“How the hell should I know??” Violet yelled back fumbling for her cell phone. “Shit.” She kicked his knife from his hand while putting the hand not holding the gun I didn’t give her to the man’s head. “I just caught some dumbass breaking into my kitchen…. Not yet, but I shot him, so hurry the fuck up.” Violet snapped then set the phone on the counter. “Stupid fuck. You scared the shit out of me!!” She kicked his left leg making him scream again.
I put my hand out stopping her from kicking him again. “Easy babe. I need to clear this place. Stay here and keep that gun on him.”
“Fuck!! You broke my goddamned door!!!” She kicked him again anyway.
“Forget the door you bitch!! You fucking shot me in the dick!!” The intruder yelled back.
So yeah, that’s how my day started.
Evidently Violet woke up and snuck out of my imprisoning grip to turn on the coffee pot and watch the sun come up. She went out the side door leading to the backyard startling two men who were trying to jimmy the window open to her office.
If she hadn’t disarmed the alarm on her way to make coffee the kids would have set it off when they got the window open likely causing them to run away. Instead Violet screamed in surprise. In order to keep her from calling the cops they chased her inside where she pulled a handgun hidden somewhere in the kitchen.
I’m not sure if I’m more impressed by her quick actions or her gun collection. She told me later when I asked that she’d kept reading the gun magazines all through college and picked up a few things from the range where she took the classes from almost year round. She’s even a prominent member of their gun club. None of that matters. My Violet was almost hurt this morning. The fucked up part is, it had nothing to do with me or my position with the club. This would have happened whether I was here or not.
That didn’t set well. This place is alarmed, but when it’s disabled she’s as vulnerable as if it didn’t exist.
The cops just left and Violet joined me behind the counter. She motioned to the blood on the floor, the broken sliding glass door, and the caution tape that in my opinion was overkill. “Look at this shit. It wasn’t even my fault! Now I have to pay for it!”
“Do you have insurance?”
“Not that will cover this. It’s only for if something goes wonky and the place burns down. Like liability for cars, only it covers my customers more than it covers my home.” She poured a glass of one of Red’s favorite rich red wines.
“Isn’t it a lit-“ The look I got cut me off. “Fair enough.”
Liah walked in from the lobby. “I got the duct tape and plastic. Is everyone else gone?”
“Yeah. Finally.” Violet replied sullenly.
“Hey.” Liah stole her wine for a sip then handed it back. “It’s going to be okay. Just some punk kids hoping to score some petty cash.”
“One of those punk kids chased me back inside my house. If I hadn’t been armed he was ready to slit my throat. I saw the knife. The cops checked it into evidence.” Violet sipped again draining the glass and poured another one. “Hard to feel safe in your own home after that shit.”
“Let’s get a dog. A big mean ugly Pit bull. I bet he has a German Shepard friend to back him up that could use a home too.” Liah suggested trying to cheer me up.
An idea started forming and quickly came to fruition. “I know where we can adopt ex-K9’s.”
They both looked at me and asked in unison, “You do?”
I nodded. “I do. When Fletcher was here I got roped into doing some volunteer work. I think I can speed up the adoption process if I toss his name around. I’m also going to see about putting up a fence around the perimeter of the property.”
“I can’t afford that.” Violet replied.
“The fence and the dogs are on me.” I reached over and touched her chin until eyes filled with tears she’s struggling to hold back blinked back at me. “You’re not alone. I’m staying.” Admitting that out loud was not only a relief, but it solidified something between us. Something I can’t pretend to ignore for another second.
She blinked unable to absorb my meaning. “I can’t do this right now Guns.” She took my hand in hers and kept it with a squeeze so I knew it wasn’t my fault she couldn’t think right now.
Violet looked at Liah. “Thank you so much for getting the tape and plastic. You can take off. I got this.”
Liah eyed Violet, me, then her again. “Are you kicking me out because you want to be alone with the hottie? Or are you just being nice?”
