Missing You

Chapter Twenty-One: An Adrenaline Junkie is Born

        A few moments later as with the bungee jumping, they were the first to be put in the cage. As they sat on the ledge getting ready to jump in, Misty pulled her snorkel mask over her face, “You know when you said let’s do something yesterday morning, I thought we would go to Rodeo Drive and do some retail therapy, not become adrenaline junkies for the week.”

        Nina smiled and pulled on her mask, jumping in the water. Misty finished with hers and followed her into the shark cage. As they were surrounded by the calm water, Misty was at peace if only for a few moments. Nina pointed that about three different sharks were circling below them. At one point, Nina even reached out and touched the underbelly of a shark as it circled their cage. What really caused Misty to want to get out of the water was when one of them tried to swim into the cage but wasn’t big enough. By then, Misty had enough and did make her way out.

        Once back on the boat, Misty was already taking off her wet suit and ringing her hair out when Nina joined her. “Can we go get some big ass margaritas now?”

        Nina smiled and hugged her, “Of course.”

        Misty hugged her back, “I hate you.”

        Nina smacked a kiss to her cheek, “You love me.”

        Misty hugged her tighter and said, “Dammit, I do.”

        True to her word, once back at the resort, they went to have lunch with two big pitchers of margaritas. As Misty was taking her cup to her lips, she swore that they were being watched. Putting her cup down she made a look around. Nina swallowed her chip with salsa and looked at her, “What’s up?”

        She looked at Nina, “Ever since we woke up on your balcony the other morning, I feel like someone has been watching us.”

        Nina was already tipsy and said, “Yup. Me too. My guess, it’s either Draven’s ghost,” hiccupping, “Or my brothers. They like to keep an eye out for me with a babysitter.”

        After lunch, the went to sit by the pool and get their tanning on. That night, after they had enough sun, they went to the hotel dance club and got their dance on. A few times, some men tried to dance with them, but Nina wasn’t having it and made them leave. After they had their fill of cheap bar booze and loud club music, they returned to their hotel room where they each showered and then sat on the balcony to share a bowl of popcorn and a few more margaritas.

        Misty looked at Nina. She looked calm, but Misty knew her best friend. Even on the days that she looked eerily calm, she was like a duck on the surface of the water. Everything appeared calm, but below the water, her feet where just frantically paddling to keep her afloat. Misty knew the signs and knew her best friend long enough to recognize when she was being a duck and not just merely floating on the water. Misty was just going to continue to be there for her friend as she had been there for her in college countless times and had protected her time and time again when she needed it and when she didn’t.

        The next morning, back with their same tour group, they found themselves going to some cliffs where people were cliff diving. Misty looked at Nina, “I think I need to have you committed.”

        “Why?”

        “Cliff diving, Nina? What if you hit your head or break a bone?”

        Nina looked out at the people jumping and then at her best friend, “It wouldn’t be the most terrible or terrifying thing to happen to me lately.”

       “Why are you doing this, Mamas? This is not you.”

        Nina shrugged, “Maybe it is. Maybe after all of these years of my brothers doing this s**t and living their lives, I haven’t been doing the same. And right now, it is my turn to live.”

        They got out of the bus and stood in line for their turn at cliff diving. When it was Nina’s turn, Misty smiled at her best friend as she took a running jump and executed her jump into a cannon ball and then as she spun, unfurled her body to a perfect dive into the water below hitting the water with her feet first. When she joined Misty back at the top of the cliff with the bus and the rest of the tourist, Misty shook her head. “I’m done. Let’s go home.”

        Nina looked at her, “Why? Aren’t you having fun?”

        “Fun? Does this look like fun to you? You are taking risks here that could end your life!”

        “Is that so bad?”

        “What?” Misty asked, “What are you saying?”

        Nina shook her head and walked away, “You’re right. Let’s go home.”

        Misty received the silent treatment on their way back to the hotel, as they packed, and even onto the airport. Misty was shocked when Nina handed her, her airline ticket to head back to California and escorted her to her gate. When she hugged her, “I will see you back in Cali.”

        When Misty pulled away, she looked at Nina, “Where are you going?”

        “To see my brother.”

        Misty felt a relief fill her, “Good,” thinking it was Blaine, “I’ll see you when you get back then, and he has talked some sense into your head. Will you be back in time for Christmas?”

        She nodded, “I will.”

        “Okay, then. Safe travels.”

