Moments of Malevolence (The Hunters Book 1)

SHE HAS a thing with people touching her but doesn’t seem to mind when I do, and I like that the most. Somehow throughout the morning, she has worked her way over to my lounger and is between my legs, her head on my stomach, and her arms wrapped around me.

I pull the sunshade over her as I hear the glass door slide open. There are only ever two people who it could be—my brothers—no one else has access to or would dare step foot inside my home.

She moves a little, and her head nestles into my stomach as I spot Kenzo. He freezes, and Kyson comes up behind him with a big dirty smirk all over his face. My hand strokes her hair—lavender, such an odd color—but it suits her personality to a T.

“You brought her back?” Kyson asks as he bends down and looks at her sleeping on me.

For someone who hates to be touched, she sure is doing a lot of it.

“Why?” he adds, studying her. “I mean, there is a pool. Did you bring her here to drown her?” He meets my eyes, a devilish gleam in his.

I shake my head and give him a bored look. This is why you don’t share things about your sex life with your brothers because they bring it up anytime and every-fucking- time they can.

“She’s really pretty,” Kenzo notes, taking the spare seat next to me, the one she was in before she decided after one to many wines to fall asleep on me.

“Too pretty to kill?” Kyson laughs, still standing above us.

“What are you doing here?” I ask them.

“Pops called. He wants to add more to our schedules.” I bite my tongue at Kyson’s words. Of course he does. “He’s becoming greedy these days now that he has a little plaything,” he adds.

“That’s because she is spending all his money,” Kenzo states. “She’s the definition of a gold digger and not even a good one.”

“He knows we aren’t taking on more jobs than necessary. We’ve played his game long enough,” I declare.

Kyson scratches the back of his head. “Yeah, well… You better be telling him that because he seems to think otherwise.”

I feel an almost imperceptible twitch and look down to find Alaska is now awake.

“Do you plan to say hello?” I ask. “Or lie there cuddling into me a little longer?” I question further with a grin.

She pulls back and sits up between my legs. “I was not cuddling you. You got me drunk and roofied my drink.” She doesn’t stand or make a move to the other lounger, just stays right where she is. Her eyes find my brothers, and she smiles up at them. “Your brother is an ass. Did you know that?” Kenzo blinks a few times with a nonchalant smirk, and Kyson smiles.

“Oh, we know, but it’s interesting that you know so early.”

She rolls her eyes and attempts to stand with a little stagger. “What’s the time?” She doesn’t reach for her bag while waiting for me to answer. “Time?” She taps her wrist, which is bare.

I glance at my watch and tell her, “Ten a.m.”

Her eyes go wide. “I’ve been asleep that long?” she questions as if she can’t believe it. “Where have you been while I slept?”

I motion to where I am with my hand, and her brows raise. “You’ve stayed in that position the whole time? Are you crazy? Did you sleep?”

“No.”

“He is crazy! As in the real kind. Just thought I would let you know so you’re aware of that tidbit of info as well,” Kyson interjects.

“You two are twins, aren’t you?” she asks, pointing to them. “I mean… I see it with the dark hair and fuck-me eyes, but you don’t look identical.”

“We’re fraternal twins,” Kenzo explains.

“Hot,” she says with an eye roll and then turns back to me. “I need to shower, pee, and go home.” Squeezing between us, she reaches for her bag and throws it over her shoulder. “Thanks for the sleep or…whatever.”

“We can cuddle any time,” I yell as she makes her way to the door.

“That won’t happen again,” she shouts back over her shoulder before she disappears. I sit frozen, unable to move, until Kenzo punches me in the chest.

“Stop falling for the lunatic waitress.”

“I like her,” I add.

“Yeah, but you don’t really like anyone.”

I shrug my shoulders as I stand. When I’m fully upright, I see a wet patch on my pants.

“Did you come… or?” Kyson asks, noticing it as well.

“No, she drooled.”

“Hmm…” is his noncommittal reply.

“Talk to Pops,” Kenzo says, stripping off his shirt and jumping into the pool. Kenzo would jump into the pool even if it was frigid weather. It’s chilly, but it’s not too cold for a swim.

“He only listens to you.”

“Yeah, yeah…” I wave them off and head to my bathroom. I pull my phone out of my pocket and I press call. It rings and rings, but she doesn’t answer.

Seems I like two women.

One I fuck in real life.

The other I fuck over the phone.

When she doesn’t pick up, I send her a message. It says it was delivered, so I can see she isn’t ignoring me, not like she did when I sent her a picture of my hand. I was hoping she would give me something in return. Even a tiny piece of herself would be enough for now.

I want to know what she looks like.

I want to know who it is I’ve been talking to these last few months.

I had my brothers search for her number, but it’s a burner phone, so no luck in that department. They said they might be able to track its location but not precisely, just when it pings on the towers. I’ve always said no, but I think it’s time I started saying yes.

I will find her.

And I will meet her.

One thing I haven’t shared with her is that when I hunt, I always catch my prey.