The Branded Hunters Trilogy: The Masked Musician (On Hold)

Chapter 4: The Bounty Bistro

For the past few days, I've spent them all with Dominic. He's a great person, with a easy-going personality. He knows Miami like the back of his hand, and he showed me a lot of restaurants and many sights there. I would like to know who he is as a bounty hunter, then we can do jobs together.

But he made it simple, he would tell me his identity if I tell mine.

"Are you sure you can't give me a hint?"

"No."

"Your outfit?"

"Nope."

"Your fighting style?"

"Nuh-uh."

"You're unfair."

"I'm unfair?" Dominic protested. "You're unfair. You want me to tell you my identity, but you won't give up yours."

"My identity is important to me."

He scoffed. "So is mine."

"But at least I try to hide it, you're not wearing any mask."

"But it's obvious why you have to wear your mask because of your tattoo."

"It's not a tattoo."

He paused. "It isn't?"

I shook my head. "It's a birthmark, actually."

"Really?" He leaned forward and touched it with his hand.

There was an awkward moment between us, we both stared at each other. His eyes are so blue, I'm so jealous of him. Then I broke away from our gaze and turned away.

"Yeah."

"It's really cool. A clef, right?"

"Actually it's a treble bass clef."

"Oh, I'm not that much of a music nerd like you..."

I laughed. "Shut up!"

It was getting dark, we had dinner earlier. With the same compromise. Dominic handles the check while I get the tip. We were walking aimlessly in the streets of Miami.

"Hey Melody?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to...get a drink?"

"A drink?"

"Yeah, like in a bar. There's a good bar I go time to time."

I snorted. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

He blushed red. "No! I meant as friends..."

"But I don't really drink..."

"You don't?"

"...Much." I finished.

The death of my parents hit me pretty hard. I would grab a drink or two, but Fidget made sure that that would be all. Sometimes I go to the local bar to find jobs when Tony didn't have any for me, or hang out with other bounty hunters.

He laughed. "C'mon, the bar is a couple of blocks from here."

"Okay."

Fidget glared at me, telling me that it's not a good idea.

But I petted him. "Don't worry Fidge, I'll just have a drink or two."

He bared his teeth but said nothing.

"And I should warn you about the bar." Dominic said.

"What about it, is it a str-?"

"No! It's just that it can get a little rowdy at times."