The General Store: Where Innocence Goes to Die

by A. L. Moore

  “Any objections?” Tyler asked. I almost expected to see him pull a gavel out of his pocket. No one said anything. “Is there anything else we need to discuss?”

  “I still think we need an alternate pickup location,” Liam said adamantly, his arms tight across his chest. “It’s too obvious to run the same route every time. The cops already have their noses to the ground, especially with Jayson on probation.”

  “Marco doesn’t like that,” Jayson argued, cutting his eyes sharply at Liam. They’d clearly had this conversation before. “He’s comfortable with the way things are. Besides, I’ve never been tailed.”

  “As far as you know,” Liam said annoyed. With his hair tied back, the tension in his jaw was undeniable. I tried to pay more attention to what they were saying, but nothing made sense.

  “You’re being paranoid again,” Jayson said dismissively. “Are you dipping into Tom’s special box?”

  “Route stays the same,” Tyler interrupted, a note of finality in his voice as his eyes singled-out Liam. “Now let’s get something to drink.”

  Everyone but Liam relaxed. I was careful not to look directly at him, but I could see from the corner of my eye that his knuckles were red where he’d cracked them repeatedly into his hand. He was glaring at Tyler, who’d already grabbed a shot glass brimming with amber liquid. Robyn looked like a cocktail waitress, balancing a tray of clinking glasses on her palm. Tyler and the other guys were deep in conversation about weight limits and scales. At first, I thought they were talking about the candy scale in the store, but that didn’t make any sense. None of this made any sense to me. My head was a swirl of questions.

  “Why would the cops care that Jayson’s delivering for Mr. Smith?” I hesitantly asked, Liam. He was the only one not hovering around Tyler.

  The room went quiet despite my hushed voice.

  “Why don’t you ask Tyler,” Liam said not so quietly, returning Tyler’s glare before pushing the screen door loudly against the house on his way out.

  Tyler was quick to answer, “It’s not that,” he said, making his way over to me. “You’ve seen the Barneys in this town. They’ve got it in for anyone not chauffeuring a minivan.”

  “Go check on Liam,” Tyler said turning to Alec and nodding toward the porch.

  I was surprised to see Alec jump at Tyler’s words. It was like watching a palm-twitching parent interact with a scared child.

  Jayson took Robyn’s hand and disappeared down the hall, leaving me alone with Tyler. He took advantage of Liam’s spot, saddling up as close as possible without crawling in my lap. It was such a contrast to see him there after Liam, like a ferocious tiger and a squirmy snake. They were both probably dangerous, but only one made my skin crawl. Tyler’s arms were toned but small compared to the other guys. They reminded me of Mason’s, though I imagined Tyler’s would’ve seemed bigger had Mason been there to compare.

  “I’m glad you came over last night,” Tyler said, his voice gentle and less authoritative. I might have relaxed had his hand not been inching up my thigh.

  “I wanted you to know the truth,” I lied nervously, my voice shaky. My eyes were unable to move from his hand. “I didn’t like how things ended.”

  “Yeah? I may have overreacted a bit,” he chuckled, relaxing back into the cushions. His hand was at the edge of my khaki shorts. “Liam and I have a sordid past when it comes to women,” he paused giving me an uncomfortable once over, “and he’s supposed to be with Tonya.”

  “Your sister?” I chocked, trying to keep the surprise from my face. I didn’t know much about Liam, but the thought of him with Tonya made me nauseous.

  He nodded, agreeing with whatever he saw on my face. “She’s a handful, that one. I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with her nonsense if Liam had been screwing around, again.”

  My mind ran through the short time I’d seen Liam with her. They hadn’t struck me as a couple. If anything, he hadn’t appeared to like her very much. Then again, anyone who saw me with Mason would probably jump to the same conclusion.

  “I saw that boyfriend of yours pull out last night,” Tyler said, tilting his head slightly toward me. “It was late.”

  “We were watching a movie.”

  He chuckled, “I watched a lot of movies at your age, too.”

  Thinking back to Mason’s half-closed eyes on the far side of my bed, I said, “Trust me. We actually watched the movie.”

