Page 75 of Rugger: The Huntress

Graceful.

Elegant.

Adaptability.

Every word used to describe the beautiful creatures could be used to describe the one I was still reeling because of. There wasn’t a doubt in mind she’d evade my advances just like a gazelle evaded their predators. However, she’d just given me her location without knowing it. Within twenty-four hours she’d strike and when she did, I’d be there waiting.

The thrill of the chase drew my lips together. The sound of Chris Brown’s old junt erupted.

What if the sky was turning red…

I sipped from my coffee as the lyrics continued in my head.

Girl I love the way you sound…

When you rain on me.

I took the seat at my desk and powered up my computer. Rugger was recovering. And, likely, she was studying the target she’d just been assigned to. I didn’t have to worry about her making a move right now. By the time I finished my work for the day, she’d be ready.

I’m gone kiss your other set of lips.

The four monitors in front of me all gained power at once. I typed in my credentials and began to analyze my work for the day.

And we gone do it like it’s about to be the end of the world

And they depended on us

To make earth-shaking love

Gradually, I lended my thoughts to the screens in front of me. The work I did every day had once been my great escape. Gazellehad successfully dethroned it in a matter of hours. Tonight would be much of the same whether she knew it or not.

Won’t you come on over

And we can treat it like…

It’s the motherfucking end of the world.

“Barrel. Stock. Bolt. Forend. Magazine. Trigger. Safety. Chassis. Barrel. Stock. Bolt. Forend. Magazine. Trigger. Safety. Chassis. Barrel. Stock. Bolt. Forend. Magazine. Trigger. Safety. Chassis.”

Satisfied with the assembly of my weapon, I stood on my feet and placed my binoculars in the chair four feet from the window. Behind a desk that didn’t belong to me, I lowered into a chair that didn’t belong to me either. I unraveled the deli sandwich and gripped it between both hands.

One.

The first quarter was accompanied by pleasurable thoughts of the previous night. It would be a while before I could accurately describe the serenity it provided. Since I was seventeen, I hadn’t experienced that amount of peace.

Two.

My father’s face halted the chewing. He’d told me a dozen times how he’d bumped into my mother and how he knew she was destined for him at first glance. My heart ached at the thought of how distinctive the very moment I laid eyes on Rugger was from any other I’d encountered. We’d hardly gotten to know each other during her visit and I still couldn’t fathom losing her. Not now. Not ever.

Three.

Disdain for the future had me chomping on the sandwich as if it had done something to me. Losing Gazelle, even in the premature stage of our union, was too much on my head. Too much on my heart.

Four.

I promised to do everything in my power to make sure that never happened. Because I knew that was almost anything, my worry quickly subsided.

I folded one corner of the wrapper down over the other and repeated the same movement twice more. When it was small enough for my liking, I stuffed it into my pocket and headed toward the chair waiting by the window. I removed the binoculars and pressed them against my face.

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