Moments of Malevolence (The Hunters Book 1)

“YOU’VE REACHED Sage from You Beat It, We Spit It. First, let’s start with your name.” I answer the phone as I pop a piece of popcorn in my mouth and sit on my couch. I took the week off work at the bar, not because I wanted to, but because I have been sick. Stupid flu. Though, I probably needed the time off anyway to regroup and recover.

“Sage…”

I know that voice straight away—it’s easy for me to recognize being around it so much. I’m sure I could pick it out in a crowd, no matter what. Shivers rack my body when he speaks again. “I’ve missed you.”

“Have you, though?”

“I have,” he replies.

“You do know when you call now that you only ask me questions. You don’t call to listen to me anymore,” I state.

“That’s because I get enjoyment from your company. All your company.” After a moment, he adds, “You sound off.”

“I am off. I’m eating popcorn and watching horror movies. It’s really putting me off.”

“Of what?”

“Men,” I reply, smiling to myself.

“I hope not this one.”

My smile drops.

I hate that I like hearing his voice.

I hate it a lot.

This man tried to suffocate me.

Fuck me to death.

I mean, come on?

My childhood really messed me up.

“I called to tell you this will be the last time we talk.”

“Why?”

“It’s not you I want.”

My mouth opens in shock. What?

“I told you before that I met someone.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Well, I’m at her door right now, and I hope to God she will let me in.” My heart rate picks up. Getting up off the couch, I drop the popcorn on the floor and almost drop my phone too. “But I had to tell you first. I had to tell you this is it.”

“Okay…”

“Goodnight, Sage.”

And then the line goes dead, and a knock sounds on my door. I freeze, thinking if I stay quiet he’ll go away, but then he knocks again. And again.

“Your lights are on, Alaska, and I can see you standing there.”

Right, of course, if I can see the outline of his head through the door, it means he can see me too.

“Fuck off,” I shout.

“Come out and speak to me.”

“No.”

“You can’t still be mad.”

“Oh, I’m fucking livid,” I yell. “I warned you what would happen if I saw you again.”

“Technically, you can’t see me, just the outline,” he says, being a smartass. “So no burning anything,” he adds.

“You can leave now.” I walk back to my couch and sit down.

“Alaska.” He says my name again, and it only makes me angrier. I pick up my glass and throw it at the door. It smashes all over my tile floor, and I cuss because it’s me who is going to have to clean that up when technically, it’s his fault for being an ass.

He’s such a fuckhead.

With a great cock.

And a great mouth.

The following week I go back to work, and Louise is ecstatic to see me. She gives me one of her famous hugs and doesn’t let go until I push her away.

“Did the soup help?” she asks. Louise popped around a few times and brought me soup every time. I’ve never really had a friend like her, and I appreciate her a lot. Enough to even put up with her hugs, but only until it’s too much for me to handle.

Apart from Zuko’s unwelcome visit, she is the only person who came by while I was sick.

“Yes, it did. Thank you.” I pull out my work shirt and exchange it for the top I have on.

“So, word on the street is that the Hunter brothers come here regularly now,” she mentions.

“Huh?” I don’t know what she’s talking about at first, but then I remember. “Oh, that’s right, you know them.”

“I don’t really know them, per se. We just come from the same neighborhood,” she replies. “But they don’t go out as much as they have been, and word is out that Zuko has a lady.” I freeze at her words, and then she surprises me when she adds, “You.”

I turn to face her. “Me?”

“Yes, you were at a party with him. Naked, from what I hear. It’s the buzz everywhere. Considering those men are never seen in public with anyone unless they are fucking them it’s got everyone talking.”

“That’s all we did. We fucked.”

“Yes, I gathered that much from him carrying you around naked and all.”

“You heard that too?” I ask, slightly embarrassed.

“Yes. From what I hear, and I quote, ‘He is protective over you.’” She puts her quote fingers down and shrugs. “Anyway, you are the talk of the town, and it’s been said to stay away from you now that you are Zuko’s girl.”

“I am no one’s girl,” I snap, quickly finishing getting dressed. I want to punch him in the face. “If someone says I am, set them straight.” She nods but smiles as she does so.

“For what it’s worth, I think he’s met his match with you.”

“I’m not seeing him again.”

“Too late, he’s here,” she informs me, and I stop mid-step, halting before I get to the door.

Spinning around, I lock eyes with her. “Are you joking?”

“Nope. And his table has requested you.”

“That’s it. I’m quitting.” I throw my hands up as I stomp back to my locker.

“No, don’t let a man win. You are a boss-ass bitch, and one day I hope to be like you.” Her hands land on my shoulders, and she squeezes.

Ha! Never heard anyone in my life say they want to be like me. I’m what mothers are afraid their daughters will turn into.

“You take his table,” I tell her. “I’ll take yours.” She bites her lip as if she’s unsure. “If they don’t tip you, you can have half of what I make.”

“Okay, but remember what happened last time. He didn’t want me to serve him.” She shrugs and walks out with me. I don’t look in the direction of his table. It’s best I don’t. It’s not like I can get him kicked out of here. After all, he has connections that I’m not even aware of. I found that out when he had Sarah fired.

