Total pages in book: 193
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
“We’ve got enough bullets here to start our own army,” Aurelia says as she sits back with her feet propped up and pretends to help. She’s already restrung her bow and counted and organized all of the ammunition twice. “I’ve even got a few ideas for a name. Aurelia’s Awesome Army. The Triple As. The Aurelites.”
“You never miss an opportunity to toot your own horn, do you?” I ask as I wipe down the barrel of a shotgun. Thinking about it, I pause my cleaning to stand from my seat next to Thorin and move to the opposite end of the table.
Aurelia’s gaze shifts to my face once I’m seated and then becomes unfocused as she stares at me for a few seconds like she’s thinking. “The Aurelians.”
“The answer,” Thorin says with a chuckle, “is no. She doesn’t. And she doesn’t give a damn.”
A plume of fire suddenly shoots out over the table, and I quickly drag Aurelia down with me who shrieks as Thorin and I duck under the table.
“Shit, shit. Sorry, sorry,” Seth says as he releases the trigger and the flame winks out.
“Goddamn it, Seth!” Thorin shouts as he stands and storms over to the fire extinguisher to put out the curtains hanging over the back door’s window.
“All right. That time it was definitely aimed at you,” I say to Thor as I reclaim my seat. When he looks at me, I point to his shirtsleeve that’s on fire.
Seeing it, he curses as he rips off his shirt and throws it in the sink before running water over it. Aurelia giggles and then throws a hand over her mouth when Thorin sends her a dirty look.
“That’s your own fault,” I tell him. “You should know better than to insult her in front of Seth.”
Thorin’s eyes widen. “It wasn’t an insult, and you’re the one who brought it up!”
I lift a brow. “Why do you think I switched seats?”
Seth winks at Aurelia, Thorin scoffs, and I shake my head as I go back to cleaning the weapons. Thorin shoves the back of Seth’s head as he passes to return to his charred seat, and Seth pops the top on a cool beer before sliding it down the table toward him. Thor accepts without hesitation and then tips his beer to Aurelia who blushes prettily.
I spend a minute searching for a word to define our group’s unique dynamic until I finally arrive on the perfect one: dysfunctional.
My gaze travels around the table as everyone goes back to their contented silence and individual tasks.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
SETH
I think this is it,” I say as I haul the last of the plywood out of the hardware store. I place it into the truck bed with the others, and Khalil begins tying them down for the journey. It’s the day before we leave Canada, and we, minus Aurelia, made a last-minute stop in town to grab wood to board up the cabin.
“All set.” Khalil hops down and joins me on the sidewalk.
“Good,” Thorin says as he slams the tailgate closed. “Let’s hurry up and get back. It looks like it’s going to storm, and Aurelia isn’t answering the damn radio.”
“She probably fell asleep. She’s been doing that a lot lately.” Probably storing up her energy for all the murder. Or maybe she just doesn’t want to think about it. The three of us hop in the truck with Thorin in the driver’s seat. “Do you think she’ll really do it?” I ask from the back seat as Thorin starts the truck.
Khalil peers at me over his shoulder. “Do what?”
“Get on a plane again after what happened. I wouldn’t blame her if she couldn’t. I don’t think I would either.”
“I don’t know,” Khalil answers after considering it for a moment. “I guess we’ll see.”
Thorin takes off toward home, but we don’t get more than half a mile before the red and blue lights of the sheriff’s truck in our rearview stop us. Thorin swears and pulls over, and moments later, Sheriff Kelly is standing at his open window.
“I’m glad I caught you boys,” he greets as he removes his hat. “She said I’d find you near here.”
Thorin frowns. “Who?”
“Your gal. Aurelia.”
“You talked to her?” I lean forward to get a good look at the sheriff who looks even more haggard than the last time I saw him, and notice a deputy I don’t recognize standing a few feet behind him. Must be new. “When?”
“’Bout an hour ago, I’d say. I went looking for you boys at the cabin first, and she answered the door. Said I’d find you here.” I think the three of us breathe a collective sigh of relief at the confirmation that our girl’s fine and probably fell asleep like I’d guessed.
“Who’s he?” I ask, referring to the silent deputy.