“Roman, please tell me Jax and Rhys aren’t going to have to arrest you for reckless driving.”
“I was on my way to Dane and Jax’s to pick up the medication for Champ when you called.”
“You know who this is, Dad?” Hunter asked as he motioned with his head in Roman’s direction.
“He’s the developer looking at my land-”
“Your land? Don’t you mean my land?” Hunter asked.
“That land is mine you worthless little shit-”
Hunter fired the gun and heard his father yelp as the wood behind his head exploded. For the first time, his father actually looked scared and Hunter couldn’t help but enjoy how good it finally felt to have the tables turned.
“Hunter,” Roman said softly. “Please don’t do this.”
“Why not? It’s no less than he deserves for everything he’s done. To me. To Finn and Rhys and Callan.”
His father paled and Hunter knew his guess had been right. “Deputy Reid, might I suggest that you take a look at my father’s financial records and see if maybe he didn’t make a contribution to the accounts of those guys that burned down Callan’s barn and killed his herd?” His steely gaze locked with his father’s. “And shot Finn.”
“I think that’s an excellent suggestion,” Jax said casually.
“Hunter,” Roman said again and Hunter finally took his eyes off his father long enough to connect with Roman’s.
“You see, Dad, he’s not just some developer,” Hunter said as he held Roman’s gaze. He hated the fear he saw there…for him. “He’s the man who loves me above all others. Who would give his life for mine without question and without fail every time. And he wants me to put this gun down not to save your sorry ass but because he doesn’t want me to have to live with the guilt of killing my own father.”
Hunter slid his eyes back to the man on his knees…the man who no longer owned the title of father. “Look around you. Not one of these men would lift a finger to save you. In fact, I bet every single one of them would help me bury your body without me even needing to ask. Because out here, you’re the one who doesn’t matter. You’re the one who doesn’t fit.”
Hunter lowered his gun and stepped back. It didn’t feel like enough, just walking away. But he found that in that moment he wanted something else more than he wanted revenge. And with that thought in mind, he turned his back on his father and began walking towards Roman. Roman’s features relaxed as he began moving forward but suddenly they pulled tight just as his mouth opened to yell Hunter’s name. He saw both Rhys and Jax going for their guns but they hadn’t gotten them past the holsters when a gunshot rang out. Hunter froze as his eyes locked with Roman’s and he heard him scream the word “No.”
But in the second it took Roman to reach him, Hunter said, “I’m okay.”
Roman’s hands grabbed him by the shoulders to yank him around so he could check his back and Hunter quickly noticed two things. The first was his father still on his knees with a silver revolver lying in the dirt next to the hand that used to be attached to his father’s arm. The second was the sight of Callan Bale about a hundred and fifty feet away riding his horse slowly towards them, a rifle in his right hand.
His father’s screams of agony pierced the air as Roman dragged Hunter into his arms. It vaguely registered that someone would probably need to apply a tourniquet to his father’s arm at some point to keep him from bleeding out, but Hunter didn’t really give a shit if that actually happened so he just took Roman’s hand in his and then went to check on Finn to make sure his friend was okay.
Epilogue
Six months later
“You okay?” Roman breathed against Hunter’s lips.
Hunter nodded but seemed incapable of speech as Roman surged into him again. The pleasure that Hunter was feeling was written all over his face but there was more there too. And Roman knew exactly what had put that look on Hunter’s face. He could feel it actually. The small, white gold band was pressed against his own skin as Hunter’s fingers clutched his.
Roman pulled back until his cock nearly slipped from Hunter’s body. He held himself there for a moment, reveling in the feeling of Hunter’s depths trying to hold on to his naked cock. He pushed forward again and watched Hunter’s eyes close as his head dipped back on the sleeping bag and Roman used the opportunity to kiss his neck. As soon as Hunter lowered his head again, Roman kissed him and then drew his cock back again. His next glide hit Hunter’s prostate and Hunter groaned at the contact as his legs tried to wrap around Roman’s ass to keep him from pulling out again. But he did it anyway and swallowed Hunter’s answering moan. Over and over he let Hunter’s body draw more and more of his release to the surface as he made love to Hunter’s mouth with his tongue.