouted. ‘Don’t shoot me.’

  Relaxing his shoulders, he lowered his gun and shouted back, ‘Ya should knock, ya asshole.’

  The door to his room opened and Gears bulky body filled the doorframe. Looking him up and down and screwing his face up in disgust, Gears said dryly, ‘Put ya pants on, Pax.’ Then Gears peered around the room and asked, ‘Who ya been sleepin’ with?’

  ‘BD,’ he replied, as he pulled his ACUs on. ‘Who else?’

  Frowning, Gears said mildly, ‘Don’t sleep with the dead, Pax. That’s jus’ wrong.’

  Walking across to the window, Gears looked out as if he’d lost something and asked, ‘Where’s Ip?’

  ‘I dunno,’ he answered, as he leaned down to tie the laces on his boots. ‘I guess she spent the night watchin’ out for hunters.’ With his boots tied, he struggled into his loaded tactical vest and asked, ‘Why? Ain’t she out there?’

  Gears turned away from the window and facing him, looki
ng slightly concerned, he said, ‘No. Lydia told me you were headin’ here and I saw ya truck outside. I thought she’d be with you.’

  ‘I only jus’ woke up,’ he replied, as he grabbed his gun and headed out the door ahead of Gears. Feeling slightly worried himself, he said decisively, ‘Let’s go find her.’

  It was a smallish town and the main street was short, so it didn’t take long for them to walk the entire strip. They could see vague shapes moving about inside the stores and they assumed they were hunters hiding from the daylight. Other than that, there was no sign of life in the town. He was feeling a growing frustration laced with anxiety the longer they unsuccessfully looked for Ip. Gears was peering into a darkened alley and he heard him sigh deeply.

  Gears said grimly, ‘She’s not here.’

  ‘That doan make any sense,’ he answered. ‘She can’t drive, so she hadda leave on foot. She can’t have got far.’

  Turning to him, Gears said bluntly, ‘She didn’t run away, Pax. Someone took her.’

  That thought hadn’t occurred to him and sounding confused, he said, ‘Kidnappin’ Ip at night would be impossible, Gears. The place woulda bin crawlin’ with hunters.’

  Contemplating the small town, Gears said thoughtfully, ‘That recruiter’s got no problem with hunters.’

  ‘True,’ he agreed. ‘The super hunters have been after her for a while.’ As the realization of what must have happened hit him, he groaned and said, ‘Aww, I’m sorry, Gears.’

  Gears shook his head and replied honestly, ‘We live in stupid times, Pax.’ Then he rubbed his eyes tiredly and walking back to the truck, he said, ‘We need to talk to Isaac.’

  Once they got Isaac and Nelson on the radio, Gears asked Isaac if he knew where Ip was.

  Isaac said, ‘She’s home.’

  ‘Where’s home?’ Gears asked.

  ‘With the horses,’ Isaac replied.

  ‘Is she alone?’ Gears asked.

  Isaac hesitated and said, ‘No. The ruler is with her.’

  ‘Shit,’ Gears muttered. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘Yes,’ Isaac replied blandly. ‘But she doesn’t like the ruler.’

  ‘She’s okay, but she’s unhappy?’ Gears asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Isaac replied decisively.

  ‘Tell her we’re coming to get her,’ Gears said.

  ‘Now she’s happy,’ Isaac replied, sounding cheerful himself.

  Gears said, ‘Nelson go get Hatch and send Ted out to come get us.’

  ‘Okay Gears,’ Nelson replied. ‘What’s the plan?’

  ‘Those survivors we met in Dothan said the recruiter was sendin’ people to Red River County. I’m guessin’ they got some kinda base out there. We need to go there,’ Gears replied decisively.

  ‘How do you know the recruiter and the ruler are together?’ Nelson asked.

  ‘Cos the recruiter can control the hunters, so I’m suspectin’ we’re dealin’ with just the one group of assholes,’ Gears replied bluntly. ‘Now quit wastin’ time and get us airborne.’

  ‘Roger that,’ Nelson replied.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: Devil deals it hard (Ruler/Ip)

  Ip thinks: I was here twice before. If I recall it had less gore. I do not want to be here anymore.

  He stood waiting on the porch of the newly built Ranch. I hate this dusty little bowl, he thought as he looked at the long white fence that surrounded the paddock, but he smiled at the intermittent dried bloodstains that broke the continuous white line of the fence. It turned out Chuckles was quite the disciplinarian. In the corner of the fence, a man was still tightly tied to it with his dripping blood forming a large pool on the dusty dry ground. He wondered what the man had done to annoy Chuckles and then decided he didn’t care. Smiling, he watched as they brought the imp from the helicopter. He was rather pleased with having a helicopter and was looking forward to throwing things out of it. Never done that before, he thought, and I do so like new things to play with.

  Thinking of things to play with, he watched the imp being escorted towards him and he smiled and said, ‘Hello Imp.’

  Ip looked at him and yawned, which wasn’t the response he was expecting. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, ‘You do know where you are, don’t you?’

  Ip speaks: I know who you are. You are never far. What do you want?

  Still smiling, he said, ‘You are the bait that will bring your mate.’

