Page 62 of Hunter or Hunted

Axel came back with a quick, “On my way.”

Slouching, Angela rolled her eyes. “Look, ma’am, like I said a minute ago, it seems like you’re running a real nice place here. I respect that. I’m sure you’re a real nice lady, and that’s why I’m here to warn you. One of your little victims is a murderer. Jess killed my son. And you have her in here, running around with all these innocent people, and someone else is gonna get hurt. I don’t know if it will be my granddaughter, or one of your friends, or one of these girls you love so much, but it will happen.”

“I’ve spoken with the local police, and they have no evidence that suggests Jess did any harm to your son.”

But Rhiannon didn’t care if she had.

In Angela’s shoes, maybe Rhiannon would act similarly. She didn’t have kids, so she didn’t know for sure. But these girls, these women, she considered many of them sorts of proxy children. At the very least, family. And if someone hurt one of them, she’d want them to pay for it.

Which was why Rhiannon didn’t care if Simone had killed David.

Given the state of Simone’s injuries, Rhiannon doubted that had happened. She wouldn’t have had enough physical strength to harm him. But if somehow, some way, she had slit his throat or knocked him down hard enough that he never woke up, good riddance. She’d defended herself. She’d fought back.

These girls, by definition, may have been victims. More than that, though, they were fighters. Warriors. Enduring what they had, living with an enemy, watching every breath they took, every word they spoke, every move they made for the months or years their relationships had gone on—it made them warriors. They’d survived war in their own home.

If, to escape, Simone had taken a life to protect her own, Rhiannon applauded her for that.

She wouldn’t take part in a cover-up. That would endanger everyone here. But she lost no sleep over the possibility.

“He was here,” Angela snapped. “He was here, and then he vanished. She did it, I know she did, and she’s gonna pay for it. She’s gonna⁠—”

“Is that a threat, Angela?”

Angela’s jaw snapped shut. She gritted her teeth so hard Rhiannon practically heard them cracking.

“You got something wrong a minute ago. You got me wrong.” Rhiannon took a step forward, still holding that gun on her hip. “I’m not nice. I’m compassionate, I’m kind, but I’m not nice. You’re nice. The way you’re going about this, your sweet little voice, your compliments—that’s nice. That attitude has probably rewarded you throughout your life. You play all soft and sweet, and then you lie to the cops when they ask what happened to your son’s girlfriend. Why she has those bruises all over her face while she’s birthing your granddaughter. You are nice, Angela. But I’m not.”

Rhiannon unholstered her weapon. She kept it down at her side.

“I’m not sure what the laws are back in Wyoming, but Montana is a stand-your-ground state. That means that if someone enters my property and threatens harm, I’m well within my rights to use lethal force to protect myself and the people I care about. Do you understand what I’m getting at here, Angela?”

Angela glanced at the gun, then back up at Rhiannon. “You’ll kill me. You’ll kill me to protect the woman who killed my son? Is that the point you’re trying to make, Rhiannon?”

She said her name with a certain sickness. Like it tasted like vinegar on her tongue.

“I’ll protect my property and my people until my dying breath,” Rhiannon said. “Don’t come around here again making threats.”

Angela huffed, accompanied by the sound of an engine, and then a car door closing outside. “Isn’t your goal to protect innocent women? Isn’t that the point of this place? Now you’re threatening to kill one?”

“If memory serves, you’re the one who came in here making threats.”

“Bullshit.” Angela let out a slow, humorless laugh. “I bet it’s worked for you. Teaching all these women to play victim. Letting them ruin innocent men’s lives, steal their children away, but⁠—”

“If a man faces consequences because he hurts the woman he loves, he’s the one who ruined his life,” Rhiannon snapped. “Let’s be honest about your son. He ruined his life well before Jess left him. I know the stories. I know what he did to Junie. I also know that he never fought to get his daughter back, because I handled the cases. Don’t give me that shit, Angela. Your little mind games might work on the men in your life, but they’re not gonna work on me.”

“You know what? You better hope David’s dead.” Angela came closer, propping her forearms on the wooden gate again. “Because when he realizes all this pain that she has caused his mother, that she’s isolated his little girl, he’ll make that”—she held up air quotes—“‘abuse’ look like a walk in the park.”

“Rhiannon?” Axel’s voice came from the door. “Is this her?”

“Yeah. Take her to her car, wherever that is, or drop her off in town.” Rhiannon kept her eyes on Angela. Axel came into view, grabbing Angela’s elbow. She tried to shake it off, but Rhiannon continued. “But you know what, Angela? I’m never going to change your opinions about Jess. David is your precious little baby, so you’re never gonna acknowledge the monster he was to her. Let alone the monster he was to Junie. But I want you to look at her life. She’s got a career, a family, more friends than she’s got time for. That’s what happens when your world revolves around growth. When you’re focused on community and kindness. I want you to look at that, and then look at your life.

“All the men you’ve pandered to, and where are you now? You’re alone, you’re miserable, and you’re attacking another woman. Stalking her, hell-bent on making her life harder, because of something a man did. Because he ruined your chances at a relationship with your granddaughter. You blame her, and I can’t change that, but I hope you think about it. I hope you reflect on what catering to men your whole life has done for you.”

Tongue in her cheek, Angela gave Rhiannon a twisted half smile. She snorted and shook her head. “Are you gonna take me to my car now?”

20

GWEN