Peter gestured at him. “How did you end up dating someone so unpolished? When you showed up here, we hoped you really did turn your life around, that maybe you just had a sexuality problem, but the company you keep shows your true colors!”
“You don’t even need intellectual stimulation from people anymore,” Cynthia added. “You two are a danger to Wolfgang.”
Hammer sniggered. “And we wouldn’t want to spoil your good child.”
Dex ran his fingers through his hair, at loss, but then remembered to put the gun away. This was a disaster.Hewas a disaster. Sure, he knew that Hammer was a smart guy, and liked that about him, but Peter and Cynthia’s reactions stripped away any hope that the two of them were a true match. There was only so much sex could patch in the long run, and one day, Hammer would decide Dex was not an adequate boyfriend for him.
“I’m sorry. I was taught how to shoot early on, so I didn’t think—”
Peter raised his finger in the air. “That’s the thing! You didn’t think!”
“He is trying,” Hammer said, stepping in front of Dex like a wall of muscle and leather.
“It’s not enough,” Cynthia said. “His behavior is completely inappropriate, and you should have known better than to come here with him. Maybe house-break him first before he comes to my table talking about condoms in front of a ten-year-old!”
Dex’s ears burned. She was right. He should have been more careful with words, yet, like always, he got so ahead of himself he blabbed inappropriate shit. Hammer’s parents seemed interested in rekindling familial bonds and accepting their son for who he was, bounty hunting included, but Dex spoiled it for them.
Like he always spoiled things.
Hammer growled. “You’re so fucking judgmental. So maybe he shouldn’t have showed Wolfgang the gun, but you’ve been against him before that already. What does it matter that he doesn’t have the knowledge some people arbitrarily decided people need to have in order to sieve out undesirables? This is exactly why I left,” he said and grabbed Dex’s arm, pulling him toward the door.
Dex didn’t have the strength to fight him, but Peter followed them down the corridor.
“I’mjudgemental? You come here after so many years and don’t even apologize! All those years of effort we put into you! The extra lessons, pulling you out of trouble at every step, and you can’t even acknowledge that we might be right.”
“You’re not right about Dex,” Hammer said and opened the wardrobe, taking out both their jackets before shoving Dex’s at him. “You won’t hear from me again.”
Dex put on his jacket and followed Hammer like a scolded dog. As nice as it was to hear Hammer defend him, it could only be for the sake of his father. No one wanted to look like they were dating a loser, but Dex dreaded the conversation they’d have once they were out of sight.
Peter followed them all the way to the doorstep. “One of these days, the cops will pay me a visit and tell me you’re dead. Bounty hunter! What a joke!”
“Have a nice life,” Hammer barked and approached the bike they’d left at the end of the driveway while Dex hurried to catch up with him, fearing that unless he immediately sat on the bitch seat, Hammer might leave him behind like the piece of useless trash he was.
Chapter 21 – Hammer
Whensheopenedthedish, there were human eyes, tongues, and ears tangled in ribbons of pasta. Executioner smiled, and as chairs fell and the family dispersed, he picked up a long string of spaghetti before lowering it to his mouth.
Tangy.
The visit had been a disaster, just how Hammer had feared. A part of him had hoped the past decade would have changed his parents, that maybe they missed him and would welcome him with a new openness, but instead they’d made a new child to replace him. And he still did not fulfill their expectations.
Maybe the fear of that very development had been what stopped him from contacting them for such a long time? As long as they didn’t speak, he could hang on to the hope that reconciliation might eventually happen, but this evening proved that he no longer had family somewhere far, far away.
Dex held on to him so very tightly, but they wouldn’t be able to speak for as long as they rode the motorcycle. Seeing the light die in his eyes every time he’d done something Hammer’s parents disapproved of, had cut Hammer to the bone. Dex’s boisterous nature,his loudness, his joy at dumb shit, and his outgoing naturewereamong the many reasons why Hammer enjoyed his company. He shouldn’t have been forced into the stiff box of Hammer’s parents’ rules for even an hour.
The fiasco was all Hammer’s fault. He too had wondered how his parents would react to seeing him on their doorstep, but instead of bending to Dex’s wishes to satisfy both their curiosity, he should have sat him down and explained why doing such a thing would bring nothing but grief. Next time, he’d think twice and make sure to protect Dex from unnecessary hurt.
He was relieved at the sight of a local hotel, and he drove into its parking lot, more than ready to roll into bed and decompress. Couldn’t have Ryker found himself a closer hideout? Even with that he’d needed Lion’s help. Oh well, at least it meant he’d be a sitting duck once they got to him.
It was about nine, and the red neon above the shoddy building had a letter missing, but at least it illuminated the area. The color made the puddles left after the recent downpour look like blood, making Hammer want to unleash some violence before they reached their target. Could they go to the bar and pick a fight? He really shouldn’t.
Maybe writing a few paragraphs in the horror story he was serializing could offer the kick he needed? He did already have ideas for bloodshed and mayhem at Executioner’s dinner party.
Dex got off the bike, but kept his helmet on, which seemed like… a strange choice to make. Hammer’s own headgear left the face uncovered, but Dex’s was a full-face type, with a dark-tinted visor, which left him basically wearing a mask.
Hammer stared at him, baffled when the kid remained motionless under the big tree growing above their parking space. “What are you doing?”
“It’s… s-stuck,” Dex muttered, poking his helmet. “You go do what… you need to do, and I’ll just… hang out over there.” He waved his hand toward nowhere in particular, but hearing his voice muffled and not being able to see him was getting annoying rather fast. Hammer wasn’t the master of reading people at the best of times, let alone without seeing a hint of a facial expression.