  Tyler shifted noticeable in his seat, a spark in his eyes that wasn’t there a second ago. “In your bedroom?” he asked, his hand twitching against my skin. I nodded. “Your parents don’t care?”

  “Not really,” I shifted uncomfortably. “Mason’s been over so much. They trust him. They know he’d never try anything.”

  Tyler sighed, “That’s where parents screw up.”

  He grinned, stretching his long fingers along my leg and giving it a squeeze. “You should never trust your kids. I bet Mason isn’t as squeaky clean as they think.”

  “Yes. He is,” I insisted, revealing more than I intended.

  “I bet that gets boring,” Tyler said, having to clear his throat to find the words.

  I nodded in answer, helplessly watching as he slid closer. His breath was warm and uninvited against my skin. Before I could decide how far I was willing to let this charade go or process what he was doing, his wet lips were on my neck. Clinching my eyes, I tried to keep my body from tensing but failed miserably. As bad as my tongue was at lying, the rest of my body was worse.

  “Sorry, Justice,” Tyler breathed, his mouth moving against my skin. “You just look so good. I don’t see how Mason can keep his hands off you.

  “Are you sure he isn’t playing for the other team?”

  I chuckled nervously. “We’ve known each other since freshmen year.” I inched over in the opposite direction the moment his lips stopped moving, trying to create a little distance between us. He followed. “I don’t think he looks at me like that anymore.”

  “He’s a fool,” Tyler said, casually adjusting his jeans when the front door pushed open.

  Liam and Alec came in, pausing for a short second and glancing at Tyler. If my eyes hadn’t been glued to Liam, I would’ve missed it. They sat in chairs directly across from us, still laughing about whatever they’d been outside discussing. My breath came easier now. From the set of Tyler’s jaw, I could tell he felt differently about the new company. Alec was sporting a new goatee in place of the scruffy beard he’d had last night. It came to a point on his chin, adding to the menacing look he projected but not enough to detract from the ink on half of his head. I couldn’t think to imagine how much a needle to the head must’ve hurt. Liam didn’t need outlandish scars to draw attention. He looked just as intimidating next to Alec, without the demonic factor. If demons looked like humans, I imagined they’d look similar to Alec. It didn’t help that he was wearing head to toe black. He and Liam looked as if they’d coordinated their outfits.

  “Everything straight?” Tyler asked, his green eyes finally off me and darting between Liam and Alec.

  “It’s cool,” Alec nodded, smoothing his goatee.

  “Liam?” Tyler said.

  “Whatever you say, man.”

  The sarcasm in Liam’s voice was undeniable, but Tyler chose to ignore it. “That’s what I like to hear,” Tyler said, squeezing my leg again before letting me go altogether.

  “Let’s fire up the grill.”

  “Where’s Jayson?” Alec asked, already on Tyler’s heels. I swear. It was like Tyler had treats in his pocket.

  “Making our little Robyn sing,” Tyler chuckled, giving me a wink that made the nausea come back. “Where else?”

  Tyler grabbed a rolled sack of charcoal and disappeared out the back door. I watched nervously as their heads disappeared from the back window, uncertain if I should follow.

  “He’s in a good mood,” Liam noted dryly, throwing his leg over the arm of the leather chair.

  “Is that a bad thing?
”

  He shrugged, his dark hair now framing the light beard on his chin. “No, but it would be messed up to think someone was yanking his chain. Don’t you think?”

  His piercing brown eyes made me uncomfortable for a whole other reason than Tyler’s squirmy hand. Liam was on to me. For whatever reason, he was keeping quiet. Just like before, warmth began to spread from my chest as we stared at one another, but I couldn’t look away. The air was thick, almost palpable as he waited for a truth he already knew. There was no reason for my lips to betray me. If my eyes hadn’t given me away before, they certainly had now.

  I was held captive without a restraining hand to my elbow or twitchy palm to my thigh. Liam didn’t need to touch me to get a response. One look and I was done for, and from the way he sank his teeth into his bottom lip, he knew it. I’d pegged him wrong. Tyler was the tiger, coming at his prey head-on. There was no mistaking his powerful pounce. It was Liam who could take out his prey unsuspected, leaving them gasping for breath before knowing what hit them. Liam was the snake, and I was bitten and bleeding.

