by Reana Malori
“I love you, Terra.” What else was there to say? Not a damn thing. It was the only thing that mattered at that moment.
The smile covering her beautiful face almost blinded him with its brilliance. “I love you. Damian. I’ve loved you since the first time you came to my house and proclaimed girls didn’t know how to shoot. Do you remember that?”
Oh geesh, she would bring that up. His lips turned up at the corner.
He’d loved her before that moment, but that was the day he’d vowed to marry her one day. Although his score was better than hers by five points, both of their fathers had praised Terra for being so good. He’d wondered at the time how she’d learned to shoot so well. Not that her learning to shoot at all was odd to him, but according to his father, Damian was one of the best shooters in their extended family.
For Terra to come so close to beating him, it made him wonder who’d taught her. And then he’d caught sight of her father looking at him with a strange look in his eyes. Realizing he’d been caught staring at Terra with a look of adoration on his face, he turned away and began putting away the nine-millimeter pistol his father had removed from the case he always kept in their trunk.
“I remember, all right. That was the day your father realized that my feelings for you had moved beyond childhood friendship.”
“If only I’d realized it as well,” she said with a sigh.
“No. I needed to give you time. Our fathers knew that even if we didn’t. So, are you going to tell them, or do you want me to do it?”
She turned to look at him, her brow creased in confusion. “Tell who what?”
“Our parents.”
“What? Damian, now you’re just being difficult.”
“I’m just saying. I want you to have my last name. I want you as my wife. I’m not willing to wait much longer.” He folded his arms over his chest. “So, I ask again. Do you want to tell them or do you want me to do it?”
Eyes wide, she stared at him. “Damian? But… But…you don’t even have a ring.”
“Yes, I do. I’ve had a ring since I arrived. I wasn’t leaving this time without giving you my last name.”
“Confident much?”
“Yes, I am. Now, since you can’t seem to believe your good fortune, how about I help you out. I’ve already sent a group text to our parents yesterday that I was going to ask you to marry me. Told them if they wanted to be part of our big day, they all needed to be down here in thirty days. No more, no less.”
“You didn’t!” she exclaimed with a loud laugh.
“I sure as hell did.”
She was shaking her head at him. “Damian, my father is going to kill you.”
“Nah, our mothers want grandchildren one day. He’ll be fine.” Eyeing her position a few feet away from him, he smiled. “You’re too far away from me, sweetheart. Come here. I need to feel your body close to mine.”
“If I come over there, I know what you’ll want to do,” she teased, but she still walked her sexy ass over to him.
“Is that so bad?”
“I can’t have people afraid to come into my office because they think they’re going to walk in on us naked and fucking on the floor,” she said with a laugh.
“Oh well, let them look. Maybe they’ll learn a thing or two. And don’t think I didn’t notice that you never gave me an answer.”
“I didn’t think I needed to.” Her tone was sassy.
“Terra,” he growled.
“Of course, my answer is yes. I’m not letting you get away again.” Just as Damian leaned down to kiss her, the office door burst open.
“Holy fuck, you two. Get a damn room, why don’t ya,” Dylan strolled in, closing the buckle of a leather strap around one thigh. That it held a nine-inch serrated blade wasn’t mentioned by anyone in the room.
Just as Damian was about to kick her out, Dredd and Emma came in as well.
“Okay, child of Satan. Any news?”
“Dredd, one day I’m gonna stop liking you.”
She flipped him off, “No you won’t. So, any news?”
Emma shook her head at Dredd but then gave him an odd look. She whispered under her breath, and he could have sworn he heard her say, “He might have horns. I wonder if he’d let me shave his head.”
Dylan had her feet on the arm of the couch as she texted on her phone. “No, Emma. He won’t get me the new grenade launcher I asked for if you try and prove he’s the Antichrist. Although I agree with Dredd, he does have that look.”
Just as he’d decided to ignore all three of them until they left Terra’s office, his phone rang. Anton’s number reflected on the screen and he took a moment to control his temper. If this was more bullshit, Anton wasn’t going to like his response. “Speak.”
“Boss, I think we have her.” Damian nodded and listened to the information being shared, a sly grin coming over his face.
Ending the call after a few moments, he turned to see the four women discussing the impact of a .45 caliber vs. a 9mm bullet on a human body, particularly at close range when the body was strapped against a brick wall.
Yeah, it was time he relocated to be with his woman, because these women were about to turn Gulfport, Mississippi on its head.
“Ladies,” he called out. As all four heads turned to him, he leaned against the desk, his arms folded over his chest. “I have a gift for you.”
“A gift?” Terra’s brow was creased in confusion as she began walking in his direction.
“Milley. I found her, and you’ll never believe where she is. Get ready, ladies. It’s time for you to go hunting.”
EPILOGUE
Hanging moss drifted in the air following the swinging white sign with the peeling black letters: Heaven’s Gate. The little etching beside the open gates, surrounded by what could be clouds, gave the image a creepy feeling instead of a welcoming one.