“Being nice.” Violet laughed and slid her wine to Liah. “Thank you for being here.”
“You betcha.” Liah toasted Violet then took a sip before looking to me again. “Aren’t you working today?”
“Kicking me out now?” I asked in a tone light enough she knew I was kidding.
She smiled and shook her head. “No, but you don’t happen to have some hot single brothers looking to help clean up a bloody mess do you?”
I thought for a few seconds. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” This gives me an excuse to make some other calls before we start the cleanup process here. I kissed violet’s cheek. “Don’t start without me. I’ll be right back.”
She grabbed my arm. “Don’t make anything of this. Like Liah said, it was just kids.”
“Kids with a knife who chased my wife back inside her house to kill her. Yeah. Let me take that lightly.” Sarcasm.
“Gunner don’t. Please. I think he learned his lesson. People who get shot tend to do that.”
I pulled my shirt up and asked, “Do they now?”
She knows I’ve been shot a few times and sighed. “This isn’t your wife all over again.”
“It very well could have been.”
She faltered so I pulled her in for a hug. “I’m not trying to make it worse Violet. In my heart you’re my wife. Jeannie was another life. Another me. Right or wrong you know it as well as I do.”
“I know. I’ve always known.” Of course I had no choice but to chalk it up to a schoolgirl crush. Violet is no schoolgirl now. She’s a savvy smart woman with guns hidden all over her territory as to protect it as best she can. Violet is no ordinary woman.
I peeled back and pressed a kiss to her lips before pulling back to squeeze her hand. “Drink your wine. I’ll take care of the mess when I get back.”
“Gunner…” She started but I’d let go and left the room.
***
To my surprise Gunner cleaned up most of the mess. He even used his contacts to get me a new door before dark. I almost felt bad the plastic went to waist until Liah pointed out we could use it to cover the stuff I bought for my antique store later.
She left to get home in time for dinner. Gunner dragged me out long enough to pick up Chinese for dinner. At least I didn’t have to get out of the truck. My mood has been shit all day. Logic says I should be relieve, proud even, that I defended myself against my attacker.
If only it was that simple. I’ve shot plenty of targets, some that even looked human, but I’ve never shot a real human. A person. I don’t care how right you are, shooting someone will still shake you to the core.
I’m angry because I no longer feel safe in my own home. I’m angry that someone dared to break in right under my nose. All I really want to do is check into a fancy hotel, soak in a sea of bubbles in a huge tub full of hot water and drink myself to sleep. Not in the tub, but maybe to a comedy on TV afterwards. Anything to take my mind off seeing the impact of my bullet send a twenty year old burglar crashing into a large glass window shattering it loudly with his weight.
Back in the loft over my violated place of business Gunner ate while I picked. For once he didn’t nag me. It wasn’t until a news report came on that I looked up from my own thoughts, which were basically an instant replay of this morning on loop.
“Early this morning a local resident startled some an unknown number of intruders trying to
break into the office of her home that doubles as her place of business. One of the suspects chased her into the house where she pulled a gun and shot him in the groin area. His condition is critical, in more ways than one, at this time.”
They quickly cut to a picture of my shop then the weather.
Gunner spit his spit a mouthful of General Tso’s chicken all over the table.
I shook my head. “I’m not cleaning that up.”
Gunner got up and started pacing. “I know that name. I don’t like they put a picture of your shop on the news. Where do I know that name?” He tapped the side of his head with his index finger.
“Ask Joe.” I suggested causing him to stop in his tracks.
“This is why you’re my old lady.” I lost Gunner to his phone for a while. The Chinese food is even less appealing now that he’s spewed have chewed chicken parts all over the place, so I packed mine back up. If Gunner recognizes that name there’s a good chance it’s someone dangerous who will want to retaliate. Great. Why did they have to show my building on TV?? Everybody knows the old feed store!!
Gunner finally hung up and sat hard on the bed. “Did you aim for his groin?”
