Looting the 13th Floor 2, page 6
part #2 of Looting the 13th Floor Series
“Outside inside!” Cleo yelled excitedly. “The car has outside inside!”
“It does,” I snorted as I pulled out onto the street. “You can choose the music, too.”
I showed Cleo how to work the radio as we began our drive, and the cool wind ruffled my hair. The girls were thrilled with the open roof and radio choices, and their excitement was extremely contagious. Their laughter was music to my ears as we sped down the sun-drenched road.
It wouldn’t be long until we were all back in Hollowfell for our next heist, and the women would be well-equipped and trained with guns.
They were going to look seriously sexy when they were armed to the teeth and ready to kill, too. Cleo was already a fighting machine, and I knew she would be able to master a pistol. Kali might take a bit of practice, but I had full faith in her.
The magical world filled with treasure was waiting for me, and I was going to be more prepared than ever to conquer it. The three of us would be able to pull off a heist like no other. No gargoyle’s hoard of gold was safe from us.
I grinned as I glanced up at the open roof.
It was time to make my monster girls into killing machines. Then we would be ready to head back to Hollowfell.
Chapter 4
I had never had so much fun driving as I did with my monster girls to my uncle’s ranch.
We sped along long roads with views of rolling hills and stretches of flat desert, and Kali was fascinated with the cacti we saw along the way. Cleo had fully settled into the role of a rich girl as she held a hand up through the sunroof to feel the breeze through her fingers. The cat-girl had tuned the radio to a station playing classic rock as she tapped her boots along to the heavy guitars, and her tanned thighs were the perfect distance away for me to grab every now and again.
She purred at every touch.
I had forgotten how much I loved driving, and I was already planning when I could go car shopping.
“Liam,” Cleo murmured as her hair danced in the wind. “Will you get one of these rich human guy cars?”
“Fuck yeah,” I said. “Maybe we can go and look at some next weekend. You can both help me pick one out.”
“Wonderful!” Kali cried. “I’m really getting used to how fast these things go!”
“I think the dragonling we rode was faster,” I laughed. “But yeah, this is a pretty nice ride!”
I glanced back at the nymph to see her bounce in her seat as she looked out the window. Her blue eyes widened every time we passed a road sign or a tree, and I loved how excited she still got about the simple things in my world.
“Nearly there,” I said as I glanced at the satnav. “I feel like I should warn you that my uncle is very… wacky.”
“Wacky?” Kali giggled. “What is that?”
“He’s a fun guy,” I said. “But he’s kind of crazy sometimes. I just know he’ll love the two of you, though.”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Kali sighed. “It’s so exciting to be meeting Liam’s family!”
I followed the instructions on my phone as it guided me toward my uncle’s ranch. He owned a huge stretch of land that was nestled in a wide valley, and it was the perfect area for privacy while still having amazing views.
The map led me off the main road as I followed a much smaller trail that took me through a small patch of woodland, and a busted-up sign swayed gently in the wind up ahead. Red paint was peeling off it, but I was just able to make out my uncle’s sloppy writing in bold letters.
Jones Ranch- Private property! You’ve been fucking warned!
“Of course,” I chuckled as I drove past the sign.
We turned a corner as we left the woodland behind, and the gentle slopes of rolling hills raised up on either side of us. A metal gate with a rusty speaker stopped us from getting any further, and the fence attached stretched out for fucking miles. I pulled up next to the speaker and reached out to press the button down.
“Uncle Spencer?” I called. “It’s Liam!”
There was a muffled buzz of static before the metal gate suddenly clicked and swung open with a violent thud. It had clearly been installed by a not so professional, but I loved that my uncle had put that level of security up. He might be a hot-head, but he was cautious when it came to safety.
I drove us onto the property, and the ranch stretched out before us. It was a hell of a sight. Bumpy terrain with desert plants went on for miles inside the valley, and all of it was contained by the metal fence. Horses lazed around the grounds along with a few dogs that looked like they were meant to be on guard duty but had forgotten. The mutts laid on their backs with their tongues out as they lapped up the rays of bright sunshine.