At the end of a pothole-laden dirt road, eight, maybe nine old trailers surrounded a courtyard, all painted different colors. If one looked close enough, they could tell each sun-bleached mobile home had once been vibrant and alive. It was evident from the spots on the metal siding which outlined chairs, tables and whatever else that may have leaned against the structures. Trash and debris rolled across the courtyard like sagebrush. The word “Office” was roughly painted over the door of the middle building.
Dylan peered at Terra. “Are you sure Milley is here? I mean we have been searching for her for over a year. The bitch can’t have been right under our noses all this time.”
“My intel is accurate.” Terra arched a thin brow in Dylan’s direction.
“Given the place, it won’t be hard to confirm if the chick is here.” Emmaline exhaled, and gingerly stepped over a shattered bottle that covered the brick walkway. “This place has disease and death written all over it. Just watch what you touch. There’s no telling what you might catch.” She pulled plastic gloves from her pocket. “Anybody need a pair?”
“Give me five minutes. Y’all wait here.” Dredd rolled her head on her neck. Her bones cracked. Looking over at Emma, she stared at the offered gloves. “You got a point.” She yanked a pair of leather gloves free and squeezed her hands into them as she walked. Shards of glass crunched under her feet.
“Let’s spread out. It won’t take long to check the place out and if we look together—we stand a better chance of catching her.” Dylan moved toward a putrid orange house.
They spread out, each moving toward a building, their steps echoing on the stone.
Terra walked around the trailer, looking at the grime and dirt that covered every inch of the hideous structure. Looking to her left, she caught the eyes of an old lady standing on her porch staring at her. Not one to back down, Terra returned the glare, her hand dropping to the Sig Sauer resting in her hip holster. It wasn’t her intention to hurt anyone, but in this situation, no one could be trusted.
Dressed in old jeans and a red and blue plaid shirt, the woman spat a wad of brown saliva in the di
rt. Terra turned her body to face the woman head-on. Taking small steps back, she wanted to make sure nothing and no one could get behind her.
After a few more seconds of their staring contest, the woman called out to her. “It’s about time someone came to clean out the riffraff.”
Terra said nothing. Her face was set in stone. This woman was a stranger to her, but she also seemed to know the score. Still, there was something to be said for letting people speak their way into their own confession.
“How long you gonna be?”
At this, Terra looked around the area, her eyes traveling up the dusty road. Turning back to the woman, she responded, “You expect guests?”
“Not necessarily. We keep to ourselves around here for the most part, but sometimes we get the babysitters rolling through to check on the kids.” Looking to the side, she spat out another brown wad of saliva, wiping away the dribble on her chin with one arm. “Are you going to clean up the mess you leave behind?”
Terra just stared at the woman, giving her a look that said more than words could. The woman looked at Terra’s face for a few seconds, before taking a step back. A sliver of fear had shown its way through.
A small smile tipped up Terra’s lips. Yeah, she sometimes had that way about her.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. We’re tired of having more trouble than we need around here.”
No way in hell would she give this woman any hint about what they were doing in her neighborhood, but she tilted her head all the same. While she appreciated the warning about cops doing regular checks of the trailer park, it had been unnecessary. They’d already taken care of that. Well, Bao had handled that piece of the puzzle, but the woman standing on her front stoop had no way of knowing that.
Terra heard her friends moving around other areas and knew she needed to move faster. “You have a good day.”
A cackling laugh met her ears, “You too. Happy hunting.” The woman turned and walked back into her mobile home, the slamming of the door reverberated in the yard.
“Found her!”
The yell reached Terra as she turned the corner toward the back of the trailer. Dylan, the lucky heifer, found Milley first. Terra rushed around the building and into the courtyard.
Milley was on her knees, her once-coifed blonde hair dirty and knotted. This wasn’t the professional they knew. Her clothing was dirty and the jeans she wore were ripped from thigh to knee. Although it was the style, no way would the former beauty queen ever wear clothing with holes in them. Not on purpose, anyway. She had too much pride.
Milley trembled in front of them. She looked up and fear filled her eyes. There was no way she didn’t notice the looks of hatred reflected back at her from within the women’s eyes. Devoid of makeup, deep lines fanned out from the corners of her eyes and brackets encased her mouth. The woman had aged twenty years in less than two.
“I can get your money.” Milley held her palms up. “I just need a big score. Please, just gimme a little more time. I can make this up to you.”
Terra looked at her friends. Dredd closed her eyes. Emmaline exhaled, and Dylan shook her head. Their money was gone. It didn’t matter how the bitch lost their funds; she was an addict—there was no way of telling.
“I’m going to beat my motherfucking money out your got-damned hide.” Dredd rushed her.
The women lunged for Dredd, holding her back from attacking the pathetic figure whom they’d once considered a friend.