“Yes. Why?” No sense lying to him, he knows me too well.
“Why did you aim for his groin?”
“So he couldn’t breed.” Ever since witnessing my parent’s brutal death I have a disconnect from sentiment. It’s like all my give a fucks were killed in those few last seconds of my parent’s lives. I head straight for the dark side when I panic. One shrink told me it was self-preservation. I doubt that. I think the world is dark, and the best thing to survive it is to embrace it.
Gunner pinched his nose. “What would make your mind go there so quickly?”
“I don’t know. I guess I figure any asshole who would chase a woman into her house with all intents on hurting her, or worse, shouldn’t breed.”
He turned pulling his knee up between us and asked. “Why not just kill him?”
“Two reasons. One, that’s an easy out for him. Two?” I shrugged. “I don’t look good in prison orange?”
His jaw clenched. “Did I do this to you?”
“Do what to me?”
He took a deep breath and fell to his back. “We should go visit Fletcher in Alaska.”
“Fuck that, I hate the cold.” I slid down and wrapped one arm and one lag over his large frame. “You’re big, but not as big as the other Colson’s. Why is that?”
“My mother was small, and I had some health issues as a kid.”
“Health issues? Like what?”
“Asthma. Malnutrition. Shit like that.”
“Neglect. People smoking around you a lot?” He talks in his sleep. Dark places and smoke are some of the reoccurring themes.
“Pretty much. Change the subject. I don’t want to know how you know that.”
“You mumble in your sleep. What should I do now? Do you think someone will come after me for shooting the dick off their family member? What if he’s a gang member?? I’m so screwed.”
“How did you get so cold?”
“I watched my parents get obliterated by a giant blue dump truck. Then I walked away from the only person keeping me sane. I had a lot of anger pent up inside a very hormonally frustrated body. The classes helped channel some of it, but the rest turned to a dark side I can’t explain.” It was the best way I could think of to explain myself.
I’ve known about my dark side for a long time. It started with the death of my parents and built partly because Gunner wouldn’t let me vent. He hated the crying. He understood the anger, but he didn’t respect it. Just like he didn’t respect fear. I don’t want to blame Gunner for who I am, because it’s not entirely his fault, but he is partially responsible. Not that I’d ever tell him that.
He rolled over and just started kissing me softly. When I tried to pull him in for more passionate kisses he pinned my hands over my head and proceeded to torture me for a very long time.
The next morning was mostly routine aside from the extra long time it took Gunner to get out of my hair. He waited for Liah to get there before he finally left. I checked all my guns with Liah over my shoulder. Her dad taught her to shoot and hunt while she was growing up, so I’m know she can handle herself.
We finished sealing the floors in the parlor, hall, and lobby around two in the afternoon. I lit a joint and sat in one of the many chairs we’d drug outside earlier for doing just this while the floor set.
Liah reached under her seat. “My spider sense is tingling.”
I looked around getting the same weird tingling in my chest. “Listen for revved engines.”
“What? Why?” She asked tucking her 9mm Glock under her arm.
“Just trust me.” For some reason people like to warn you when they’re about to fuck you up. The sick ones enjoy the torment.
I dialed Gunner and set my phone on the table to my right as I heard the first round of revs. “Get up casually and start walking towards the shed. Go inside and don’t come out until I call you or the cops get here.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“I’m not asking. It’s me they want. You can cover me from there.” I offered trying to get her out of here as a white late 90’s Honda pulled in and stopped in front of me. “Go Liah. It’s the last chance you’ll get to cover me. Don’t look back, and don’t let them see you’re carrying a gun.”
“Fuck.” She cussed and tried to casually walk to the shed.
I can hear Gunner’s voice asking for me as two more cars pulled in with winding engines that drowned him out quickly. I took another hit off my joint then put it out as I slid off the barstool to greet what will be treated like customers unless they prove otherwise.