  Ip speaks: Likely true, but I do not envy you. We will take your life and that is true.

  He snorted and asked, ‘What makes you think I have a life to lose?’

  Ip speaks: Why do you care what we do? Why is our life of interest to you?

  Turning, he walked into the house indicating to her that she should follow. The kitchen was as it was with a big old wooden table and twelve mismatched chairs that were eerily similar to the originals. He sat down at the table and with his hand, waved her to a chair. A woman immediately brought a pot of tea with a plate of cookies and set them both down. Picking up the teapot, he swished it in a circular motion and prepared to pour.

  ‘One lump or two, dear,’ he asked politely.

  Ip didn’t reply, but took a cookie and then looked around the room.

  Ip speaks: Similar, but not the same. I think your minions are to blame.

  ‘Really?’ He asked, as he poured the tea. ‘It’s the décor you don’t like?’

  Ip speaks: The company you keep is somewhat cheap.

  Throwing back his head, he roared with laughter and said delightedly, ‘How very true of you!’ Adding sugar to their tea, he pushed a cup and saucer towards her and said conversationally, ‘I’m going to kill you.’

  Ip speaks: If that were true I would be through.

  ‘You think I won’t?’ He asked in disbelief.

  Eyeing him with disdain, she continued to chew slowly on the cookie and took a sip of her tea.

  Ip speaks: Would not or cannot?

  Ip smiled.

  Ip speaks: Killing us would make you ill. Otherwise you would have had your fill. Lousy demon weak of will.

  Without warning, his rage erupted and he launched to his feet, hurling the teapot at Chuckles who was standing at the end of the table. The teapot glanced off Chuckles forehead and fell to the floor, smashing into pieces. He thought about killing Ip and hesitated. It wouldn’t do him any good. Can’t kill a bit of thing, he thought, it would be like cutting off one of the heads of a serpent-hydra. Regaining control of his rage, he sat back down and called brightly, ‘More tea!’

  Ip smirked and continued to sip her tea.

  ‘You have a very annoying personality,’ he observed rudely. ‘I’m surprised your dogs haven’t killed you for being irritating.’

  Ip speaks: You please neither the eye nor the mind. I suppose you might do well with your own kind. Go away you bore me still. Why do we have to keep going around this mill?

  Glaring at her, he said, ‘You’re getting in my way.’

  Ip speaks: And what way be that pray. You and your kind have had your day. Now go away!

  ‘Oh that’s not true,’ he replied conversationally. ‘I’m just getting started.’

  Ip smirked.

  Ip speaks: Now you start, but you should be finished. You should go. You lost the race. You are no longer in it.

  The imp is more annoying in person, he thought. He’d expected fear, but all he was getting was insults. Leaning across the table, he slapped her face and Ip ran her tongue across the inside of her cheek and frowned.

  Ip speaks: Is that all you do? Hurt people who are smaller than you? As demons go that is a poor show.

  He looked across at Chuckles, who was wiping blood from his forehead, and was impressed at how well his rage could aim. Torturing the imp was not really an option. She was part hunter and they had little awareness of pain and, without pain, torture was boring. He sighed and thought even with pain, torture was boring and he felt a slight twinge of envy for Chuckles who still thought torture was fun. Torturing the imp wou
ld be both futile and unsophisticated and she already thought he was stupid. She made that quite clear and there was no way to frighten her until he had all four of them.

  Ip smiled at him, which he found disarming and looking disgusted, he asked, ‘What are you smiling? You’re an odd little thing, aren’t you?’

  Ip speaks: Why have you followed me through the mind. You knew full well I was not your kind. As for love you know nothing of. Your heart is empty and more like a trough.

  ‘You’re very rude for a prisoner,’ he remarked conversationally. ‘But you’re the weakest link, my dear. Your brain isn’t too clear.’

  Ip speaks: I am not sure you know me well. There is nothing about me that you can tell.

  He sighed and agreed, ‘You do play your cards close to your ample chest.’ He spent a little time admiring the imp’s chest and added somberly, ‘You are the easiest to catch and when the others will come for you, the game ends.’

  Ip speaks: This is a game you have played before. You have yet to win but you come back for more.

  Slapping the table, he laughed gleefully and between gasps, he said, ‘I do rather like you, Imp.’ Wiping his pale blue eyes dry, he said, ‘Why do you think I’ve just arrived. It’s you that’s late to the party. You have such a self-centric view of the universe. I’d get you a therapist, but I think Chuckles killed them all.’

  ‘Umm, well, there’s one left,’ Chuckles offered nervously.

  ‘Really?’ He asked genuinely surprised. ‘Got big tits has she?’

  Chuckles nodded, but said nothing. That struck him as funny and giggling, he said, ‘I’ll have her later then.’

  Ip rolled her eyes at him and, having finished her tea and cookies, she got up from the table and walked out of the house.

  ‘Where are you going, dear?’ He called after her happily.

  When she didn’t reply, he got up and followed her. That’s not right, he thought, she should be following me. By now Ip had reached the stables and was killing hunters. Ooh, grumpy little brat, he thought, she should stop doing that.