        Nina boarded a plane a few hours later and found herself on her way to Seattle where Hunter was stationed. As her plane landed several hours later, she could see that it was cold and raining. Thinking that that matched her mood the best, she made her way off the plane and to luggage claim. When she got there, her eyes fell onto Hunter as he leaned against the wall waiting for her.

        When she neared him, he nodded and immediately took a knee and bowed his head. She put a hand on his head, “You are forgiven.” He took her hand and kissed the palm of her hand before standing. Bystanders looked on curiously at the scene that played before them. Some wondered if they were a couple and he was apologizing, while others that were closer cold see the familial resemblance and figured it was a sibling thing. As he stood, he did not release her hand and instead pressed the palm of her hand to his chest. She could feel the pounding of his heart. His green eyes pierced her turquoise eyes, “I sincerely apologize for the things I said and the things that I did when I last saw you, Alpha.”

        “Do not let it happen again. You won’t get another chance.”

        He nodded. He then took her suitcase and took her to his truck. Loading her things up, he then helped her to get in the cab of his truck before jogging around and getting in. He then took her to his large apartment off base. When she entered his clean apartment, she said, “Is what I arranged for tomorrow ready?”

        He nodded and led her to his spare bedroom, “Yes, Alpha.”

        “Good. Were you able to get leave on short notice?”

        He again nodded, “Yes, Alpha.”

        “Good. Then be ready to go at oh-six-hundred.”

        He nodded, “Good night, Alpha,” and left her alone closing the door.

        Nina then changed out of her travel clothes and showered in her private bathroom. After dressing in her leggings and tank top, she got in bed and slept purely from exhaustion. In the morning, when her alarm went off, she rolled to her back and breathed in and out. After adding a sports bra, a sweater, some tennis, and putting her hair in a braid over her shoulder she was ready. When she went out into the living room area, Hunter was awake and dressed in black sweatpants, matching black tennis, and a black thermal shirt with a black hoodie on. He handed her a cup of black coffee which she took and sat down. He leaned against the kitchen counter and sipped his own.

        “How are you doing, Alpha?” he asked.

        She looked down at her coffee and then at him, “Not great, but I am alive which is more than what I can say for others.”

        “What else did you have planned for today? Other than our first excursion?”

        She looked at him, “I want to go get a tattoo done.”

        He nodded, “I know a guy. You can trust him. He does some good work. I’ll set it up for just before dinner.”

        Nodding, they finished their coffee and then loaded up into his truck and headed out to an elevated platform in the mountains. There they had a crash course in hand gliding. With an instructor, Hunter watched as his sister took off running with the instructor and were hand gliding in the misty and cold morning. When they landed, Nina was smiling, but it wasn’t a smile that he was used to. In fact, the smile was more of a manic smile that he knew that their day wasn’t over yet.

        In fact, another two hours later, they both were getting hooked up to jump suits, and harnesses. Nina wanted to sky dive and Hunter was certain that his sister had lost her damn mind. Since he was certified with his time as an Army Ranger, he got to jump solo. Nina on the other hand had to harnessed to an instructor and compared to his six foot height, she looked like a child hanging onto him. They had to make sure that their equipment was good before they boarded.

        As they boarded the plane and climbed into the now clear sky, he remained silent with her even though he wanted to ask her a million questions. When it came time for them to jump, Nina was clipped to the instructor and Hunter yelled out instructions to her and when she couldn’t hear him anymore, he went to sign language. When the door opened, Nina moved closer with the instructor and watched as Hunter jumped first making sure to point his GoPro on his helmet at her.

        The instructor counted back from three on his hand and then they jumped. Nina felt her stomach bottom out as they fell towards the earth. She felt oddly at peace. When the instructor’s chute failed to open, Nina started to feel the panic and signaled to Hunter. The instructor tried again, and it didn’t deploy. Hunter immediately made a straight line for them and when he neared, he checked the instructor’s chute as quickly as he could as they free fell towards the earth.

        Mid fall, Hunter realized what the issue was and cut Nina from the instructor and helped her to wrap herself around him the best way she could. He pushed away from the instructor with Nina now looking towards the sky as he held his arms and legs out and they watched as the instructor pulled for his chute. Hunter pulled for his chute and as he deployed, he shouted, “Brace for a jerk!” Nina held on tight and as the chute went full mushroom, it jerked them up. She held on tight as it jarred her and since he had to maintain control of the chute, he couldn’t help her.