One man, then two, then four got out of the various cars. Breathe. I have two guns on me one at my back, one in my boot. I also have two knives, one on my belt and one in the other boot. Brace yourself. I’m Gunner’s old lady. If I’m going to stay his old lady I’m going to need to be able to handle myself when it comes to this shit. I should remind Gunner I want to be cremated.
“You dat Violet chica?” The one who stood first asked shoving his chin at me.
“I am. You looking to get some ink done?”
He slammed his door shut and started strutting towards me. It looks like he’s waving off a smelly fart. “You shoot my little cuzin?”
“I wouldn’t know. Is your cousin missing a pair of balls?” I really need to stop channeling Gunner.
He got up in my face placing himself just a little above my eye level, he must be five-eleven at best because I’m five-nine. “You maimed my cuz for a stupid break-in.”
“If it was just a stupid break-in, then why he chase me into my house? Why’d he pull a knife on me? A woman?” I clicked the safety off the gun at my back and pushed out my chest almost touching his. “Your little cuz’ such a man he needs to pick on women?”
He blinked, twice. “You got balls punta.”
“More than I can say for your chicken shit cousin. I defended myself, nothing more. Sorry he lost his balls in the process.” I threw that out there because I’m not stupid enough to push this too far despite my real feelings on the subject.
He stepped back waving off that fart again. “Watch it punta. We know who your old man is. I got no problems knocking his little pussy ass club down a few pegs.”
I nodded. “Your business with the club is none of mine. Keep your family off my property, and you and me got no problemos. Comprende amigo?” Yes I’m mocking him, but not with my tone.
He stepped back up quickly and backhanded me across the face. My cheekbone stung as I fought not to pull my gun. I’m severely outnumbered. “You in my territory punta. I will shut you the fuck down. You and your pussy biker boyfriend.”
I pretended to be too hurt to recover as he made a circle in the air with his finger rounding up his gang to leave.
Once out of sight Liah ran over and cupped my face. “Oh shit. Gunner
is going to freak the fuck out. Let’s get some ice on it.” She ushered me around the side of the building so we don’t ruin the freshly stained floors.
No amount of makeup or ice took the swelling and discoloration from my face over the next seven minutes it took Gunner to come barreling though the back door. Liah was nice enough to put a note on the front door so he didn’t break it down then ruin our hard work.
She stepped back as he examined my face.
I closed my eyes against the pain as his fingers applied pressure. “Easy.”
“Wash your face. Now.” There’s the deep voice I know means nothing but business. Liah tried to help but he escorted her to her car and told her to go home.
I was patting the bruises dry when he returned. “How did they connect us so quickly?”
“I don’t know. It probably wasn’t hard.” Gunner locked the back sliding glass doors and went to get me fresh ice. “No you know why I can’t make you my old lady. I’m moving out. We can’t see each other again, and you can’t be associated with the club. You’ll be safe that way.”
“Fuck you Gunner. You may be the next president of Exiles, but you don’t get to boss me around like one of your members. When Slider tells me to stop coming around I’ll stop coming around. Until then you can suck it. In fact, go ahead and move out.” I grabbed an empty bottle of red wine from yesterday and threw it hard against the wall. Glass went everywhere. “GET OUT!!”
“You can’t toss me out Violet. There’s no way I’m leaving you alone here tonight.” He’s too calm, it’s only pissing me off more. “I didn’t mean it. I’m not moving out. This whole thing has me off my game. Do know now why I didn’t want to do this??” He’s yelling now.
“Fine. I’ll leave.” I grabbed my purse and headed for the hallway.
He caught my arm just in time. “Quit being an idiot. Your floors aren’t set yet. You and Liah did a great job today, but you forgot to leave a path to the stairs. Thanks to you two idiots we’re going to be staying at the club tonight anyway.”
I stomped on his steel-toed boot as he gripped my shoulders pulling me up under his incoming goatee. I guess he found the razor this morning and did some shaping. I like it, but “I hate you.”
Violet's Guns: Book 9 of Colson Brothers Series Page 8