The Shikari: Every Family Has Its Secrets, page 1
Table of Contents
The Shikari
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Dora Blume
The Shikari
By Dora Blume
To all those who have helped me on this crazy journey,
Thank you!
Copyright © 2018 by Dora Blume
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Juan Villar Padron juanjjpadron. wixsite.com
Interior Book design by
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Dora Blume
Visit my website at www.DoraBlume.com
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing: July 2018
Chapter 1
“What the hell are you looking at?” Sloane yelled at the guy staring at her from across the bar.
She glanced over to her friend Amy. “What’s this guy’s deal, anyway? He’s been staring at me for over five minutes. We reached creepy three minutes ago.” Sloane flipped her hair and rested her head on her fist, elbow on the bar facing away from the man watching her.
Amy rolled her eyes at Sloane. “Well, you are gorgeous. I mean with your sleek black hair, chains hanging from your almost jean shorts and tight black everything, why wouldn’t he be starring.” Amy laughed. Guys staring at Sloane was normal. Not only was she stunning, but she dressed in tight, flashy, punk clothes that left little to the imagination. She stood out wherever she went. Amy, on the other hand, wore fewer chains and metal in her attire. She preferred a more casual yet sporty look. For example, today she was sporting a red tank and white shorts that stopped mid-thigh. Minneapolis could get hot in the summer and today it was going for a record at ninety-seven degrees.
“Well, I know I am but he doesn’t have to stare so hard. I mean he’s drooling.” Sloane turned in her stool to check again. When she met his eyes, she turned placing her elbow on the bar and resting her head on it, away from the guy who’d been watching her. She felt a tingle go down her spine and shivered.
“Oh Sloane, that’s what I love, your uncaring attitude and your uncanny ability to be understanding of the less fortunate. Someday, you need to get over this aversion to guys.” Amy shook her head. Sloane pushed guys away for as long as she could remember.
“Okay, now you’re just being mean. I don’t have to get over my aversion. I’m fine by myself.” She looked over at the guy again. He was still staring at her but when she looked his way he focused on his drink. He looked at her through his lashes as he took a sip of the amber liquid. Something about him seemed familiar but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
“See, you even talking to him makes you a regular saint.” Amy pivoted in her seat and smirked. She snuck a glance of the guy. His dark curls hung loose around his forehead. A black t-shirt covered his sleek, strong muscles. He’d be Sloane’s type, if she gave him a chance. Eyeing Sloane, Amy realized that would never happen. It caused her to wonder what made Sloane swear off men. She was always tight lipped about the past and her family.
“Who said anything about talking to him?” Looking over again, the guy smirked and tilted his head up toward her in greeting. She looked back at Amy. “We both know I’m not a saint.” Shaking her head, she downed the rest of her drink. Her hand was raised in an attempt to get the bartender's attention.
Amy thought back to the day she’d met Sloane. One jock they went to school with had been pulling on the back of her hoodie in the lunch line. She asked him to stop, but he continued. Sloane was standing behind them and she tapped the jock on the back. When he turned, she slugged him in the nose hard enough to make him bleed. He went to strike back, but a teacher stopped him before he got the chance. Sloane got detention but from that day on they’d become good friends. Sloane had been standing up for her ever since.
“Seriously, he’s still looking over here.” Sloane moved her head to duck out of his sight line.
“So, why don’t you go over there and break his nose, that will teach him to look at you with that deep penetrating stare.” Amy smiled at her and stuck out her tongue.
“Ha. Ha. very funny, you know I can’t do that. Why are you teasing me?” She pressed her lips together in a hard line and narrowed her eyes at Amy. If only she could, she thought Sloane had gotten into trouble recently for punching a guy in the nose. He pressed charges, and the judge granted her a suspended sentence. If she can manage not to get any assault charges in the next six months they would drop it. Otherwise, she’ll face penalties for the original charge and anything new which would include community service, something she had no intention of completing.
“Let’s get out of here. There’s a party happening tonight at Paisley Park. Way more fun than this dive bar.” Amy looked to her friend and Sloane set down her empty glass.
She looked to Amy and nodded. “Wait, you got invited to a party tonight?”
“Yes, yes I did. Now let’s go.”
Sloane tipped her head to the side, “Okay.”
Sloane glanced around the bar before they left. She felt someone else was watching her, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Amy turned in the bar stool to grab her purse off the back. Sloane got up from the stool; as she walked toward the door, she couldn’t help but make a beeline for the guy who was staring at her. She raised her hand like she would hit the guy, then just before her hand would’ve connected with his nose she pulled back and winked at him. She turned on her heel and headed out the door. Amy rolled her eyes at her but Sloane looked satisfied, or at least as satisfied as she could be under the circumstances.
“You couldn’t leave well enough alone, now could you?” Amy shook her head as she walked to the car.
