Unjustified Claims by Kaje Harper

Author:Kaje Harper [Harper, Kaje]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance, paranormal
Publisher: MLR Press LLC
Published: 2014-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Brandt was putting fresh sheets on a bed in cabin seven—a task he still sometimes couldn’t believe he willingly embraced—when he heard the tires on the drive. Saturday night driving, fast and sloppy. It could have been a guest coming back. They had eight people staying, to Ethan’s satisfaction. But somehow he knew it wasn’t.

He ran for the parking lot, hearing Zach come out of his cabin behind him. A car door slammed ahead of them, and a voice, sloppy with drink, called, “Hey, Ethey boy, get out here or I’ll start shootin’ the place up.”

Brandt cursed under his breath, wishing he thought Ethan had the sense to stay inside and call the cops. But when he hit the open parking area, sure enough, Ethan stood on his steps, with Kevin pointing a shotgun at him. The fact that Ethan sounded calm, almost amused when he said, “What do you want now?” was no consolation.

Behind Brandt, Zach breathed, “Going right. Gonna shift.” Brandt headed left, toward Ethan and the house, keeping to the shadows.

Kevin said, “S’all your fault. She got the order! Restraining order! Before, t’judge said no, no grounds. But now I’m a criminal, on bail and violent and shit. Now I’m never gonna see my kids. Motherfucker!”

Ethan said, “If you keep waving that gun around you really won’t ever see your kids.”

“Don’t matter. I’m fucked.”

A whine down the driveway was painfully familiar to Brandt, and he gritted his teeth, easing his way through the undergrowth without stopping. Sure enough, Mara’s car pulled in next to Kevin’s truck. Stay in the fucking car, woman. But of course she got out. Humans were all idiots! You’d think they healed like wolves, the chances they took. Brandt moved faster.

Mara said, “Kevin Miller, what the hell are you doing?”

“Stay out of it, Mar.”

“I will not.” She stepped closer. “I heard you going off like a fool in that bar. So your ex-wife got the order. That was coming anyway. Your kids will grow up, and you’ll get your chances with them someday. But if you go to jail forever, you can kiss them goodbye.”

“Wanna see the damned kids now!”

“Well, getting thrown back in jail won’t make it better.”

“Ain’t never gonna get better.”

Running footsteps along the path heralded the arrival of more unwanted bodies. Brandt glanced over there. Two guests—the young couple from six—plus Loreen and Cord. Perfect. Although Cord’s quick glance and sudden fade into the dark were promising.

Kevin turned back to Ethan. “Get your faggot ass down here.” The way he jerked the gun almost stopped Brandt’s heart. He was about to shoot someone by accident, the way that looked.

Brandt gathered himself and leaped, landing with his knees bent, below Ethan, at the base of the stairs. He backed up one step, to put his shoulders at the level of Ethan’s heart, and faced Kevin, who yelped, “Fucker!” The shotgun shook in his hands.

At the same time, Loreen moved onto the gravel and called out, “Kevin? Kevin Miller?”

Kevin swung toward her, not quite far enough to take the muzzle of the gun off Brandt.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.