There were three different buildings up ahead. The house was two stories tall with chipped white paint and a weathervane on top. It had a blue door, a large porch complete with rocking chair, and a whole bunch of DIY stuff sitting outside.
A small shed sat a few yards away from the house, and then an open barn that was set much further back. I could hear the clucking of chickens I couldn’t see, and the smell of cooking meat drifted in through the sunroof.
“It’s a bit rough around the edges,” I said. “But it’s his pride and joy.”
“It is so beautiful,” Cleo breathed as she stared out at the horses. “So many animals!”
I slowed down as we drove to the main house, and I pulled up near the porch. Spencer’s car must have been around the back of the building, but he had a grimy old motorcycle propped up near the DIY station. Hammers, wooden planks, screws, and a chainsaw all sat out ready to be used. My uncle always seemed to be fixing something up when I was a kid, and it looked like he hadn’t changed much.
“Let’s go.” I grinned at the girls. “Ready?”
“Yes!” Kali said excitedly. “Let’s go and meet your family!”
“And play with guns,” Cleo whispered as we climbed out of the car.
I stretched my legs after the long ride, and I looked around to see if my uncle was out and about as I swung the rucksack over my shoulder. The house door was shut, but I could hear someone moving around inside. He must have known we were there since he had buzzed us in, and I enjoyed the sun on my face as we waited.
Then the door suddenly swung open as my Uncle Spencer appeared.
He was exactly as I remembered him from when I was younger. His skinny frame was draped in ripped jeans, a plaid shirt, and leather boots that had seen better days. His blonde hair was slicked back into a ponytail, and his stubble had flecks of gray. Spencer had a gaunt face, but he wasn’t a bad-looking guy. He broke into a toothy grin as he looked at me and the girls.
“Holy fuck balls,” he growled as he strode down the porch steps. “When the fuck did my nephew become a grown-ass man? Come here, boy!”
He grabbed me into a tight hug as he slapped my back, and I could smell cigarettes and meat on his clothes.
“Hey!” I laughed. “Good to see you! This is Cleo and Kali.”
“Ladies,” Spencer said as he gave each of them a bow. “Welcome to my ranch. Make yourselves at home. My nephew sure knows how to pick good-looking friends.”
“This home is amazing,” Cleo said. “It’s so big. Like a rich guy house.”
“You have so many animals!” Kali smiled. “Are they all friendly?”
“Most of ‘em,” Spencer said with a nod. “Some of the chickens are vicious little fuckers, but they make good eggs.”
There was a jingling sound as an ancient-looking dog plodded around the corner and hurried over to Spencer’s side. It was black with brown eyes, and it looked like it had been fed a few too many treats over the years.
“This here is Chunks,” Spencer said as he scratched the dog’s head. “His working days are over, but he’s a good buddy to have around.”
“I love him,” Kali breathed as she crouched down to pet the dog. “Hello, Chunks!”
The fat dog stuck its tongue out happily as the nymph cooed and tickled his chin. Cleo eyed the creature warily as she sniffed in its direction, and Chunks gave her a friendly bark.
“So,” Spencer said. “You want some shooting practice with your old uncle?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “It’s because we need to–”
“Naaaah!” Spencer said as he held his hands up. “I don’t need to know what you are practicing for. Let’s just say it’s for shooting deer. This is a no questions asked zone. Got it?”
“Right.” I grinned. “Sounds good.”
The house door swung open again, and a good-looking, middle-aged woman walked out with a tray full of drinks. She had blonde curls that fell down her back, a pink shirt that was extremely low cut, and a denim miniskirt that was probably designed for girls a quarter her age. Her red cowboy boots went halfway up her tanned legs, and she had bright pink lipstick that glistened under the sun.
“Hey honeys,” she rasped. “I thought ya might be thirsty! Oh, my, what a gorgeous bunch!”
“This is Daisy,” Spencer said as he kissed her cheek. “The most beautiful woman I ever saw in my damn life.”
“Oh,” Daisy said as she placed the tray down on the worktable. “You can’t say that when these two honeys are standing here! My, aren’t you both cuties! Are you in a Halloween costume, sugar?”
