“Listen the fuck up, mick.” Jamie frowned, and I inched closer to King. “I don’t want Hunter doing the types of favors your boss needs. I want him as far the fuck away from that kind of work as he can get.”
Jamie groaned. “Don’t I feckin’ know it! That’s actually… well, it’s fair to say I said the same thing. I want him safe and sound too. Promise.”
King scowled, probably because he’d been expecting a chance to shoot someone. “Talk sense.”
Corbin sighed as King lowered his gun to his side, and he let his aim fall to the ground as well. “I’m over this shite,” Corbin announced and pushed back the bill on his cap. “They knocked boots. Curly here got clocked by a bad man, Goldilocks went to avenge his turtle dove. The explosives ya no doubt heard about from the news were part of the bullshite that went on. They were idiots and hurt each other’s wee feelings. Ya should both apologize, by the way.” Corbin finished his rant by holstering his gun at his side under his jacket and crossing his arms. He had his sunglasses on, so I couldn’t tell if he was glaring at me specifically, but I definitely felt like I was being judged. “I’m going for a walk. Arthur, ya shoot either of them and you’ll make my life difficult. Refrain. Also, ya call anyone a mick again and I’ll pop ya meself.” He turned and walked off toward the beach.
King snorted.
“We’re supposed to be friends,” Jamie yelled after Corbin, although he seemed more entertained than anything.
“Don’t be a cunt,” Corbin called back.
King scratched the side of his head, and the glance he gave me made me want to run back around the house. “I wasn’t sure about you, Hunter. Thought maybe you liked women. You can like whoever you want,” he added in a rush that was sort of sweet and made me want to smile at him, except I’d just watched two people I cared a lot about get guns pointed at them.
“Stop, please.” I shook my head fast.
“I’ve never done right by you,” King said.
“How is this right?”
Jamie crossed his arms. “I’m only going to allow ya to threaten me for so long.”
“You shut it,” King spat at him.
“Aaron,” Dallas said, and we all turned toward him. He stood on the porch with his arms crossed like he was cold, a slim, sad sight.
“Go inside,” King said, but Dallas just shook his head and sat on the top porch step with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hand.
“All right. Let me get the lay of the land. Who said you could fuck my son?”
Jamie tilted his head back and stared at the sky.
“King,” I hissed, not sure what I should or shouldn’t do. “If you want to make things better between us, this isn’t helping.”
“He did have quite the active role in the situation.” Jamie’s shoulders shook, and I thought maybe he was laughing, but I was too worried King might still decide to shoot him to be relieved that he was taking this so well.
“Let him go now,” I said. I could feel my anger bubbling up inside me. “Right now.” I stomped toward them, and King backed off with his free hand held up. I snagged Jamie’s hand, and it was so warm, just the way I remembered, and I tugged him toward the beach across the road. King snagged my wrist and slapped his Magnum into my hand.
“Take it. We’re not done, Shannon. We still have to talk business tomorrow.” He gave Jamie a toothy smile.
Jamie ran a hand over his face and laughed.
Dallas walked out barefoot to take King by the hand, kind of like I had Jamie. “Let’s get back to our game.”
“Did you know about this?” King demanded.
Dallas only wrapped an arm around his waist. “No, I would have told you to stay out of it if I did.” He smiled over his shoulder at me as he worked his magic and urged King back toward the cabin.
I winced and stared at the gun in my hand for a second. The grip was warm. Jamie took the Magnum from me, checked it over, and then tucked it into his belt at the small of his back, exactly the way Dallas had been telling King not to do lately. I shook my head.
“Sorry about that. I….” In spite of it all, I had a warm glow in the pit of my stomach. “I didn’t think he would care that much.”
Jamie shrugged and gave my hand a small squeeze. “He’s your family. His prerogative to worry, isn’t it?”
“Things aren’t normal for us.”
“We’re not usual fellas.” He glanced toward the lake. “Walk? I was stuck in the car for a bit. If ye don’t mind.” He urged me forward and checked the road before we crossed, which was probably good because the way I was feeling I would have just wandered out.