Jeff is behind the bar when we approach, which is not like him. But tonight is busy, and they could use the extra hands. He scowls when he lays eyes on me and goes back to pouring whatever drink he is mixing.

Louise leans over and yells in my ear, “What do I say if he asks for you? His brothers are with him tonight. And two others…a girl and an older man.”

“Tell them I’m already booked.” That’s all I can come up with as I grab the tray and make my way to the opposite side of the bar to start my night. An hour goes by in a flash. I’m serving a bunch of girls celebrating their twenty-first with their rich daddy, who, I might add, tips extremely well. I do prefer serving the women, but the men tip a shitload better.

And it does help he can’t seem to keep his eyes off me.

Walking back to the bar and not once glancing in Zuko’s direction, I pay no attention until a hand lands on my hip. I turn, smiling, thinking it’s a regular customer, until I see Zuko’s face.

“Are you ignoring me, Trouble?”

“I told you I never want to see you again. I’m pretty sure I didn’t stutter when I said it.” I pull away from him, and his hand drops from my hip while I take a moment to drink him in. He’s dressed in black jeans and a button-up black shirt. A nice, shiny watch glints on his wrist.

Zuko is handsome, but just because someone is good-looking and can make you come, it doesn’t mean you should give them everything.

Respect is earned.

Not given.

“What can I do to change your mind?”

I shake my head and turn to leave. Just as I feel he is about to follow me, I swing around and hold up my hand. “Listen…is it that hard for you to comprehend?” I almost scream at him.

Jeff walks by and halts when he catches us arguing. He steps over, and I take a step back, putting more room between Zuko and myself.

Zuko stares at me as Jeff speaks. “Is there a problem?” I’m not sure if he’s asking Zuko or me.

“Was it the bag that pushed it over the edge?” Zuko asks with absolutely no shame and no fricking filter, like I want the world to know what happened between us. “Because if I remember correctly, your mind may have hated it, but your body certainly did not.”

Fuck him. I spin and head straight to the bar, leaving him standing there with Jeff. I glance over my shoulder and note that Jeff is talking to Zuko. Zuko half-ass pays attention before his gaze finds me again. I glare at him for a beat, and then I turn my back on him.

“So, the old man is doing all the ordering, and the rest aren’t doing a thing. Zuko has asked me twice when his regular server will be back,” Louise says, coming up next to me.

“Tell him to suffocate himself,” I grumble, then add, “Those exact words. Trust me.”

“Um…”

I grab her arm and squeeze. “Those exact words. Tell him they’re from me.”

She gives me a baffled look as her brows pinch together and her lips thin but heads back to Zuko’s table, where he is now sitting with his brothers and two other people I can’t make out from here. Louise leans down and speaks to him. It’s hard to tell what exactly he says or does back, but his eyes find mine straight away. And when they do, a shiver breaks free over my body.

Quickly looking away, I accidentally run into someone in my haste to get away. Before I can apologize, I feel something sharp stab me in the belly, which is an odd sensation. I look up, only to see Sarah standing there, a hoodie covering her head and a knife in her damn hand.

She leans in close as she whispers in my ear, “Payback is a bitch.” I go to reach for her hoodie to pull her back, but a sharp pain runs through me allowing Sarah to get away. Placing my hand over my stomach where it hurts, I feel a warm wet sensation. When I lift my hand away from the wound my fingers are sticky with my own blood.

Fuck, that hurts.

Bending over and falling down clutching my stomach, I try to think of the best way to get off this fucking floor with no one hurting me even more. I have a high pain tolerance.

But this…

This hurts like a bitch.

“He didn’t say anything back to me, but he did look at me like he wanted to kill me,” Louise chirps when she reaches my side. She doesn’t notice that something’s wrong.

I’m still bent over, not able to move.

“What’s the deal with the bag? When I said that, his eyes went wide for a second,” she rambles. “Alaska, can you hear me?” I can, but I can’t say anything back. Her hand lands gently on my back. “Do you have period pains? Is it that time of the month?” She rubs my back as I grip the bar’s edge and hold on for dear life. “Fuck, Alaska, there is blood on the floor.” Her hand leaves my back, and she moves in front of me, then drops down into a crouch so she can see me better.

“Oh my gosh you’re bleeding?”

I groan and squeeze my eyes shut.

Talking hurts.

I don’t want to talk.

“Alaska… Why is there blood coming from your hand?” Her hand lifts to touch mine on my stomach, but I basically growl at her. “Did you cut yourself?”

No, I absolutely did not.

But again, the words don’t leave my mouth.

“I’ll be back.” And then she’s gone, and I wonder once more how the hell I am going to move without hurting myself more. And how did I let that bitch stab me? How?

Small specs of light dance around my eyes and nausea washes over me.

“Alaska…”

I hate that voice as much as I love that voice.

“I’m going to pick you up now. Don’t move your hand.” All I can do is nod my agreement. And when I do, one of Zuko’s arms wraps around the backs of my legs while the other slides around my back as he gently lifts me. I stay in my bent position, unable to move.

Fuck. Everything hurts.

And then everything goes black.