Chapter 12

A/N: Are you a writer who wants feedback and more exposure for your work? You can get that by entering the short story challenge I posted this morning in The Contests Book. A link to it will be in the comments :)

*****

"Rhys," I uttered when he took his seat. My voice trembled. "Who was that man?"

He did not give me an immediate reply. Instead, he furrowed his bushy eyebrows and took a long sip of his coffee, his narrowed eyes fixed on the bar.

"A hunter," he finally replied, placing the mug back on the bar with a thud.

"A hunter?" I repeated, crossing my hands over my chest. Not that Rhys saw the gesture; his gaze was still downward. "You mean he kills rabbits and birds and stuff?"

"No," he looked up to me, worry lines over his forehead. "I mean a bounty hunter. He's probably here to try and catch our serial killer," he threw in, getting up once again. "I should tell Keri about him. And Kelly; she should warn Callum," he seemed to be talking more to himself as he took out a few bills and left them on the bar between us. "The hunter would want to see the crime scenes and there are patrols still keeping an eye on the last location; Callum should know his men are in danger..."

"Wait... This guy isn't actually going to attack police officers... Is he?" I added unsure when I saw his grim expression.

"This guy will do whatever it takes to get his prey, Riley." Rhys had leaned forward, grasping me by the chin. "He doesn't care much about laws and morals and that makes him dangerous; the fact that he's really good at what he does, makes him even more so." He made a brief pause before tilting his head so he could kiss me. The touch of his lips on mine was long and hard. Once he removed them, he sighed and leaned his forehead over mine, his eyes closed.

"Lock your windows and door and lean a chair on the latter. Keep your phone with you at all times and call me..."

"If I hear, see or feel anything strange," I quietly finished his instructions.

"Exactly." He opened his eyes and pulled away. "I'm sorry about today, Riley; I was looking forward to it but..."

"It's not your fault," I interrupted again, my tone still low. "Just please don't do anything stupid like facing this guy on your own or something like that."

"I can't make such a promise." My heart skipped a beat at his words. "If he goes after one of our own, we'll go after him."

"B-b-but," my voice shook, "he is here for the killer, right? Why would he do anything to you?"

"Because the people in my society are different, Riley, and that makes some people hate us. If he finds an excuse, he'll go after us."

"But," I tried to reason again, "he does this for money and there's no bounty on your heads."

He snorted, a humorless, morbid sound.

"He does this mainly for pleasure, Riley; the money are just a bonus for him," he explained.

I stepped back and leaned on the wall behind me, feeling fait. Rhys and Keri had told me before that their people were judged for being different, but I'd never imagined it could go as far as them being hunted. It was like we'd gone back centuries in time and an angry mob with torches and pitchforks was gathering for a witch hunt. Except that witches didn't exist and Rhys and his family were real.

"Can't you contact the police or something?" I whispered, my breath coming out uneven. Rhys walked around the bar. Once before me, he took my hands in his and began rubbing them with his thumbs, the movement quick, betraying his own anxiety.

"There's a whole department for situations like these, Riley. I'll contact them too, as soon as I make sure you are not going to freak out when I leave," he reassured me. "I'll tell you what: I'll text you every hour so that you'll know I'm alright and I'll call you in the evening. Is that okay?"

I shook my head.

"Half," I corrected. "Text me every half an hour."

"Alright, if that would make you feel better." He kissed me again, this time more gently. Once he moved away, my breaths were back to their usual pace. "I have to go now." He said, but didn't back away from me.

"I know," I replied giving him a nod and only then did Rhys move away, bypassing the bar and walking to the exit, turning over his shoulder every other step. He paused at the door, hesitant, and it took another nod from me before he got out. Even at this distance, I could see the worry on his face before he left.

"What was all this about?" Winnie asked and by her nervous tone, I realized she must've been watching us. "Riley, did he do anything to you?"

I shook my head again – what a useful gesture! – and wondered how I could explain the situation to her. Just because Rhys and Keri had told me the Bullets consulted the police, it didn't mean others should get a hold of that information as well; after all, I was only privy to it due to my forming relationship with Rhys who was second in command.

So how could I tell her that the man in white was the real threat?

Especially when he had not actually made any threats?

"The guy who walked out before Rhys, the one in white," I began, thinking that mentioning his occupation couldn't hurt, "was a bounty hunter."

Winnie raised her eyebrows and shrugged. She didn't have to word 'So what?' for me to know that I had to give her more information.

"He's here because of the serial killer but he really dislikes the Bullets and Rhys thinks he might try to harm them," I explained and her expression changed back to one of alarm. If I wasn't so agitated, I'd be glad at the sign that she was warming up to my boyfriend.