  “Where is everybody,” Robyn asked, startling me from the hall. Liam merely nodded toward the door as if the heated moment between us had never happened.

  Robyn’s dark tresses looked as if they’d been rolling around in sweaty sheets, which was probably the case. It didn’t bother her. She stood quizzically watching us, nearly naked. At least she wasn’t in her work clothes anymore. I hated wearing matching outfits when I didn’t share the same defined curves as her.

  “They’re grilling burgers,” I managed, not looking directly at her, but at least not still staring at Liam. “I think.”

  When I did risk a direct look in her direction, she wasn’t looking at me. Her eyes were steady on Liam.

  “Maybe Justice should go join them,” she said pointedly. “I bet Tyler wonders where she is.”

  Liam shrugged, “No one’s holding a gun to her head.”

  His voice was indifferent, but Robyn looked skeptical, gripping the fluffy blue towel to her chest and waiting with wide, impatient eyes until I stood to leave.

  Tyler was busy showing Alec how to stack charcoal on a large deck off the kitchen when I stepped outside. The atmosphere was light, nothing like it’d been earlier. John was tossing a football to Jayson, who’d followed me and Liam out. I could see Robyn busy in the kitchen, but I didn’t know if she’d want my help. The breeze coming off the trees felt so good on my skin; I didn’t want to go inside anyway. I sat on one of the thickly cushioned deck chairs, observing the fear inducing men laugh and play around like teenagers. It made me feel less out of place. I was in my element, or I would’ve been if I had the courage to join in.

  Robyn didn’t make an appearance until time to eat, and her mood wasn’t much better. I wished she’d go back inside, but it was easy enough to ignore her sideways glances with Tyler’s booming laughter in my ear. His good mood seemed to have rubbed off on everyone else. They laughed and joked through dinner, and then the guys disappeared into the wood behind the house while Robyn and I cleaned.

  “What are you doing?” she asked as soon as the door closed behind us.

  “I’m trying to break the grit off this grill,” I said, the sponge in my hand falling to pieces. We had a dishwasher at home, and my mom loaded that.

  Robyn sat the tray down on the counter so hard the condiments fell in the floor, a bottle of ketchup leaving small red splotches where it landed. “I’m talking about with Ty,” she said evenly. “I know you don’t like him.” Her eyes were barely slits as she peered at me.

  “I don’t know him,” I countered, grabbing a paper towel and cleaning her mess. It was just like being at work.

  “So, that’s what you’re doing, getting to know him?” she asked skeptically.

  Black grit ran in streams up to my elbows and splashed in the floor as I started back on the grill. “What else?”

  Handing me a stiff metal scrub brush, she said, “If you’re just doing this to get to Liam, it won’t work.”

  Thanks to Tyler, I was ready with a response.

  “I know,” I said. “He’s with Tonya.”

  She clearly hadn’t expected my response. “Tonya…” she paused. “Yeah, well, I just wanted to make sure you knew before you embarrassed yourself.”

  She snatched the brush and grill from my hands, sighing as my mom did when cleaning up after me. I was determined not to let her intimidate me, or at least not to show it. Hopping up on the marble counter, I said, “Do you guys come here a lot?”

  Robyn was busily working, pulling open cabinets and stacking dishes. She knew the cabin better than I knew my own house.

  “When we aren’t at my house,” she said flatly, “we’re here.”

  I stared out the kitchen window at the sudden glow in the trees. I could see shadows moving around like monsters in a horror movie, among the trees.

  “What are they doing out there?” I asked just as something exploded, popping like firecrackers. “Was that a gun?” I asked stunned, instinctively ducking my head nearly to my lap. “Do you think they’re okay?”

  Robyn laughed hysterically at my reaction. She poured us both a shot of whatever Tyler had been drinking earlier. “They’re just target practicing.

  “Have you ever shot a gun before?”

  “No way,” I said, peeking back out the window. “Don’t those things backfire?”

