Page 24 of Worth the Ruin
“I’d like a little demonstration,” I finally say. “You said you were the best shot around. So,” I jerk my head towards the fence and the woods behind it, “prove it.”
“Bloody at two o’clock, three hundred yards out just beyond the fence,” Jett says, a mocking challenge in his voice. Melody glares at him before raising the weapon and sighting down the target.
Without lowering it or looking at either of us, she asks, “And this isn’t some kind of weird test? I’m not going to reap any kind of punishment if I fire this weapon?”
“No trick. I just want to see if you can back up the boasting,” I assure her.
“So this is a nut up or shut up situation, then. Got it,” she says and I can’t help but laugh. I see her lips curl up, her eyes still on the target. Then, she flat out smiles like she’s in on some joke no one else is. I narrow my eyes, wondering what brought that on.
“Alright then. Watch and learn, boys.” She takes a deep breath, and squeezes the trigger as she exhales. One loud bang reverberates through the surrounding air. She lowers the rifle and looks at us with a bored expression, clearly sayingthat was child’s play.
I pull up binoculars while Jett uses the sight of his own rifle to check her work. I frown—the Bloody is still moaning and groaning. She…missed? But no, there’s no way. She’s acting far too cocky for someone that missed her target. I scan around and then I see it. A smile splits my face and I laugh quietly. Jett’s dumb ass laughs like an imbecile, loud and obnoxious, because he has no fucking clue.
Gonna regret that, bucko.
“You missed completely. Some hot shot,” he scoffs.
I lower the binoculars and give her an appraising look, cocking a brow. Another piece of the puzzle that is Melody Morales. One day, I’ll fit them all together and figure her out. I haven’t told her she can leave, but I don’t try to stop her as she turns and strides towards the ladder. I tell myself not to check out her ass in those cut offs…but do it anyway. Just a quick peek and then I yank my gaze back up again.
I’m pretty sure I know exactly what she’s about to do as she nears Jett, and I wish I had fucking popcorn.
She shoves the rifle into his chest and he fumbles to grab it.
“I wasn’t aiming for that one, sweetheart.”
She smirks as she climbs down the ladder, meeting my gaze for a heartbeat before pulling it away and disappearing from view. Jett’s thick brow furrows in confusion and he sets her rifle down and pulls the scope of his own back up to his eye.
“Sonofabitch,” he mutters when he realizes that Melody had tagged a different Bloody—one that had been standing nearlysixhundred yards out.
I smile and don’t even try to hide it. She is fucking amazing.
And very well may be the death of me.
CHAPTER TEN
MELODY
“Traeger wantsyou to have dinner with him,” Renee tells me as we jog around the lake together. I’ve started running every day again, and invited Renee to join me anytime she wanted. She’d eagerly agreed and I’m actually glad to have the company. Me and Jonah and Mull used to run together, constantly pushing each other to go faster and having (mostly) friendly competitions. God, I miss them so much still that it physically hurts, a constant dull ache in my chest. I wonder what they’re doing, if they’re alright and if Traeger has kept his promise.
“Why?” I ask, reeling back and nearly stumbling.
Renee hikes her shoulder. “When will you figure out that it isn’t my place to question him?”
We stop to rest at the far end of the lake, waving to Wynn who’s on duty in the nearest tower, before plopping down in the grass. Renee leans back on her hands and kicks her legs out in front of her. I glance at her sidelong and after a few minutes, decide to just go for it.
“Can I ask you something and you give me the honest answer?"
“Sure,” Renee says easily.
“Did he do that to you?” I nod towards her scar. “Is that why you obey him without question? Out of fear?” She straightens and gapes.
“No! God, no. He’sneverhurt me.” She exhales roughly and turns to stare out over the lake.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you, I’m just…trying to understand this place, to understand him. Nothing’s the way it’s supposed to be. Which isn’t a bad thing, but it’s just…confusing.”
“It’s alright. I know that it can be disconcerting at first, to try to reconcile the rumors and what you think you know with the reality of it all.” She pulls out a thick blade of grass and begins peeling it into tiny strips. I wait, having a feeling that she wants to talk, but just needs a little time. Sure enough, after a few minutes, she says, “I owe him my life.That’swhy I obey and trust him without question. But it isn’t out of obligation, like a debt he expects me to pay. I do it because I want to, because I respect him and believe in him and care about him in a way that I can’t really explain. Not likethat,” she adds quickly as she glances at me, “but it’s a really important way.”
She takes a deep breath and throws the pieces of grass away. Her entire body tenses and I react in kind, preparing myself for whatever Renee is about to tell me. I know that it isn’t going to be anything good.
