Page 33 of Rugger: The Huntress

For the second time, Chemistry rounded the island. When he was close enough for me to feel the heat radiating from his body, he finally spoke.

“They will have to stitch you from the top of your back to the bottom. Rhea will be wheeling you around for the rest of her life. Don’t do that to her.”

“Chemi–”

“And, don’t break my heart like that.”

Fire filled me.

“Understood.”

Though my head and heart were on two different accords, I nodded.

“I need words, Rugger.”

“Sure, Chem.”

A single gush of wind wasn’t enough to smolder what was brewing within me. Chemistry’s words had little to do with the uncontrollable blaze. Hermen’s death was. Knowing it hadn’t been my pleasure was.

Frustration led me through my kitchen with my gun in-hand. Up the stairs, I trudged as if my world had just ended as well. Lights that I didn’t remember switching on shined down on me, fueling my rage.

I flattened my back against the bed with my eyes toward the ceiling. A swipe of my right hand underneath my pillow allowedme to exchange the automatic weapon in my hand for the .40 caliber.

I closed my eyes and steadied my aim.

Bow.

Bow.

Bow.

Bow.

The shattering of glass deprived the fire inside of me of oxygen. Orange flames replaced the red ones. Darkness surrounded me again. There wasn’t any light behind my lids. There wasn’t any light in my heart.

Finally, I released a shaky breath. It was accompanied by a blood-curdling scream. The animalistic sound ended prematurely as the cell phone beside me began ringing. Without taking a look at the screen, I flipped it open.

Teddy’s voice caressed the aches and pain.

“Put the pieces back together, baby. Sorrow doesn’t breed success,” he paused before continuing, “The world just keeps spinning, Rugger. There’s another day to put a pussy in the ground. Today just wasn’t the day.” The call ended abruptly.

In the dark room, tears slid down both sides of my face, soiling the comforter beneath me. Not even the feathers it was stuffed with could console me. A life had been taken from me. I’d never find peace.

NOTE.

Between the covers of this book ismyart piece —beautifully paired words structured formycreative satisfaction and later consumed by others for enjoyment.

It’sleisure for you, it’slife for me.

This is just a book to most.It’s art for me.

Myart. I’ve hadmytime. Haveyours.

happy reading

ONE

It wasn’t luck that had gotten us here. Neither was it my right to disrupt what the universe was trying to bring to fruition. Be it fate or faith that had brought her back into my line of sight, I wasn’t disciplined enough to let her leave.

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