Craved (Book 2)

-30-

Update: 12/26/20

Chapter 30

Greyson

The days began to blur together. Greyson has been trying to patch up the hole in his operation since the fallout between Diggy and his guys. Somehow word spread that Reaper was down for the count and it cost them connections.

He's been doing everything he could to let everyone know he was still alive and kicking. With his club now thriving it was helping to offset the money he was losing. More and more visited his club for the drinks, and others came for business. Brandon stepped up and took control over handling the works of the club while Greyson kept to the background.

Everything was starting to look up again; except for one small area in his life. Since Red's birthday, he's tried to show her just how much he cared for her. He didn't want to suffocate her, yet he didn't want to give her too much space and she'd run. But a part of him already felt her pulling away. Her smile was always filled with uncertainty when she'd look at him. Her touch had become faint like she was scared to embrace it.

Often times he'd find her staring at the contents he'd brought from her house when she thought he wasn't around. He didn't want her to go, yet he couldn't stop her if she really tried. His heart and his mind were at war constantly about what to do. It was another reason he threw himself into focusing on business like he had been before she came around.

Red didn't help matters when he'd come home. After finally dragging himself away from everything for a moment's rest, to find her in his bed in one of his shirts. When he thought she only wanted to lay, she'd pounce like a cat in heat. There were no objections from him at all, if using his body was her way of thinking, then he'd gladly oblige. He just wished she'd stop fighting herself and be truthful with her feelings.

Greyson couldn't possibly know what she was thinking or feeling, but he knew she was hiding from it all. He knew deep down in her heart she loved him back, it was just hidden away afraid of the world around them.

"Come on, up, and at 'em!" Greyson tugged on Red's arm pulling her from the couch as she sat and watched some movie on Netflix.

"Wait Greybee, it was just getting to the good part!" She protested, trying to put her weight into staying seated.

A slight pout on her lips as her eyes locked intently on the screen. He turned and watched as Gerard Butler stood in a room that looked to be in the White House. Assailants on the other side of the door making their way towards him. Before they could get inside, he slipped through the walls from a secret compartment.

"Olympus Has Fallen huh?" He chuckled as she sat on the edge of the couch. Greyson dropped her hands and picked up the remote pressing pause.

"Nigga what the fuck!?" Red snapped staring at him with wide eyes.

"Let's go hermit crab. We're going to have some fun before I have to ditch you again tonight." He laughed pulling her to her feet with little resistance this time.

His heart hammered in his chest at the look in her eyes. He hated leaving her in the house alone, it always put him on edge while he was out. Leaving him wondering if that would be the night she slips away, or worse someone comes and take her.

"You sure I can't come? It's not like I need to be sheltered from any of this." She grabbed her shoes by the front door slipping her feet inside before shrugging on her jacket.

"I wish you could, then it would put my mind at ease," Greyson stepped close to her tangling his fingers in her thick mane of hair. Her dark roots beginning to show, yet it gave the whole Red Head look an edge. "But having you out there with me will only make me worry even more. More enemies have been bold in their attempts to show power, and I can't have you anywhere near it."

"It's better for me to be near you than here by myself worrying if you'll even walk through those doors again. Greybee, I almost lost you for good, and quite frankly I'm not ready to let you go yet."

There in her eyes was a spark of something deep. He didn't want to get his hopes up and say it was love, but he wished upon all the stars it was. He hadn't stopped telling her how he felt. But he knew she wasn't ready to say it back. Maybe if she held onto that small flame of worry, she'd soon realize it herself.

"You don't worry about me. I'll be fine I promise." He placed a soft kiss upon her lips silencing her next words. She relaxed into the kiss giving up on the small fight. "Now let's go let off some steam by shooting shit." He laughed holding the door open after he slipped on his own jackets.

"We're going back to the range?" The excitement in her voice made him happy.

"Yes, we are."

They climbed into the car and Greyson turned the heat on to ward of the October chill. Fall has been his favorite season since he was a kid. The changing of the leaves, the rain, the crisp air. It all seemed to relax him at times.

"Ooo, can we shoot the rifle again?" To keep the smile on her face he'd agree to anything right now.

"I'm sure we can make that happen. I have a few new guns I want to test out, so why not." It's something he's always done, when they get a new shipment of guns, he'd take a few to the range and test them out to see how well they shoot.

"Let's see who can get more headshots." Red challenged hanging up the silhouette target. "If we get just the edge as long as the hole touches the area it counts."

They had been at the range for thirty minutes now. Greyson paid for two booths so they could shoot side by side. Red had gotten better since the last time he brought her here and she seemed more relaxed as well.

"Okay, bet. Loser pays for dinner." He bargained.

"Winner get's to chose where we go." Greyson smiled and they shook hands, sealing the deal. Once they were both set up and pushed their target back Greyson counted down and they began shooting. Greyson knew he could easily sink eleven out of the thirteen shots in the target's head, but he wanted to take it easy and let her win this round.

He heard Red taking her time with her shots as she concentrated on each one. Once he was empty he took out the clip setting everything down on the shelf. He stepped around and stood behind her surprised that she had gotten almost all of her shots in or around the head area.

Once she was done, they removed their headphones and moved their targets closer.

"I have eight headshots." She counted. Pride shining bright in her eyes.

"I have eight as well." He laughed.

"Tiebreaker, we shoot the rifle." Red bargained. Greyson shrugged his shoulders enjoying how much she was having fun. He watched her take the medium-sized target and hooked it to her station.

"Ten feet. Six shots apiece." She announced. They pulled their headset back on and he stood and watched as she focused intently through the scope pulling the trigger when she felt confident enough. The rifle held fifteen bullets but they only stuck with using twelve. After her six shots, she landed three in the center circle and one in the upper left circle.

"Okay tough guy, your turn." Greyson prepared his station and carefully carried the rifle to his station before focusing and firing his six shots. He landed all six in the center circle and even managed to get one extremely close to the dead center.

"Looks like I win." He grinned.

"Such a cheater, you do this for a living." Red rolled her eyes hanging up their first target for another go.

"Hey, it was your idea to challenge me in a shooting contest." He laughed stealing a kiss before pushing his target back again. He wanted more practice with the rifle and she just wanted to work with all the guns.

They stayed until all the ammo was gone and their targets were riddled with many holes, big and small.

"Okay professional sniper, where are we eating dinner?" Red asked once they made it back to the car.

"How does Red Lobster sound?" Greyson laughed at the look she gave him.

"It's your choice, a deal is a deal."