“Cleo does cosplay,” I said quickly. “She does it for Instagram.”
“Ohh,” Daisy said. “Well, I don’t exactly know about all that, but you look damn good. It’s so exciting to have Spencer’s family over!”
“Great to meet you.” I smiled. “I’m Liam, this is Cleo and Kali.”
“Oh, you’re all so precious!” Daisy cried. “Now, you let me know if you need anything at all. I’m gonna rustle up some burgers for after you’re done with the shooting.”
“Burgers,” Cleo said. “I like burgers. I also like your big house and your boots.”
“You sweetie,” Daisy said as she squeezed Cleo’s cheek. “Keep these boys on their best behavior!”
“I will.” Cleo nodded seriously. “We will also look out for evil beasts.”
“Good for you,” Daisy said happily. “You ladies show ‘em how it’s done!”
Spencer chuckled as the blonde woman hurried back up the porch steps, and he poured us all a glass of lemonade from the jug she had brought out.
“She’s sweet,” I said. “How long have you guys been together?”
“Two years,” Spencer said. “Best damn thing that ever happened to me. Drink up, troops! Let’s hydrate before we get to shooting!”
I grabbed a glass and was grateful for how refreshing the sharp drink was. My body felt instantly cooled as the girls happily sipped their lemonade.
“So,” Spencer belched as he slammed down his empty glass. “I’m gonna go ahead and guess that this is mostly for the ladies’ benefit. I remember you being one hell of a shot after I taught you when you were a boy.”
“That’s right,” I said. “Cleo’s pretty excited for it all, but Kali’s a bit nervous.”
“Just a little,” the nymph said as she sipped her drink. “Guns are awfully big!”
“And you’re awfully tiny,” Spencer chuckled. “Don’t you worry about that darlin’! We’ll get you shooting like a pro before you leave. This way!”
We put our drinks down as my uncle led us around the side of the house. Chunks waddled along behind us as Kali kept checking to make sure he was okay, and I could hear Daisy singing along to the radio as we passed the kitchen window.
The ranch had just as much land out back, and chickens raced around the barn as they pecked at seed on the ground. There were a few trees clumped together that provided some shade two horses were lounging in, but Spencer led us over to an area that was set up with targets of all sizes.
He had another tiny shed that hadn’t been visible from the front, and it stood next to a scuffed part of land. There were two circular shooting targets with plenty of holes already in them, and three tree stumps had boxes full of beer cans beside them. A massive, earthen berm stood behind everything to catch all the other bullets that missed their targets.
“Here we go, boy!” Spencer said as he rubbed his hands. “We gonna use those presents I gave you?”
“Hell yeah,” I said as I swung the rucksack off my shoulders. “I’ve brought it all.”
I unzipped the bag that held the three AR-15s along with full magazines, the Glock he had originally given me, our ear protection, and a pair of gloves for Kali.
“She’s got sensitive skin,” I said as I handed the nymph the gloves. “Metal makes her break out.”
My uncle didn’t seem to be listening properly while he peered into my bag and nodded to himself as he checked the guns.
Kali slipped on her hand protection, and she had a determined scowl as she swayed from side to side like a UFC champ who was gearing up for a fight. Cleo’s golden eyes were wide as her tail swished, and I could see her fingers twitching to get started.
“Alrighty!” Spencer said as he grabbed the Glock. “Let’s start simple. Cleo, have you ever shot anything before?”
“I have never shot a gun,” the cat-girl said. “But I have used a blade on my enemies. I don’t fear using a weapon.”
“Holy shit, girl!” Spencer snorted as he looked her up and down. “We’ve got ourselves a badass over here, huh?”
“You could say that,” I chuckled. “She’s not someone to be fucked with.”
“I like a tough girl,” Spencer said. “Good on ya. Okay, let’s get you set up.”
My uncle led Cleo over toward the targets as he took the bag with him, and he got to work showing the cat-girl the basics of how the Glock operated, but I hovered back with Kali as the nymph bit her lip.
