“I killed a lot of people in the service.” Hunter lowered his chin and met a blue gaze way too similar to his. “Every single time, whether it was through a scope, with a knife, or even with my hands, you know what I imagined?”
“That it was me.” Ramsay smacked his too-red lips together before they curved into apleased smile.
Hunter let his eyebrows rise. “Um, no. I imagined I was making the world safer for somebody.” He allowed himself to smile. “I haven’t thought about dirtbag scum like you for eons. The second I took the stitches out with a rusty screwdriver, you ceased to exist.” Miss Angelina had showed up real fast, with a wooden spoon and some alcohol spray to make sure he didn’t get an infection, however. “Did you really think I’d remember you?”Hunter drawled.
“Well. You’re here.” Ramsay poured more rotgutinto his glass.
“I’m here about the kid. Where would he go?”
Ramsay set the bottle down, his hand shaking. “The kid is on a joyride, banging some cougar. Let himlive a little.”
“Like you did? I saw pictures of the bruises across his ribs.” Hunter ground his back teeth together. The kid had only been twelve, according to the dates on the pictures, and somehow he’d ended up back with Ramsay for more abuse. “Where would he go? Where have the two of you been?”
Ramsay sighed. “I guess I could remember.”
Anger flushed through Hunter so quickly he nearly swayed. “I ain’t givin’ you money. Now talk, or I swear to God I’ll show you exactly what those of usnotkicked out of the marines learned to do with morons.”
Ramsay rolled his eyes, but his hand shook as he took another drink. “Fine. I don’t know. The kid mentioned something about the teacher having a cabin on some lake in Washington. My guess is that the cougar is driving the bus.”
“Jackson’s mom was way tooyoung for you.”
“There’s no such thing, my boy.” Ramsay’s eyes glittered. “She was a sweet little gal who died way too young. Loved that kid. A lot.” He smiled. “Unlike your mama. That bitch took one look at you, decided she didn’t want two of us, and took off faster than a raccoon chasing agarbage truck.”
“So you’ve said,” Hunter murmured, not giving a shit. She probably wasn’t even alive. “Anything else you knowabout the kid?”
“Just that his temper is worse than yours. And that’s sayin’ something.” Ramsay took another drink, and some of the liquid spilled onto his protruding belly, soaking his shirt. “Has an odd fondness for root beer floats from that old restaurant—Tommy Toms? Probably somethin’ that reminds him of his mama. She likedit there, too.”
It wasn’t much, but it was a start. “Just how many kids are out there with your curse?” Hunter asked.
Ramsay tried to wipe off the wet spot on his shirt. “Hell if I know. There could be more, but you and Jackson are the only ones I’ve hadto deal with.”
If there were others, they were lucky not to realize their heritage. “Fair enough.” Hunter pushed back from the chair, ready to get out of there.
Ramsay looked up. “What about you? Any chanceI’m a grandpa?”
Bile rose in Hunter’s throat. “You’ll never be a grandpa.” He turned and strode out of the place, sucking in several deep breaths as clouds began to gather outside. Even if he had twenty kids, he’d never let one of them near the bastard. His collarbone ached and he rubbed it, turning back toward town.
A release wound through him. A surge of acceptance with a heat of freedom. He’d faced his past, and Ramsay was just a fattening drunk who couldn’t touch him. Never again. He’d won. Finally.
Now he had to help Jackson.
He quickly dialed Dana, who answered on the first ring. “Hey. I need you to dig into a story for me, if you don’t mind. Just reach out to some of your contacts.” He gave her the lowdown on Jackson and the teacher, and then clicked off. Maybe they could figure out how to find the kid.
He needed to see Faye.
Chapter Five
Faye settled on the wooden rocking chair, moving slightly, a cup of tea in her hands. The creek rushed along in front of her, and she watched the water go by. Hunter had been silent on the way back to his cabin, and after a dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, he’d disappeared upstairs to get some work done. Apparently there was an office next to themaster bedroom.
Charm and beauty spread out before her, and she mentally planned where Hunter should plant bushes and more stone rocks when hehad the chance.
Darkness had fallen, while the moon glowed big and luminous. Maybe full. It was hard to tell when it was so bright. The trees melded together on the other side of the water, looking darkand mysterious.
The deck creaked, and Hunter stepped outside, settling his bulk into the adjacent rocking chair. He put his bare feet up on the wooden railing. The frayed edges of his worn jeans covered his ankles. “I’d offer you wine, but I don’t have any.” Herocked quietly.
“I’m fine with tea.” She’d never been one to drink.
He nodded. “Yeah. Me too.” His feet looked big and strong and somehow sexy. “I drank bourbon after Mark died, for the first time ever, and it was a disaster. Figured being out of control was a bad thing, so I haven’t had a drop of the hard stuff since. Beer isenough for me.”
