But Hammer was not an easy person to be around either and had many flaws that had so far chased off potential partners. Dex had patience for dealing with misunderstandings, got Hammer’s jokes, and accepted Hammer’s darkness with open arms.
Not to mention that he had a libido that more than matched Hammer's. For once, Hammer didn't have to tiptoe around his partner, wondering if she was in the mood for sex, because Dex always was and made it known loud and clear.
They fit together in ways Hammer had never fit with anyone, and as long as he could have Dex with him, it didn’t matter that their relationship changed the way other people saw him. For all intents and purposes, he was still the same guy, only much happier.
When the roof of his small home came into view, he slowed down to ease their approach into the remote property. His nearest neighbors lived five minutes’ drive away, and the former owners let their property grow over with trees, which suited Hammer perfectly. He liked his privacy.
Gesturing with one hand, he pulled into the driveway and rode over gravel, all the way to the front of his modest bungalow. It had been built in the 1950s, and with its red siding and thick brick chimney, looked very much the part. Hammer had no intention of doing anything with the facade, though a part of him worried whether Dex liked his place or not.
Dex parked right next to him, and while his motorcycle was an old thing that needed deeper work than the fresh coat of paint Dex had given it, Dex looked hot on its seat, wearing a leather jacket and a big black helmet.
When he took it off, rain started soaking his hair, but he still smiled at Hammer with the enthusiasm of a kid. “The whole place is yours?” he asked and took in the house with the same admiration he had for Hammer’s pecs.
Soon enough, it might no longer bejustmine, a part of Hammer whispered, but he was getting ahead of himself. The rain became denser, splashing everything within sight, but they’d be taking their clothes off soon enough, so Hammer stepped off his ride, took off the helmet and goggles, and rushed to Dex’s side, hungry for his rosy lips.
“You like it?”
“Love it! It’s massive!” Dex added and expressed his enthusiasm with a kiss. “Fuck, it’s pouring down. Let’s get the bikes in the garage.”
Hammer groaned. So maybe he would need to give his bike a good clean once the weather changed, and there was the risk of their rides falling over if the wind got stronger, but all he wanted was to grab Dex, pull him inside the house, and ravish him on the floor of the living room. And then the bedroom. Basically everywhere in the house, including the kitchen counter.
But Dex was right. Sex could wait those few minutes longer, so he approached the garage, and just as he was about to open the padlock, a cool sensation, that wasn’t a drop of rainwater rolling down, jolted over his spine.
Hammer was a creature of habit and always left the padlock with the brand name-marked side on top. Now it was facing down.
Dex shifted, about to approach, but Hammer gestured for him to stay away. A bad feeling spread through him like poison, and he was glad that Dex didn’t start an onslaught of questions. Hammer’s boy did as told, staying in the cold rain with his gun in hand.
Hammer looked up at the steel door.
Someone had opened and then closed it, which would make no sense if this were a burglary. Someone had specifically targeted Hammer.Someonewith a grudge, who had recently been seen in town.
Hammer tried to calm himself when his heartbeat quickened, and he glanced at the front entrance. If Ryker managed to get in through the garage, he could have entered the house from there and easily closed the padlock before moving back inside.
If Dex hadn’t asked for them to use the garage, Hammer might have walked into the house, exhausted after this emotionally draining day, and not even noticed any strange presence before a bullet ended his life.
Hammer’s chest tightened around his heart when he realized that if Ryker wanted a fair fight, he’d have waited outside. Instead, he chose to sneak in, likely intent on executing him when Hammer was at his most vulnerable. In his sleep. Cooking. Watching a movie.
But if Hammer were him, he’d have struck in the garage, while the target was distracted by the bad weather and the task of tending to his motorcycle.
He dropped into a crouch and removed the padlock as the rain slowly turned his longish hair into damp tresses sticking to his face. Each movement he made was calculated, because Ryker had surely noticed that Hammer hadn’t arrived alone, and was likely weighing his options, not yet aware that his presence had been discovered.
Hammer swallowed and met Dex’s gaze, making a series of gestures in an attempt to communicate that he’d open the garage soon. Dex spread his arms in a universal signal forI don’t understand. It was only when Hammer urged him to duck behind the motorcycle with another gesture that he got the message and followed the order.
Good. It was late, and Hammer had no patience to play cat and mouse on his own property, so he took a deep breath and pushed the garage door up.
The single bulb in the middle of the crowded interior, most of which was used for storage, lit up in response to the movement, but Hammer’s gaze darted between tall blocks of shelves taken over by boxes, his work station, and the pile of firewood stored at the back. He didn’t see anything suspicious at first glance yet could smell the damn rat lurking in the shadows already.
“Show yourself!”
“Fuck you!” Ryker yelled from somewhere at the back of the garage, but Hammer was done waiting and rolled aside, to hide behind the wall right as the onslaught of bullets began. Going by the sound, Ryker only had a handgun.
As muddy water soaked into his pants, Hammer glanced at Dex, but the boy had stayed hidden behind the motorcycle, as asked.
“Be a good boy, Ryker!” Hammer shouted, but when he attempted to peek inside, a bullet chipped some of the plaster at the corner, where his head had just been.
Just great.
“Are you fucking kidding, you murderous psycho? My next bullet’s got your name on it!”