"Can't he call the police or something?" She reached inside her pocket and took out her phone. "I mean, if he's too proud, we can do it for him..."

"No," I held her by the wrist. "No need; he's already doing that."

"Oh," she pulled her arm out of my grasp with ease. "Okay then," Winnie returned her phone to its previous location and placed a hand over my shoulder. "Now what do we do about you?"

"What do you mean about me?" Rhys was the one in potential danger; I was doing just fine. Worried about him, Keri, Kennedy and the rest, but apart from that: well, sort of fine.

"Maybe you should take the rest of the day off," she suggested, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly. "Just listen to me, will you?" She used her left hand to shush me once I opened my mouth. "It wasn't your best day to begin with, having your head in pink, glittery clouds and daydreaming about Rhys; now that you are upset it will be even worse. Mr. Philips wouldn't mind giving you the day off; we both know he's a cool guy."

"But if I go home, I'll be all alone and I'll be thinking about Rhys and that bounty hunter even more," I protested. "I'd rather stay here and busy myself with work. Besides... You are here."

"Oh, honey," she dragged the endearment and wrapped her arms around me in a cozy hug. "I'm always here for you, you know that." She pulled her torso away to look me in the eyes, but did not release me from her embrace. "Do you want me to call Tim to keep you company while I'm with the clients? It won't be any trouble."

I gave her a weak smile. I had no doubt neither Winnie, nor Tim would see consoling me as trouble; both of them were good friends to me even though they were in their thirties and I was still a teenager.

"Thanks," I muttered and she finally let go of me to call her fiancé.

"Are you two done with snuggling? Can I finally get some service here?" The same guy whose order I messed up before was at the bar, looking even more peeved than earlier. Winnie rolled her eyes and moved away to have her call in peace and I approached the bar to take his order.

"The same as before?" I asked and he gave me a flat grin.

"Minus the flowery shit."

I tried not to frown. Sure, I'd made a mistake earlier, but did he have to be such a jackass? He wasn't my favorite client on a good day and I sure as Hell wasn't up for taking such attitude from him today, when I had so much else to worry about.

Would the bounty hunter go after the Silver Bullets?

Was he really that demoralized and dangerous?

What would happen if Rhys decides to reciprocate?

Would the police get involved?

If so, on whose side would they be?

There were way too many questions swarming my mind while I prepared the Mocha and drew a simple star on it. I had been wrong: working would not get my mind off of Rhys and the man in white... What was his name, anyway?

"Here you go," I pushed the coffee towards the costumer without bothering to fake a smile. If this was any other day and the client was someone who was not such a dick, I'd offer it for free due to the mix up earlier. But now I just silently took his money – no tip, not that I expected any – and reached for my mobile. I knew Rhys had left only about ten minutes ago, but I was hoping for a text. Even though I hadn't heard a ringtone or felt the device vibrate, I swiped my finger over the screen. It lip up, showing me exactly what I'd expected: lack of missed calls or messages.

A deep sigh escaped me as I placed the phone back in my pocket. I slumped over the bar, my elbows supporting my torso and stared at the door, watching without interest the people who walked in and out of the Milk & Cream. I spend the rest of the day, checking my mobile every five minutes or so, eager for his text. Even though Tim and Winnie watched over me and tried all sorts of possible distractions – from silly games like I Spy to attempting to occupy my mind with serious conversations about politics and race and gender equality – I would jump as soon as my ringtone started playing; if I was serving a client, I'd pause to read the message and I wouldn't even care how unprofessional that made me appear.

The first said: 'Keri and the police know. We are working on it. Everyone's alright'. I typed: 'How are you working on it?' and immediately got: 'We are preparing counteractions for his most likely MO'. I frowned at the lack of detail, but did not text him back; Rhys had enough on his plate already. Exactly half an hour later, the message was: 'We are still alright. He seems to be too interested in the crimes, not the Bullets' and then, again thirty minutes after: 'We are fine. Don't worry. I miss you'. The rest went something along those lines until finally I received: 'I'm coming to get you'.

I sucked in a breath through my teeth. Coming to get you... Was that a good sign or did it foreshadow trouble?

*****

Do you think the hunter knows what he's dealing with or is he clueless about the werewolves?

Any opinions on this new character?

Is Rhys too demanding with the security measures (locking doors and windows, calling)?

What about Riley insisting Rhys text every half hour?

Any ideas why Rhys is coming for Riley?

Please vote if you enjoyed the chapter!

PS: With this second update in one week, we are back on schedule with YATA. I still have to catch up on Hunt Me Down, but I'll try girls and boys, I'll try.

Have a great time wattpading, everybody!