Page 48 of Reclaim Me

“They said I was going to do my science fair presentation on sex,” Riley says, pouting. “I told them my project was a water filtration system, but they just ignored me.”

Tears spring in her eyes and the last thread of Hunter’s sanity snaps. I watch it happen in real-time, and my heart starts to pound at the same time something I shouldn’t be feeling and won’t name unfurls low in my stomach.

“Come on, Ri,” Hunter says, grabbing her hand and pulling her along with him. While I wasn’t invited on this little side quest, I still follow them, damn near hitting a sprint to try and keep up.

“Hunter, you can’t threaten a bunch of kids in the middle of a science fair,” I hiss, throwing fake smiles in the direction of every concerned parent and teacher that is watching our processional.

“Relax, Rae. I’m not going to threaten any kids.”

I wish that made me feel better, but as we arrive at the table where Pierre and his minions are standing, my heart is in my throat, and I’m mentally running through other school options for Riley once Hunter gets us kicked out of here.

“Which one of you is Pierre,” Hunter asks, his voice a refined growl.

Every boy at the table steps back, leaving only one kid face-to-face with Hunter. He’s a tiny little thing, shorter than Riley by at least two inches and thin. His translucent skin tinges with red when Hunter hones in on him, and when Hunter drops down to his level, he steps back, bumping into his table and nearly knocking the foam pipe and duct tape marble roller coaster off.

Hunter tilts his head in Riley’s direction, eyes still focused on Pierre. “You know her?”

Quick as a flash, Pierre glances at Riley and then back at Hunter. “Yes, sir.”

“Ah, you have manners. That’s good to know. I didn’t think that was the case once my daughter told me you’d been making fun of her name.”Hunter looks at Riley, who’s standing there with a satisfied glint in her eyes as she watches her dad take up for her. “What is it he calls you, Ri?”

“Unisex Riley.”

Hunter swings his head back around, lifting a brow. “Is that true, Pierre?” The boy shakes his head, and Hunter laughs. “Oh, so now you’re calling my kid a liar?”

“N—n—n—no, sir,” Pierre stutters, and I almost feel bad for him. Almost.

With a wave of his hand, Hunter dismisses the question. “You know what? It doesn’t even matter, Pierre. The only thing that matters is your answer to my next question, so tell me when you’re ready to hear it.”

Pierre looks to me for help, but I remain stone-faced, feeling very little sympathy for the little brat who stole my baby’s joy for a week.

“I’m ready, sir.”

“Does your dad know how to fight?”

It takes everything in me to keep my jaw hinged. What the hell kind of question is that to ask a kid?

Pierre swallows hard. “Umm, yes?”

“You don’t sound certain, Pierre, and I want you to be certain. Does your dad know how to fight?”

“Yes,” Pierre repeats, this time with more confidence.

“Do you think he could beat me?”

Every ounce of confidence Pierre just found leaves his body in an instant as he sweeps wide eyes over Hunter.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want to find out?” Pierre presses his lips together and shakes his head, unable to lend his voice to his response. Hunter nods like he anticipated that answer. “I didn’t think so, but I can promise you, Pierre, that the next time my daughter comes to me and says you or any of your little friends are being mean to her, we’re going to find out.”

“You would beat my dad up?”

“Your dad. Your uncles. Your grandpas.” Hunter ticks each person off on his fingers, intentionally using his left hand because the skeletal bones outlining each digit help drive home how deathly serious he is. “Any man who was supposed to teach you that there’s more to being a good person than knowing how to say ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no, sir’ will have to see me, and then when you’re old enough, you’ll have to see me too.”

The boy’s eyes bulge out of his head, the rims turning red like he’s trying to hold back tears. I step forward, placing a hand on Hunter’s shoulder. He glances at me, and we both ignore the jolt of electricity moving between my palm and his body.

“I think he’s got the point, Hunter.” To confirm, we both look at Pierre, who is nodding and definitely fighting back tears. Satisfied, Hunter stands and looks at Riley, who is beaming at him.

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