“No, why should I? He was staring at me. He deserves to be intimidated a little. Maybe I’m some crazy bitch he shouldn’t be staring at. Maybe, I just got out of the loony bin.” Sloane smiled and put her arm through Amy’s as they walked.
“With you, all of those things are possible,” Amy grabbed Sloane’s hand tight and squeezed. They both laughed.
“Yeah, that’s true. I hope I made him think twice about staring at some girl in a bar.” Sloane laughed again, she was thinking about what she wished she could have done to him. Oh well, she’ll just have to keep dreaming about it until her sentence is up.
“Key word there is bar. He probably had too much to drink and just couldn’t keep his eyes off you. I think you need to stop messing with people so much; it’ll get you into trouble one of these days. Plus, would it hurt you to talk to one guy who’s ogling you? When was the last time you were in a relationship? Hell, when was the last time you went on a date?” Amy looked to her friend and sighed.
“Ah, look who’s talking. I don’t want to date. I don’t want a relationship. Guys are trouble, I’ve certainly had my fair share of negative male role models. I don’t need anyone else making that kind of impression on me.” She thought back to her father and brother and shook her head. “Yeah, I’m good on men, all men. So, not to change the subject or anything but, what time is this party?
“It’s at two, we have to go change first. It’s a pajama party.” Amy didn’t like the idea of going to a pajama party but she’d been invited and it was an exclusive affair. Usually it was Sloane who got them invited to exclusive clubs, so Amy was proud that it’d been her invited, instead of Sloane.
“What? A pajama party, really? How did you get in on a pajama party?” Sloane narrowed her eyes at Amy.
“A friend invited me, I’d say no but this sounded exclusive and fun.” She tried for a light tone but it came out too excited.
“Well now I’m intrigued, who’s this friend? Is he hot? You going on a date? I’m not the only one who hasn’t been going out.” Sloane perked up in her seat and turned toward Amy.
Amy dodged the insinuation, “He’s just a friend.” Although, he was hot, which was the reason she was going but Sloane always pried too much when it came to guys, especially those Amy showed any interest in.
Sloane stared her down for a minute knowing from her tone that he was more than just a friend or there was no way she would've even brought it up. She decided to drop it. She’d find out soon enough who this mystery man was. “So not till two, huh? What are we doing till then? I know we have to change but that won’t take that long. What is your plan to keep me occupied until then?” Sloane winked at Amy.
Amy shook her head, “I thought I’d just wave something shiny in front of you, keep you bus y for hours.” Amy glanced over at Sloane and laughed at her response.
Sloane glared at her, “I thought we could have some fun. You don’t have to be so pessimistic all the time. I think you need more fun in your life; more experimentation. You need to be a little more like me.” she sat back in the seat and smiled.
Amy’s pitch raised when she spoke, “You think so? I think you need a little less of all those things but I love you for them, anyway. Now, can we focus on more pressing issues?”
“More pressing issues? What’s more pressing than having fun? I can’t imagine what boring issue you think we have to talk about? Actually, how about you just keep it to yourself for now?” Sloane sat back in the seat and examined her nails, she thought she may need to reapply her black polish before they went out tonight.
“Wow, okay, I will. I’m going in to change, are you coming?” Amy lunged out of the car and slammed the door. She was tired of Sloane’s all about me attitude. She needed to give it a rest.
“Jeez,” she looked over to where the door slammed. “Of course, I am, we should always be stunning wherever we go.”
Amy had her head down as she stomped up the steps. Sloane always had an interesting take on life. Most days she thought it was endearing, today she thought it was annoying. Amy went straight to her room to find some pajamas that she could wear to a party, something silky and revealing. She couldn’t go to this party wearing her usual choice of a cami and sweats. She had to be presentable. She knew Sloane would choose something sexy and tight. Although Sloane was more voluptuous and slender, Amy had a more athletic build. After a few discarded options she stood in the mirror, she was wearing a blue silk short set. It wasn’t exactly what she would consider sexy, but it was silk. She turned in the mirror and shrugged. It was short sleeved, but it looked boxy. She decided she was presentable enough and went to find Sloane. Sloane stood in front of her mirror examining herself in skin tight black leather that barely left anything to the imagination.
“Do you have a whip that goes with your leather ensemble?” Amy’s eyes were wide at the outfit that looked more like something a dominatrix would wear. “How is that even considered pajamas?”
“Well, I would wear this to bed if I was taking the right guy with me.” She winked at Amy as she bent to put more mascara on her lashes. “Okay, I think I’m ready. When are you changing?”
“I did change.” Amy looked down at her silk pajamas and shrugged.
“Really? That’s what you’re wearing? It looks like a suit made of silk. Don’t you have anything skimpy or revealing?” Sloane looked over to her then rolled her eyes, knowing the answer.
“Ah... no, I don’t have much to reveal, so I don’t buy anything revealing.” Amy looked down at herself, she didn’t think she looked that bad, at least it was silk.
