Huntsman by Cambria Hebert
1
Earth
The faint ringingof a phone tucked away in my office stilled my movements and tilted my head.
It was the third time I’d heard that thing ringing today. Even though I’d retired from the business of killing, I still kept the phone.
I still heard it ringing from time to time.
And sometimes, I still had the urge to answer.
The muffled chimes silenced, and I grunted, going back to pushing the broom over the bar floor. It wasn’t even that late in the day. “Someone must really want someone dead,” I muttered as I finished sweeping up the discarded peanut shells from the night before.
From his bed against the wall, Snort lifted his head, the tags on his collar jangling with the movement.
“What are you looking at?” I asked.
Living up to his name, he gave a loud snort and then rolled onto his side.
I didn’t ever advertise my career as an assassin. Doing so would make me shitty at what I did. In fact, just getting my phone number took a lot of work, especially because I changed it often.
Finished with the cleanup, I went to the back to grab a few cases of beer to stock behind the bar for when we opened later tonight.
The Rotten Apple didn’t open until late afternoon and closed when the last person left. Or when I was fed up with them all and kicked them out.
The sound of clinking bottles was interrupted by more ringing. Stiffening inside the cooler, I drew up, equal parts in awe and annoyed at this asshole’s persistence.
But then I realized the ringing was much louder than before, and it wasn’t the phone hidden away in my office but my actual cell phone lying on the bar. I sneered at the irritating thing but still leaned over to see who it was.
It could be Fletcher. He might need something. And before you go joining in with the rest of my family saying I had a soft spot for my baby brother, you’re wrong. I just worried about him is all.
It wasn’t Fletch, but I did a double take when I saw who it was.
Neo.
My eyes widened in shock. I mean, sure, he was family, but the rift between us meant barely ever seeing that name flash on my screen.
“What’s wrong?” I spat into the line the second I accepted the call. Even if I was concerned, I wouldn’t show it.
The brief pause on the other side was filled with a lot of background noise that did not sound like the city I was familiar with.
“Why would something be wrong?” Neo retorted.
“Because you’re calling.”
“I need a favor.”
I barked a laugh, the sound harsh. I didn’t have to say told you so for him to know that was exactly what I was thinking. Once upon a time we were so close words weren’t always needed.
“Never mind,” Neo muttered, and I could practically see him pulling the phone away from his ear.
“Neo! Think about Virginia.” Ivory’s voice echoed through the line.
My brows drew together, my fingers tightening on the phone. “Virginia?” I asked. “Is something wrong with your sister?”
The sound of some kind of announcement echoed loudly in the background. Where is he?
“Neo,” I demanded.
His voice came back on the line, loud and clear. “I went to California with Ivory for a business thing. We were supposed to be back by now.”
All of the background noise suddenly made sense. He was at an airport.
“Where are you?”
“Texas. There’s some freak storm, and all the flights have been grounded. We’d hoped to be on a plane by now, but it’s not looking good. We might not get out of here until tomorrow.”
“What’s that have to do with Virginia?” I asked.
“She has an appointment later this afternoon with a specialist. We can’t really cancel because these appointments are set up months in advance.”
“Okay,” I said, not really understanding his point.
“I want you to take her in my place.”
Jolting upright, I pulled the phone away from my ear to stare at it. “What?” My voice was incredulous. “I thought you forbade me to go near her.”
“I did. But I’m not as pissed at you as before. And…”
“And what?” I pressed when he faltered.
“I know you won’t let anyone mess with her.”
I felt my upper lip curl. “I guess it’s convenient to have someone like me around sometimes.”
Ivory gasped. “That’s not true!”
Did she have her ear pressed to the phone? Ever since I’d heard the name Ivory White, my life began to unravel. She was nosy, bossy, and impossible to kill. And now? She was family.
Her voice was muffled like she’d pulled back to scold Neo. “Tell him that’s not true!”
She was also far more forgiving than my brother.
Neo grunted. “After the meeting with the doctor, she’s seeing a new physical therapist. You gotta watch them. Some of them get handsy.”
My back teeth snapped together. I couldn’t even muster up surprise because I knew damn well that there were more people in the world who took advantage of others than not. But the idea of anyone doing that to Virginia made fire singe my belly.
“I know we aren’t back to where we used to be… yet. But this is my sister, and I can’t be there. I know you will protect her.”
I was silent for a few beats, digesting everything he said and trying to settle all the emotion churning inside me. Truth was the rift between Neo and me bothered me. I didn’t like it. I also didn’t like that I didn’t like it.
This was a chance to make it up to him. An opportunity to gain back some of the trust I’d broken.
“Where and what time?”
Neo’s exhale sounded like wind blowing straight through the phone. “I’ll text you the address. You’ll need to pick her up soon. It takes a little longer when traveling with—”
I grunted, cutting him off. “I get it.”
“I’m not sure you do.” The words were spoken softly, almost as if they weren’t meant for my ears. The underlying pain in them was audible, but I didn’t feel bad for Neo.
Still, I heard myself saying, “Don’t worry about her. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
“Thanks.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear, but hearing him call my name brought it back up. “What?”
“I didn’t call you because it was convenient. If anything, calling someone else would have been a hell of a lot easier.”
My eyes focused on the large sign hanging behind the bar. Poisoning Guaranteed. “Then why didn’t you?”
“Because I trust you with her safety. Don’t make me regret it.”
The call disconnected, and I held the phone up until it vibrated in my hand, signaling the text he’d promised to send. Noting the time and location of the appointment, I glanced at the clock and went to change.
I’d been waiting a long time to rebuild my relationship with my brother, and finally, finally, he was giving me a chance.