        Turning, she could see the instructor was trying for his chute and it opened but was caught in the rigging. He cut it away and pulled his reserve. Nina knew then, had Hunter not gotten her, that reserve shoot would have torn with their combined weight. Nina held onto Hunter as they slowly drifted towards earth. When they landed, Hunter kept the control of the chute and slowed them to land safely. Dropping the control of the chute, Hunter grabbed onto Nina and hugged her as the reality of the situation settled in and she cried. He felt her shaking as he held onto her and let her cry.

        The instructor and other jumpers ran over to them and apologized over and over again. They loaded up into the truck and they were taken back to the air strip. When they got there, Nina and Hunter were given a refund and again were apologized profusely to again and again. The instructor even went over to them, “Are you okay, ma’am? I am so sorry.”

        Nina wrapped her sweater around herself and nodded.

        The instructor looked at Nina and Hunter, “Where did you learn to do that? How did you know to cut her away and maneuver her to you?”

        Hunter zipped up his hoodie, “I’m an Army Ranger.”

        Nina couldn’t stop shaking, “Can we go?”

        “Of course. Again, I sincerely apologize. I don’t know what happened to the rigging.”

        Nina nodded and walked back towards Hunter’s truck. Once she was in his truck, she buckled up even as she continued to shake. Hunter knew she was going to go into shock, and he worked on getting her back to his apartment. When she passed out, he got on his phone and called, “Yeah, it’s me. Yeah, things did not go as planned. I had to cut her away from the instructor. Yeah, she was with me when we landed. I was just reminded that she is one strong person. Anyone else would freaked out and would have lost their grip and would probably have fallen. Yeah, she passed out from the shock. We will be there shortly. See you then.”

        When they got to his apartment, he pulled into his spot to see Draven dressed in black. He did not seem pleased. Going to Nina’s side, he unbuckled her and carefully took her out of the truck and carried her up to Hunter’s apartment. Once Hunter opened the door, he carried Nina to her room and laid her down. While she was sleeping, he checked her sugars and measured out what she needed. He also had Hunter leave a glass of orange juice by her side. Knowing that he couldn’t stay as there was only one real exit, Draven kissed Nina’s forehead gently and left her room.

        Once he closed the door, he said to Hunter, “What the f**k happened?”

        Hunter looked at him, “The instructor did a shitty job on packing his chute. He didn’t take the time to make sure that everything was good. And then, because no one checked his chute before the jump, they all assumed he was good. Had I not cut Nina away from him, she would be dead right now.”

        “What the f**k was she thinking doing something like that?”

        Hunter looked at Draven, “It’s her way, bro.”

        “Her way of what?”

        “Her way of mourning you.”

        Draven nodded and then looked down and then back up, “I’ve gotta go. But keep me posted. How much longer is she going to be here for?”

        “I think two more days, technically. Tomorrow and then she leaves the day after.”

        “What else does she have planned?”

        “She wanted to go rock climbing but it’s the wet season here and may not happen.”

        Draven looked at him, “Thank you for what you did for her. I would have been on that jump disguised but my f*****g flight was delayed.”

        “She’s my sister. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.”

        They clapped hands and did the bro hug before Hunter saw Draven out and went to check on Nina. She was sitting up on the bed and was drinking the juice he left behind. “What happened?” she asked.

        He looked at her, “You passed out.”

        “How long was I out for?”

        “A few hours,” and leaned against the door frame.

        “You know, I think the more I do to try and move on, the more things happen that make me think he is still alive. And I feel stuck.”

        “Draven?”

        She nodded, “Yeah. I was dreaming that we got here, and he carried me up to this room,” and looked down, “But he’s a ghost.”

        Hunter didn’t say anything. Instead, when he did speak, he said, “Why don’t you shower and change? We have your tattoo appointment in a few hours.”

        She nodded and stood up and finished the juice, “Thank you for saving my life.”

        He looked at her, “I was just repaying the favor.”

        She nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. Hunter went into his own bathroom to shower and change. When he was done, so was Nina. She was dressed in black leggings with a red sweater that looked like a mini dress on her with lace up boots that went to her knee and her long hair was in a bun. He was dressed in jeans, and a dark green sweater. Together they made their way to his truck, and he drove them to his tattoo guy. Once inside, Hunter greeted him with the bro hug and introduced Nina to a man that was six foot with black hair and tattoos going up and down his arms as his long sleeve shirt was pushed up to his elbows. Some peeked out from his collar of his t-shirt, and he had a few on his neck. “Cole, this is my sister, Nina. Nina, this is my tattoo guy, Cole.”