Sloane eyed Amy assessing her outfit. “Come on I have something you can wear.” She walked toward her closet stepping over items on the floor. She bent to move a few pieces on the floor, checking each. When she found the one she was looking for she held it out in her hand, “Here.” She bent to dig through a few more pieces of clothes, throwing them to the left and right. She reached for pink silk, grabbing the garment, holding it up. “Ah ha, here’s the other piece.” She held up the silk camisole, “Now this is acceptable for a pajama party.”
Amy backed away a few steps and shook her head. “Oh no, I’m not wearing that.” Her eyes were wide as she continued to back away, hands up in front of her.
“Oh, come on. It’s supposed to be a pajama party. Plus, isn’t there a guy you want to see there?” She eyed Amy and smirked. She held the tank in front of her waving it and shaking her chest as she shimmied toward Amy.
Amy laughed, shook her head, and held out her hand. Sloane smiled wide and handed over the tank. The silk tank and shorts in hand, Amy examined them like they were covered in slime. “Could you find anything with less material? I’m going to freeze.” She let the silk slip through her fingers into her other hand.
“Oh, you’ll be fine. Just put it on, you’ll look hot. Besides, aren’t you meeting a guy tonight? You should look hot for the meeting.” Sloane turned and left the room so Amy could change.
Amy came out a few minutes later, shoulders slumped forward with a frown. “I feel naked. I keep wanting to pull down the shirt.” She moved her hands up to pull at the bottom of the shirt, willing it to be longer. “Do I look okay, at least?” she looked down at herself, she wasn’t used to wearing so little, even when she went to bed she wore more on than this.
“Yes, for once, you look sexy, own it. You’re beautiful. Besides, we have to make it past the bouncer, right? It helps if we’re both showing some skin.” Sloane had a satisfied smile on her face. She loved it when she could get Amy into something skimpy. She was beautiful she just tended to hide her body under layers of clothing.
“Okay, we have to go or we’re going to be late.” Amy headed toward the door where she’d left her purse and keys. She’d need to be the responsible one tonight and drive since Sloane would start drinking the minute they reached the party.
“I prefer fashionably late, I mean, who shows up on time?” Sloane took one last look at herself in the mirror before turning to Amy.
Amy yelled from the entryway, “I actually want to get there on time. Plus, there are a limited number of people allowed into the party. I want to be one of them.” Amy began to play with her key chain, twirling the metal pieces in her hand. The clanking becoming louder as Amy waited.
Sloane came out of her room and looked to Amy, who was tapping her foot and jingling her keys. “Wow, alright I’m ready. You must want to see this guy badly or you wouldn’t be this impatient.”
Sloane grabbed her purse and followed Amy out the door. Amy got in the car and drove to the parking lot that was already brimming with cars. After circling a few times, they found a spot and parked. The line was long, Amy craned her head to estimate how many people were ahead of them. Sloane got in line but tapped her foot. Sloane wasn’t one to wait in lines. She was always let in and she’s never on time to anything. A tall guy with a staff shirt went down the line and picked out people to go in. Sloane smiled at him and he motioned for her and Amy to join him. Amy wondered for a moment if she would’ve gotten in without Sloane but brushed it off.
Amy looked around wondering if anyone here actually slept in their current attire. Except for a few guys in full on onesies, most everyone wore lingerie. The music was blasting and people were dancing in front of the stage. It was fun to be a part of a crowd with so much energy. Amy couldn’t help but bounce a little as she followed Sloane. Sloane was scanning the room, her eyes darting around. Amy couldn’t fathom why. They were headed to the bar, what on Earth was she looking for? She never cared enough about men to be actively looking for one. She barely noticed when guys approached her to talk. They always approached her with a ridiculous pick up line which never worked. Pickup lines are a horrible way to start a conversation. Amy couldn’t stand it anymore she wanted to know what Sloane was looking for. She’d been the one to get the invite, and she hadn’t even started looking around for Erik, yet.
“Who are you looking for?” Amy asked.
“Ah, no one. Just checking the place out. Nice turnout don’t you think?” Sloane turned to talk to Amy over her shoulder as she walked. Her eyes continued to scan the crowd.
“Ah yeah, I guess, since when do you care about checking the place out? I should be the one searching the room for that guy, Erik the one who invited me here.” Amy looked around the room. There was quite a crowd, and she had no idea if she’d be able to find Erik in this crowd.
“Wait, what, who invited you?” Sloane turned around and grabbed Amy’s arm, pulling her to a stop, eyes wide.
“A guy named Erik, he was smoking hot. I should be looking for him.” Amy glanced around but stopped when she saw the look on Sloane’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She analyzed the crowd carefully. She knew what was going to happen, but she still felt sick to her stomach.
“I don’t believe you. Something’s wrong, why don’t you just tell me what’s going on.” Amy waited staring at Sloane. She knew her well enough to know something was wrong.