“You okay?” I asked quietly. “He won’t make you try anything you don’t want to.”
“I know,” she said. “I trust him, he’s your family. It’s just that Cleo is so tough and confident. I feel a bit useless.”
She pulled at her gloves, and I gently took her hands in mine. Kali looked up at me with those startling blue eyes as I gave her fingers a squeeze as I sent her a wink.
“You listen here,” I said. “Cleo and you have different personalities and strengths. That doesn’t mean she’s better than you. You’re both tough as all hell in different ways.”
“Really?” Kali sniffed. “Even though I can’t touch metal?”
“Are you kidding?” I laughed. “You saved our asses during our last Hollowfell trip. Remember when you stole a fucking boat? You’re a badass, too. It’s just going to take some practice getting used to these new weapons, but I want you to try so I can have some peace of mind when we get back to looting those rich bastards in your world. I want to know that you can defend yourself a bit, okay?”
“Okay.” Kali nodded. “Thank you, Liam. As long as I wear my gloves, I’ll be fine!”
The nymph stared up at me as her face broke out into a bright smile, and I had a strong urge to bend down and kiss her. But a gunshot broke me out of the zone as we spun around to see Cleo dancing on the spot.
“Great first shot,” Spencer said with an appreciative nod. “Let’s make sure those legs are nice and sturdy so you can aim better.”
He moved her around slightly so she wasn’t leaning to one side as he adjusted her grip on the trigger. I put my arm around Kali as we walked over to join them, and Cleo looked fucking ferocious as she aimed the Glock. The cat-girl nodded as Spencer guided her through aiming properly, and then she took another shot at the target.
I whistled as the bullet scraped the very edge of one of the round stands and left a semicircle behind.
“Nice!” I said as I squeezed her shoulder.
“She’s a natural.” Spencer nodded eagerly. “It usually takes a good few tries to manage a hit like that. She’s almost as good as you were when you first started, Liam, my boy!”
“Watch out.” Cleo winked. “I will become the best gun shooter in the world!”
“I believe it,” I chuckled. “Let’s see if you can get in the outer circle next.”
The cat-girl stuck her textured tongue out in concentration as she lined up her next shot. Spencer stood behind her as he squinted at the target, and he adjusted her arms just a little before he nodded. Then Cleo pulled the trigger and sent a bullet flying right into the circle of the metal.
“Yes!” I yelled. “Holy shit!”
“I did it!” Cleo cried as she jumped around to face me. “Liam! I shot inside the big circle! I have mastered the guns of death!”
The cat-girl’s face glowed with pride as she pointed to the hole in the target. She really was a natural.
“You’ll be hitting the bullseye within an hour,” Spencer chuckled. “Fucking crazy shit right there! Are you sure you’re not a trained shooter or something?”
“She’s got the look for it,” I chuckled.
“Spying I am good at,” Cleo said with a nod. “My stealth and sharp senses serve me very well in most situations.”
Spencer raised his eyebrows at this, and I loudly cleared my throat as I gestured to the nymph beside me.
“So… should we…” I led.
“Kali,” Spencer said and shook his head to refocus. “Let’s give you a go next. Same gun.”
Cleo smiled as she held the Glock out, and Kali fidgeted with her gloves before she took it. The nymph looked like she was holding a live grenade as she kept the weapon at arm’s length. Her eyes were wide as my uncle gently guided her to take Cleo’s spot, and he handed her some ear protection.
“No rush,” Spencer said kindly. “Let’s just take it one step at a time. Most important thing to remember is that your nerves are what make that gun more dangerous. You stay calm and keep your head on straight, and everything will go much better.”
I stood close by as my uncle showed Kali how to load the magazine, and she watched him carefully as she bit her lip. Cleo gave the nymph encouraging smiles, but I had a feeling this wasn’t going to go as smoothly as the cat-girl’s first attempts. Kali’s hands shook as Spencer helped her line up her shot, and he slowly lowered her hands again.
“Hey,” he said. “I know this ain’t exactly an official shooting range, but I can’t let ya loose when you’re shaking that bad.”