        He held his hand out with a smile, “Pleasure to meet you.”

        She shook his hand and returned the smile, “Likewise.”

        “Damn, Omega, you didn’t tell me your sister was a knockout.”

        Hunter looked at him not pleased, “Dude, she is off limits.”

        He smiled and held up his hands in defeat. When he lowered them, he looked at Nina, “So, what are we doing for you today, my lady?”

        She handed him a piece of paper.

        He opened it, “That’s it?”

        She nodded, “That’s it.”

        “Sure, I can do this. No problem. Give me about fifteen minutes to get my station set up and I’ll get this ready,” holding up the piece of paper, “And I’ll call you back.”

        Hunter and Nina then took a seat there in the lobby and waited. Hunter looked at Nina, “Are you okay, Alpha?”

        She looked ahead, “I’m fine.”

        “How was Salem?”

        “It was good.”

        “Did everyone show?”

        “Of course. Except for you. Even Jedi managed to join us.”

        “Well, you hadn’t called on me yet. I didn’t want to add more s**t to my being on notice.”

        “Well, technically, you are still on notice until we join with the rest of the Pack to vote.”

        He nodded. “When will they?”

        She shrugged, “That is not my call.”

        “That’s bullshit. You are the one that makes that call when to meet.”

        Nina looked at him, “You know I can’t do it right now. One of you usually gets called up around this time. For this notice, I need everyone on the vote.”

        He nodded, “Fine.”

        Cole then stuck his head out at that moment, “Come on back, Nina.”

        She stood up with Hunter and they went back to Cole’s station. Nina removed her sweater to reveal that she was wearing a black razorback tank top underneath and said, “I want it back here,” turning to show her left shoulder of her back, “Just as I have it on the paper I gave you.”

        He nodded, “I can do that. Omega, dude, sit down.” Hunter took a seat next to where Nina would be sitting and he watched as Cole prepared her skin for the tattoo and when he was satisfied, he tucked some padding around her shirt so that the ink would fall on that instead of her shirt when he cleaned her and put on her stencil. Hunter then watched as Nina straddled a chair and Cole got to work on her shoulder. They all spoke about different things and what had transpired earlier that day. Cole was shocked to hear that Nina had survived being cut away from an instructor during a free fall.

        About an hour later, she was done and looking in the mirror for what he did. Nina wanted to cry as he had done such a good job. Turning, she looked at Cole and wiped at her tears, “I love it. This is amazing.”

        He smiled, “Glad you like it. Come on over, let’s get it covered up so you can get out of here.”

        She went over to him, and he cleaned her up really well and indeed covered up her tattoo. Once at the register for Nina to check out, he went through the aftercare instructions with her and checked her out. When she got her receipt, she also left him a generous tip. When he saw the amount she had left him, he did a double take, “Is this a joke?” he asked.

         She shook her head, “No. You did a great job.”

        He went around the counter and hugged her to the point where he lifted her off her feet. When he set her down, she braced herself and he immediately went to his knees, “Marry me.”

        She laughed and gently put her hand on his cheek, “I would in another lifetime. But in this one, my heart is already taken.”

        He grabbed her hand gently with his, turned his cheek and kissed the palm of her hand. Nina pulled away and excused herself to the restroom. Hunter pushed his friend, “Dude? What the f**k is that?”

        Cole stayed on his knees, “Dude, she is f*****g amazing. For a tattoo I charged her two hundred for, she gave me a twenty-thousand-dollar tip.”

        Hunter smiled, “That’s my sister for you.”

        “Dude, seriously. How is she not taken?” and got to his feet.

        “She is,” and then quickly corrected himself, “Was. He is currently listed as missing in action.”

        “Damn. Is that why she said that her heart was already taken?”

        Hunter nodded, “Yeah.”

        Nina came out of the restroom a few moments later and with one last attempt by Cole, he kissed the top of her hand and told her to go see him anytime. She smiled and reached up to kiss his cheek as he leaned down to meet her halfway. Hunter clasped hands with him, and they were gone. Hunter then took her to a nearby exclusive restaurant that served some of the best sushi in town.

