Page 2 of Sniper

“Yeah, it’s more than all right. I’ve missed you, baby sis.”

I rolled my good eye, but his words sent a wave of warmth through me. Cal was the only family I had. “Not a baby anymore, Cal.”

He laughed. “You’ll always be my baby sis, Katey. What’s your plan?”

I shrugged even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll drive as long as I can until this eye swells shut and then I’ll have to stop and deal with it. After that, I have no fucking clue.” I’d been running so long, always on the run, that I hadn’t had time to plan for anything. It was always survival, never planning. “I should be there in about six hours, give or take.”

“I’ll drop you a pin. Call me when you stop to deal with your eye.” He bit the words out and I knew he was angry, probably blaming himself for not saving me from myself.

“Will do. Love you.”

“Love you too. See you soon.”

The call ended and I felt better, relatively speaking. Surviving another encounter with Ethan always felt like a cause for celebration. He was a violent sociopath that I hadn’t been able to shake loose, not even when his own motorcycle club expelled him for being a fucking nutcase.

Something had to be done. I just didn’t know what.

***

My body was stiff with tension, my muscles tight and aching as I turned into the parking lot where Cal had told me to meet him. There were a few cars in the lot but not my brother’s police cruiser.

“Katey!”

I spun at the sight of my big brother, dressed in dark denim and a lightweight sweater. “Cal!” I ran across the lot and jumped into his arms, the same way I did when I was a little girl. “It’s so good to see you.” I hugged him tight, ignoring the bruise on my chest.

“You’re a little light, Katey.” He pulled back and his smile faded when he looked at my eye. “I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”

“Please do.”

His smile came back but it was small. “Nice hair.” He ran his big hand over the blonde pixie cut I tried out after the auburn bob.

“Thanks. Didn’t help though.”

“Well I have an idea.”

“I’m all ears.” Any plan that would stop the running and let me lead something like a normal life was worth it.

“You’re not going to like it.”

I laughed for the first time in a long time. “There’s not much I like these days Cal. But if it’ll get rid of Ethan, I’ll try it.”

“Okay.” He pulled me into another hug. “Remember you said that, okay?”

I hesitated for just a fraction of a second before I found my smile again.

Whatever it was, it had to be better than my current life.

Right?

Chapter Two

Sniper

“Istill don’t like the idea of you sleeping with my sister, but she’s domesticated you so that’s a plus.” I accepted the cold beer Gio handed me and cracked it open. After a long day dealing with idiots at the gun range, I needed at least three more beers before I could actually relax.

Gio flashed that charming smile he wore as often as he wore his vest and dropped down onto the wooden bench beside me. “I love Harper more than I thought I could love any woman, but not even she can domesticate me.”

“Bullshit. You willingly attended a dinner party.”

---