Page 139 of Rugger: The Huntress

“Your shoes.”

She removed them both as I did the same. I held my hand out, waiting to receive hers after mine were secure in my right hand.

“I’ll carry them.”

“No, I–”

“If both of your hands are occupied, then what will I have to hold onto?”

She made perfect sense. I allowed her to carry her shoes while I carried mine. We stepped off the deck hand-in-hand. The wind wrestled with our clothing, blowing them in opposing directions.

I looked over to find Gazelle’s eyes closed. Still, she took one step after the other. She was exercising the one thing I’d wanted from her all along.Trust.

Everything about the moment felt right. Everything about the moment felt destined. Everything about the moment felt deserved. Well deserved. I’d suffered alone for fourteen years. There wouldn’t be a fifteenth.

“I have one more person I want you to meet,” Gazelle said to me.

“That wasn’t everyone?”

She shook her head, finally opening her eyes, “No. That wasn’t.”

“Then who else is there, baby?”

She gripped my hand tighter and cut through the lot we’d just approached. We ended up on the side of a home that was a smaller version of the one we’d dined at. After what felt like a half of a mile, we appeared in front of a massive compound that was fenced in and heavily protected by armed guards.

Gazelle’s feet didn’t stop moving until we were in front of a rectangular-shaped plot. In the large patch of grass was a headstone. We conquered the path that led to the massive memorial siting and stopped right before the gray stone. Gazelle reached forward and dusted the very top.

“Richie, meet Psalms. Psalms, meet Richie.”

FOURTEEN

The abundance of moisture in my mouth made my stomach turn. I zipped my one-piece in the front, securing my breasts and chest. Though it was late February, it was still rather chilly in Clarke. The bike ride would be windy, so the extra precautions were necessary.

I stood in front of the mirror in Psalms’ bedroom, admiring one of the many gifts he’d given me for Christmas. I was still trying to repay him for the effort he’d put into the holiday, but Valentine’s Day made it clear that repayment wasn’t possible. I’d fallen for a lover boy. Every chance he could, he showed me just how much I meant to him.

“Stunning,” he complimented me as he stood against the door’s frame.

“Thank you, my love.”

I turned around to find him glaring in my direction. He was smitten. After nearly five months, the adoration was still written all over his face.

“Headed somewhere?”

I noticed I wasn’t the only one who’d gotten dressed. Psalms was dressed in his signature color which meant someone would be taking their last breath soon.

“Duty calls,” he sighed.

“For you and me both.”

He nodded.

“Seems that way. See you in—” he questioned with a raised brow.

“Two hours. Three at best.”

“I’ll be here. If I’m not, then, I’ll be back soon.”

Sonnie cleared the distance between us.

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