Chapter 16
Wild Ones Tip #487
Wild Ones don’t always think things through, and we like to act before you can speak.
To hell with the words and stuff.
LILAH
“Die! Die, motherfucker!” Killian laughs at the TV as he shoots Hale’s avatar over and over.
“That’s cheating!” Hale accuses.
I’m vaguely aware of them both as I peer through the window with my trusty binoculars, trying to get a glimpse of Benson’s elusive family who are arriving now.
They’re having to park around the side, since his driveway is too small for too many cars. For once, I knew the exact day—and time frame—they were coming, which has upped my stalker game.
Does he have a sister too? Because I get a brief glimpse of a woman who is too young to be his mother.
Why haven’t I heard about a sister?!
Or maybe it’s his brother’s new girlfriend or something.
I hate that he doesn’t want me there with him. I could help keep him distracted from the brother drama he’s stuck in. I’d be an awesome distraction, as a matter of fact.
They disappear before I can be truly sure of anything, and I go back to the table to stab my fork at the cobbler. Or what’s left of it, anyway. I forgot how much my brothers can eat.
“Is Benson coming over later?” Killian asks, his attention mostly focused on the TV.
“Just us tonight,” I grumble.
“I need a new challenge. Hale is too easy to kill.”
“Fuck you,” Hale growls, just as the screen fills with blood and Killian cheers for himself.
Killian stands, and his phone rings on his hip. He flips it open—yes, he has a flip phone—and answers it.
“Hello?”
I start cleaning up the plates from dinner, and half-heartedly listen in.
“No. I don’t think so…well, actually, that would make sense.”
I glance over to see Killian’s lips tense as his eyes darken. What’s wrong?
“Thanks for telling me, Aunt Penny. Hale and I can handle this from here.”
He hangs up and stalks toward me. Hale is right on his heels like he knows he’s needed. Who’s going to die?
“Did Benson break up with you?” Killian demands, and Hale’s eyes narrow to slits.
“Is that why you’ve been so quiet and looking through the binoculars over there?” Hale adds immediately, his tone lethal.
“No…we didn’t break up,” I say carefully, knowing I’m navigating a landmine field right now.
“Then why do you look so crestfallen?” Hale asks seriously.
“Crestfallen? Did you actually just use the word crestfallen appropriately?” I ask, trying to distract him with something shiny.
“Answer the question,” Killian growls.
I roll my eyes.
“His family is in town,” I say with a shrug, trying to act like I’m not the least bit bothered by it.
“So?” they both ask at the same time.
“So, you know how he is. He doesn’t let anyone meet his family.”
Again I offer a one-shoulder shrug, and go back to washing the dishes like I enjoy it, as though I’m completely unaffected by the fact I’m too embarrassing to have around a fancy family.
“In other words, he has his family over, and they’re too good for him to introduce you to them?” Killian snarls.
Okay, so my brother is a little more perceptive than I give him credit for being.
“That’s not what this is,” I grumble, not even sounding convincing to my own ears.
“Right. Excuse us,” Hale says, and they spin on a heel and leave.
That’s never a good thing.
Ever.
I quickly dry off my hands and tug on my boots, then grab my BB gun just in case, making it outside in time to see them walking toward the dock.
Killian has a bat over his shoulder. Hale has a shovel over his.
I pale.
“What the hell are you doing?” I bark, running after them as they get on the boat.
“Breaking something. Don’t worry. We don’t intend to kill him,” Killian answers flippantly.
“Then what’s the shovel for?” I yell as I run faster, trying to catch up before they take off.
“In case things get out of hand,” Hale says with a smirk. “Shit happens.”
I lunge just in time, landing in the boat as Killian gasses it away from the dock, and I start struggling with Hale, trying to take the shovel away.
“You’re not doing this! Stop the damn boat!” I shout.
“No one acts like they’re too good for our baby sister!” Hale barks.
“I’m your older sister! Stop the damn boat!” I shout at Killian.
He doesn’t stop. He doesn’t stop at all.
They’re leaving me with no choice; I’m going to have to shoot them.