Chapter Twenty Eight ~ Dylan
Growing up, I’d never been into guns. The kids I lived around were more interested in sports. Playing cops and robbers wasn’t on my radar. I felt like a giddy kid as I followed the club guys and Harlow into the dense woods.
Cooper was all smiles, but I sensed he was thinking long term. The guys from Memphis weren’t coming for fun. They were visiting to test the club. The burden was on Cooper to make himself the man they trusted with the territory Kirk ruled for decades.
Cooper and I were the same age, yet I couldn’t imagine living his life. Married with a kid on the way, living in suburbia, still in school, and running the family business. Now dangerous men wanted him to prove he was badass enough to run in their circles.
My dream was simple. I wanted a business successful enough to support the family I planned to build with Winnie. She was my girl, just like I hoped. Never would I ever feel about another woman the way I felt about Winnie. She made my heart race with simply a look. Her pain was mine. Her joy made me feel like a king. The sex was better than anything I’d ever enjoyed. Winnie was learning to enjoy it too. Every kiss was a promise of forever.
Even with simple dreams, I wanted to belong. Though the guys made bets and were all smiles, I knew they were testing me. I planned to pass too.
I had to focus on working as a team. No more grudges against others or chips on my shoulder about my cold mommy and daddy.
Cooper put me on his team along with Judd and a few guys I didn’t know. Soon, I viewed them as brothers. They had my back and I watched theirs. I’d never felt anything like the camaraderie we shared out on the increasing cold and wet day.
Tucker Johansson was notoriously stupid, but he wasn’t goofing around that day. He and Vaughn were desperate to win, mostly to say they beat Cooper and Judd. The paintball game stopped being fun quickly and became about survival.
I didn’t picture the other team as my friends. I imagined them as outsiders. The men from Memphis coming out in the spring for the sole purpose of showing up Cooper. When I got cold or sore waiting for a shot, I told myself those men felt none of the pains I did. They would be ruthless, so I became ruthless.
The other club guys didn’t last as long as I did, but I had Judd to thank for my survival. The enforcer moved so silently as if floating over the dried leaves and twigs. He remained behind me, out of sight. I only knew he was around when a guy from the other team made a move. Judd always took his shot before the other guy pulled the trigger.
Judd was using me as bait. Rather than be annoyed or offended, I played the role willingly.
Careful not to be too careful, I made just enough noise to draw others to me. Even Tucker fell for the ruse. So focused on me in front of him, he didn’t notice his brother slip up from behind. For big guys, everyone moved quietly through the woods.
As the other guys returned to the house, they radioed their statuses until there were only a few of us left. I knew Judd and Cooper were focused on the same elusive target. Somewhere in the dense woods, Vaughn waited.
For over a half hour, we moved slowly with me as bait for Vaughn. Without warning, a shot from a thick bush took out Cooper. Our leader cussed so loudly I suspected people at the house heard him.
Still hidden, Vaughn laughed in response. I moved closer, hoping he gave away his location, so Judd could find him.
Cooper stomped away, scaring birds into the air and awakening the quiet woods. I sensed movement everywhere. Yet I only noticed Vaughn when the paintball struck me in the gut. Even though the shot hurt like a motherfucker, Vaughn had exposed himself. The ghost-like Judd appeared behind his friend.
“Asshole,” Vaughn said as Judd pulled the trigger.
“Did you really think you’d beat me?”
Vaughn grinned. “Sloppy, drama llama,” he said, pointing behind Judd.
Crouched down in the bushes, Harlow stood and shot Judd in the ass.
“I’ll be damned,” Judd muttered, grimacing from the shot. “I forgot she was out here.”
“Figured as much,” Vaughn said while high-fiving Harlow who grinned at me.
“I guess you didn’t come along as eye candy,” I said and she lost her smile.
“Now someone needs to shoot me, so I know how it feels,” she announced, putting her arms up. “A gut shot should work.”
Vaughn shook his head and started walking. “Nope.”
“I don’t shoot women,” Judd said.
“Liar,” she hissed and Judd shrugged.
As the two guys walked away, I focused on Harlow who lifted her eyebrow.
“I did slug you that day.”
“Yes, you did,” I said, lifting my gun and shooting her in the leg.
“I said the gut,” she grunted, limping after me.
“Gut shots hurt.”
“Don’t protect me.”