        They were sat at a booth and were immediately waited on. Between the two of them being famished from what they had encountered that day, they had three rolls, several orders of sashimi and nigiri and several sake bombs. By the time they were finished with dinner, Nina was pleasantly buzzing and was enjoying spending time with Hunter.

        As they shared some green tea ice cream, Nina looked at him through narrowed eye lids as she was almost drunk and said, “Why do you try us? Me and Wolf? You know you lose every time.”

        He shrugged, “Because many times I feel like I know what is best. In reality, I am just full of shit.”

        She laughed out loud and at that moment, Hunter knew to cut her off. Before he could grab her glass with her sake bomb in it, she grabbed it and downed it in a few gulps. When she put her empty glass down, she burped, “Nice try.”

        “You are cut off, Alpha.”

         She looked at him, “I will say when I am cut off, Omega.”

        He smirked, “I think you have had enough.”

        “Sure. Yeah, uh-huh.”

        As she went to stand up, she immediately sat back down, “Let me know when the floor stops spinning so I can go to the restroom.”

        Hunter called for the bill and paid leaving a very generous tip for what was about to happen. He went to Nina and held out his hand, “Come on, Sissy.”

        She took his hand, “You know. You are my brother, and you can piss me off to no end, but you are a good brother.”

        “Come on, let’s get you home.”

        She stood up and swayed on her feet. He bent down and gently put her over his shoulder and carried her out of the sushi bar. As he started the journey through patrons and tables, Nina started singing, “I am my mother’s savage daughter, the one that runs barefoot cursing sharp stones, I am my mother’s savage daughter, I will not cut my hair, I will not lower my voice . . . My mother’s child is a savage, she looks for omens in the colors of stones, in the faces of cats, in the fall of feathers, in the dancing of fire, in the curve of old bones . . . I am my mother’s savage daughter, the one that runs barefoot cursing sharp stones, I am my mother’s savage daughter, I will not cut my hair, I will not lower my voice.”

        When Hunter got her outside, he could hear Nina trying to hold down her stomach contents and immediately put her down and helped her when she proceeded to throw up in a bush. Once she was done, she started singing and dancing on the sidewalk, “My mother’s child dances in the darkness, she sings heathen songs by the light of the moon, and watches the stars and renames the planets, and dreams she can reach them with a song and a broom . . . I am my mother’s savage daughter, the one who runs barefoot cursing sharp stones, I am my mother’s savage daughter, I will not cut my hair, I will not lower my voice.”

        When she started to gather the attention of a passing cop car, Hunter went to Nina and picked her up and carried her the final feet to his truck. She finished the song on the way to his apartment. Before they got there, she did however, pass out from her drunken state. When they got to his apartment, she woke up and missed him signaling something or someone. Hunter then followed Nina up the stairs to his apartment. He wanted to laugh as she was on all fours climbing the stairs. He tried to help her, but she pushed his hands away and said, “Worry ‘bout yourself.” When they got into his apartment, she got to her feet and pulled off her sweater and headed to her room where she fell face first onto the bed. When Hunter went to close the door, Draven stopped him, “Brah!” he hiss whispered, “What the f**k happened?”

        Hunter lowered his voice, “She had one too many sake bombs.” Together they went to the doorway of her room to see her laying face down on the bed. Draven’s eyes fell to her shoulder, “Why does she have a skin covering on?”

        He looked at her and then at Draven, “She got a tattoo.”

        “Of what?”

        He shrugged, “A bunch of numbers, a mask and s**t, flowers. I don’t know.”

        Draven snuck in to see it and saw that he couldn’t see it as the ink had mixed with some blood and covered up what had been done. She still couldn’t remove the covering for some hours and what have to keep it covered. “Why did you let her get drunk?” he asked.

        Hunter looked at him, “You, of all people, should know damn well why she got drunk. And in case it escaped you, she is mourning your dumb ass!”

        Draven went toe to toe with Hunter, but Hunter stood his ground. Hunter looked at him, “Be very careful what you do next. You cannot let her know you are alive and well. It will bring a s**t storm down on your f*****g head.”

        Draven moved away from him and said in a loud whisper, “You better f*****g take care of her.”

        “I will. She’s my sister.”

        Hunter watched him leave and went to lock the door. He then left a bottle of water and some Tylenol for her, unhooked her insulin pump from her body and removed her boots. Once he covered her with a blanket, he left the door open a crack and went into his own room.