  “Did your daddy tell you that?” she grinned, throwing the shot glass back and wiping her mouth on the back of her arm.

  “No, saw it on the news,” I said defensively, cowering away from the amber liquid.

  Robyn watched me expectedly until I downed my drink as well. There was nothing smooth about the burn that scorched my windpipe. However, it was familiar in the worst possible way when it hit my stomach, like the first pains of the stomach flu.

  “Come on,” Robyn said, grabbing my hand, a mischievous smile replacing the scowl she’d worn around me all day. “If you’re going to hang out with us, you’re going to have to let go of this scout routine.”

  “It’s not a routine,” I said, hurriedly setting the glass down as she dragged me out the door. “I was a scout.”

  Trusting Robyn went against my better judgement, but on the outs with her was something I couldn’t go back to. Being in felt too good. Robyn was like a band at a concert; with her, it was an event. Without her, it was just a bunch of people standing around doing nothing.

  “We’re coming in,” Robyn yelled just as we broke through the trees. We were both out of breath and giggling from running. Her dark hair was wild from air-drying and from the branches it’d snagged along the way. I imagined mine hadn’t fared much better.

  The popping was more like small explosions now, vibrating my ears, and it didn’t stop when we approached. Robyn slipped underneath Jayson’s outstretched arms, while he was shooting, and kissed him. Heatedly returning her kiss, he still managed to hit the target in the chest. Without Robyn by my side, I suddenly felt out of place. Liam was next in line. Dressed in head to toe black with his dark hair tucked behind his ears, he looked like an undercover cop. His eyes locked onto the paper image in front of him. He fired a round, leaving nothing but holes where the head had been.

  “Justice,” Tyler called, motioning for me to join him.

  I quickly made my way to his side, and he laid the heavy pistol in my palm. He stood close behind me, pressing until not even air could seep between us. My hand was wet with sweat. It was hard to grip the worn, textured handle. I wanted Tylor to take it, but I dared not say. The popping around us stopped. I didn’t need to look around to know all eyes were on us.

  “It’s going to kick back,” he instructed, sliding headphones over my ears, “so pull the trigger slowly.”

  My heart thundered in my chest. With trembling hands, I raised the barrel in front of my face until I was certain it was aiming at the target and squeezed. I stumbled back at the same rate the bullet shot out, the sudden ru
sh taking me over. The force was overwhelming. I fell back into Tyler’s chest with a thud that would’ve left a bruise had he not been so close already. He helped me to my feet, leaving his arms around my waist. The high I was experiencing was surreal. My pulse raced as he readied the gun again.

  “She hit it,” Alec called in the distance, replacing my target.

  Excitement and adrenaline were a deadly combination. I turned around and hugged Tyler before I knew what I was doing. “I can’t believe I hit it!” I bounced.

  “Do it again.” He passed me the gun, his hands securing my hips.

  “Are you sure?” I said, looking over my shoulder. The gun didn’t feel as heavy as before. “Did I hurt your chest?”

  He laughed heartily. “It’s going to take more than a hundred-pound girl to do that.”

  I leaned into him this time, letting him brace me before squeezing the trigger. The blast was still a jolt, but it didn’t throw me as far this time. I was ready. The feeling that coursed through my blood was unlike anything I’d experienced before. It was way better than any roller coaster I’d ever ridden.

  “Bullseye,” Tyler shouted, when Alec gave us a thumb up. “You’re a natural, girl.” I could clearly see I didn’t come close to hitting the outline, but I appreciated the compliment just the same.

  “Can I do it again?” I asked beaming.

  Tyler snapped the chamber into place and handed it over. “You can shoot as much as you want,” he grinned, wasting no time at getting his hands back around my waist.

  The next round I only missed twice, and Tyler said he’d missed way more when he’d first started shooting. By the time I had my fill, I was surprised to find myself alone with Tyler. The house was a bright glow in the distance, but we were surrounded by darkness.

  “Where’d everyone go?”

  “They headed out,” Tyler said just as the sound of a distant engine reached my ears. “Robyn has an early shift in the morning, and she was pretty wasted.

  “Do you have to work early?” he asked, making sure there were no bullets left in the chamber.