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Orion takes his hand away and once my eyes adjust to the light, I see it. And it’s running straight at me with its too-huge-for-its-body paws and golden fur.
“Oh my God!!” I wish I could say that I crouched down with phenomenal grace but that would be a lie. It took me some crazy yoga shit to meet my new Golden Retriever puppy, all shaking with happiness and tail wagging with excitement. “I’ve never had a dog before in my life!”
My first thought is that this is the best day of my life. Then I remember that the best day of my life was when I finally had all three men inside me. Except that within the next three weeks or so, it’s also going to be the best day of my life.
“You realize that”—the puppy starts licking my face and mouth and nose and neck before I can even finish that phrase—“we’re essentially having two babies at the same time now.”
“Pfft, pretty sure we can handle two kids between the four of us. No sweat.”
Yeah, famous last words.
The guys bring in the crate and do all the things dog people do with their new puppies. I’m too hungry to pay attention but I’ll get cliff notes later.
“My gift is outside. Let’s go before it freezes to death.” I stop chewing and look up with narrowed eyes at my beloved sociopath.
“I beg your pardon?” Why…oh why did I end up with a serial killer and two enablers as boyfriends? Hadley’s not a fan of me calling them my boyfriends. He thinks it’s too weak a title to describe us but going around saying I live with my three soul mates is a bit much. We discussed marriage but until it’s legal for me to take on three husbands, I’m not marrying one and not the others. Legally, I’m bound to them and they’re bound to me even though my possessions aren’t even a fraction of theirs.
The money Mickey and I had made all went to charity because I couldn’t stomach taking it. The condo, I found out weeks after Mickey died that Hayes had been the buyer all along. It was my belated birthday gift from him, which I put up as a rental. I don’t need it but I like having something that belongs to me.
“Don’t be mad.” Hayes brings a glass of wine to his lips and I don’t miss the smirk he tries to hide.
I swallow the rest of the lasagna I was chewing then sigh. Hadley’s life took a huge turn when he was a teen and killing bad guys satiates this need in him. Now, I’d like to be able to say that I learned this from Hadley’s sessions with his therapist but I’d be lying.
First off, how useful can therapy be if the patient doesn’t use his real name? And because the goal is to keep him out of fucking jail, he told us he’s using a metaphor for snakes. For an hour, once a week, Hadley tries to talk about his need and fixation for hunting snakes. I’m not present in his sessions but I’m betting he’s manipulating his therapist like his own private fiddle. But,he’s doing it. Oh, and yeah, the sessions are online. So, he’s barely doing it but still…
“Is it a bad bad person?” Filling up my glass with fresh water, I drink while Orion nods his answer. “Okay, then. Let’s go hunting.”
“We’re going for a walk, Diamond. We’re not chasing anyone. Hadley is presenting his gift with a red bow this year.” How thoughtful. Insert sarcasm here.
Orion’s phone pings and I see Hadley’s message pop up.
Hads: Ready.
It takes us fifteen minutes to get to Hadley, the cool night air of March not at all unpleasant for my digestion.
When we arrive, I realize Orion wasn’t kidding. Tied to a tree is a heavy set man wearing only his boxers and a red bow wrapped around his entire body. I kind of feel bad for him, the humiliation of it all is awkward.
“Happy Birthday, Little Rabbit.” And in a ta-da move, Hadley removes the man’s blindfold and holds his arms out like I’m supposed to clap at the magic trick. “The hunt was fun, I have to say.”
“What has he done to deserve this?” From where I stand, he looks harmless. Tall, pot belly, thinning hair, blue eyes and thin lips.
“Well, let’s see. He got his sister hooked on meth then killed her.” The man shakes his head, protesting, but I can’t understand him because he’s got a ball gag tied around his head. I must admit, the drooling is a bit disgusting. “Fine, right. The overdose was accidental. But pushing your little sister to test your drugs on the regular is still a shitty thing to do, isn’t it?”
The man is now crying, nodding at Hadley’s words as though he’s hoping for some kind of forgiveness. He won’t get it. If the man’s here, on our property for my birthday, it means he won’tlive to see another day. More than that, if he’s here then his sins are bigger than forcing drugs on his sister.
“But, that’s not why he’s here.” Bingo.
“Hads, it’s fucking cold here and Bowie’s tired. Can we get the point, please?” Hadley narrows his eyes at Orion for ruining his big moment so I smile and blow him a kiss.
“I love you, Hadley.” That makes him grin right back at me, and when I pull my jacket tighter across my chest, he blurts out his reasons for this man’s presence.
“Not only did he hurt his sister but he’s a bully.Your…bully.” I blink, trying to make sense of it all when it hits me.
“Seth?” I take a step back, feeling like the nine-year-old me getting slapped around by this asshole. “Emma’s dead?” I don’t know why I care but she was always so sweet when her brother wasn’t around.
The man doesn’t answer but Hadley cries out ading ding dinginto the night, his forefinger tapping the tip of his nose. I can’t believe he found him. Still, it was forever ago, why would he hunt him down? I haven’t thought about Seth in years.
“Hadley, this is too much. He bullied me, sure, but it’s not like I have scars from it.” Fuck, now I feel guilty.