“Before we do anything, let’s discuss the best way to handle our problem,” Terra spoke into the silence surrounding them. Eyes cold, each lost in their own thoughts about how to handle Milley, raw anger was directed at the woman kneeling in front of them.
“Police?” Emmaline voiced.
They went quiet and twisted around to look at her. “Did you really say that?” Dylan cocked her head to the side.
“What? It’s a legit question.” Emmaline pressed her lips together.
Dredd shook them off. “Tie her ass to some blocks and leave her in the shallows of the bayou. A good rain and she’ll drown. Before that, she might work her way free and escape. May the fates be ever in her favor.”
“No, if she gets loose she could report us.” Dylan scratched her head.
“Let me go, No one needs to know about this. I’ll go away.” Tears rolled down Milley’s cheek.
“You damn right you are going to go away.” Dredd redoubled her efforts to reach for the woman.
“A shipping container!” Terra smiled.
Everyone stopped moving. “Come again?” Emmaline’s eyes widened.
“I saw it on a show.” Terra shrugged. “With the cargo ships that come in and out of port—we put her in a container on an international ship on its way out of the country.”
“She won’t be able to breathe for long.” Emmaline pursed her lips.
“Let the cunt die,” Dredd growled. “I like my idea better.”
“Of course, you do, you bloodthirsty thing.” Dylan winked at her. “Drill some holes in the container. Leave some food—enough for a week—and send her to South America. She can get back the best way she can.”
“I like it.” Terra nodded. “Emma, find us a ship.”
“Fun times.” Emma line yanked out her cell.
“I got a place to keep good ol’ Milley until we’re ready.” Dredd snatched her up by the hair.
Milley cried out, grasping for Dredd’s hands.
“I’m going to watch Dredd.” Dylan followed close behind her friend. “Cause—you know…”
Emmy and Terra nodded in unison. “It will be harder to explain a dead body,” Dylan called out.
“No, it really wouldn’t,” Dredd responded and continued walking. “I’m taking her to the car where we left the duct tape.”
Terra faced Emmaline. “Make sure the crew is legit. Give them enough money to ensure she makes it to her destination alive.”
“Will do.” Emmaline’s fingers danced across her cell screen.
Dylan stopped mid-step “Does it really matter whether she does or doesn’t? I just want the bitch to pay.” As if she wasn’t already.
“Ladies, of course, it does. Death is easy. Living is hard.” Terra skipped in the direction that Dredd went.
“There is something seriously twisted about us.” Dylan shook her head.
“Of course. Isn’t it marvelous?” Emmaline wrapped her arm around Dylan’s. They followed behind their friends, laughing with glee as they thought about the hell Milley would experience.
Terra smiled as she thought about everything they’d been through during the last few years.
Milley should count her blessings she was leaving with her life. If she ever showed her face around them again, it would be a direct challenge to the life they’d granted her and they’d have to handle the situation a bit differently.
Then again, Milley was a smart woman when not strung out on that shit. There would be no second chances, so wherever she landed, Milley had better stay there.
Looking down at her watch, she noted the time and wondered what Damian was doing. Knowing him, he was fucking shit up and taking names. Most days, he camped out in her office and did most work. If there were items he needed her protected from, he’d go work in the office space he rented downtown. She knew he was trying to protect her from his world, and she respected that, but she was certain that would change soon.
During the past year, they’d figured out how to make things work. Damian split his time between Northern Virginia and Gulfport and was making headway with getting his business in order. They both wanted him to reduce the amount of travel so he could spend more time with her in Gulfport. Their home. That he was putting so much effort into their relationship meant so much to her and she told him so often. When he’d presented her with the four-karat princess cut diamond engagement ring six months ago, she’d cried tears of happiness. Hell, she hadn’t let him out of their bed for three days straight as she expressed her thanks over
and over again.
A smile lifted her lips as she thought of the coming night. He’d promised her a celebration for a successful hunt if they found Milley. In his words, it would be an evening she’d never forget. Damn, she loved that man. Tucking a few stray hairs behind her ear, she rolled her shoulders to release the tension. Now that their business with Milley was completed, the time had come for them to focus on their future.
~ THE END ~
About the Author
The characters I write will not be perfect. None of us are. They will make mistakes. All my leading men will have redeeming qualities, but on the outset, you may not be their biggest fan. My leading ladies will be the kind of women you want to hang out with. They're the women next door, down the street, and around the corner. They are the ladies you would want to spend time with on a Saturday night drinking a martini.
I have been an avid reader of romance novels since the age of fourteen and know what appeals to me as a reader. My goal is, and will always be, to provide that same experience for the women and men who read my novellas and short stories.
I’m a former Marine and served for eight years, so strong military men will always be a favorite topic of mine. I will continue to write stories with military men and women front and center. I’m also a fan of Alpha males and strong women who love with everything they have.
Love and Hugs,
Reana Malori ♥
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