Chapter 29

Impatient for Ethan's arrival, Hunter paced the length of the safehouse. After being on his feet for over thirty hours, he was bone tired, but his mind was whirling.

Outside the sun was rising and bird sang their morning praises. It was an odd contrast to the ugly storm inside him. He glanced around. Many of the women and children they'd rescued were asleep or talking in low tones as not to disturb the resting ones.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, jolting him from his thoughts. He answered it quickly, recognizing Brick's number. "How's Slate?"

Brick's voice was strained and carried a weight that Hunter could feel through the phone. "Slate has been taken to the ICU. They stitched him up and are pumping blood, but... but between the OD and the blood loss, there's minimal brain function. It ain't looking good."

Hunter felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. He gripped the phone tighter and the device creaked a protest. "Damn it," he muttered.

"Yeah," Brick replied, his own pain evident in his tone.

"Thanks for telling me." Hunter ended the call and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The news hit him hard, a brutal reminder of the fragility of life.

Despite his betrayal, Slate wasn't just a founding member of the ECOs MC; he was family. Aubrey's older brother. A friend. The weight of his potential loss pressed heavily on Hunter's chest, making it hard to breathe.

He looked around the room, his eyes landing on Max and Rex. They were talking quietly, their expressions tense. Hunter made his way over to them

"Got some bad news," he said, his voice low. "Slate's in the ICU. It's not looking good."

Max's eyes widened, and he exchanged a glance with Rex. "Say what?"

"They stitched him up and are giving him blood, but there's minimal brain function."

Rex shook his head. "Jesus," he muttered.

Max raked a hand through his hair and shoved to his feet.

A few of the women shot them worried glances.

Hunter pulled in a deliberate gulp of air and gave the women a reassuring smile. "Sorry, ladies. We didn't mean to scare you."

Just then, the door to the safehouse creaked open, and Hunter's head snapped up. Ethan stepped inside, guiding four young women. Among them was Aubrey. Hunter took in her pale face, a delicate feminine version of her brothers. Their eyes met. She scanned his face and her gaze dropped to his cut. Tears started to stream over her face. "You're ECOs. Where's Andrew?"

Relief washed over Hunter at the sight of her, safe and sound before the name settled into his brain. She was calling Slate by his given name.

Struggling to breathe, he headed over to them. "Ethan, thank God." Hunter noticed the exhaustion etched into Ethan's features, mirroring his own fatigue.

Ethan gave a brief nod, ushering Aubrey forward with a hand on the small of her back. "We got them all out," he said, his voice steady despite the weariness. "They're safe now."

Hunter's gaze softened as he looked at Aubrey. She was shaking, but alive, the trauma of her ordeal still fresh in her eyes. "Aubrey, it's good to see you safe. Please sit." He gestured to a chair

She managed a small, tremulous smile as she sat down. Her posture rigid. "Thank you. Where's my brother?"

Hunter's gaze moved over the room as he tried to steady his thoughts.

"Hunter, where's Andrew?" Her voice was shaky, eyes wide and desperate, searching his face for any hint of reassurance.

A knot twisted in Hunter's stomach; an uncomfortable sensation that made it hard to meet her gaze. His chest tightened, and a lump formed in his throat. He knew the news would shatter her already fragile state. Swallowing hard, he tried to find the right words, but all he felt was a flutter of guilt, wishing he could offer her something more comforting.

He sank to his knees beside the chair. She was so small, so young, though he'd learned by browsing through Slate's file that she was seventeen, almost eighteen. Still too young for what she'd been through. And now he had to break her heart all over again. "Aubrey," he began, his voice gentle but strained. "Slate... em, Andrew… is in the hospital."

Her eyes glistered with unshed tears. "Is he... is he going to be okay?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, filled with a mix of hope and dread.

Hunter's heart ached for her, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. He shook his head slightly, not knowing how to soften the blow. "It's too soon to say. All I know right now that he's in the best place, and they'll give him all the care and attention he needs."

Aubrey's breath hitched, and she brought a hand to her mouth. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. Hunter's chest squeezed painfully, the need to help her warring with his own helplessness. He reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and met Ethan's gaze in a silent plea for help.

The detective Dom stepped forward, and when he spoke, his voice was calm but firm. "Aubrey, we'll take you to see him. But you need to be checked over at the hospital too. You've been through a lot."

She looked at Ethan, then back at Hunter. Her mouth set in a determined line, so much like her brother's stubborn expression. "That's okay, but I'm fine," she insisted, her voice stronger than before. "Let's go. I need to see my brother."

"All right." Hunter rose and held out a hand to help her to her feet. "Let's get you to the hospital."

As they made their way to the car, Hunter couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at him. He wished he could do more, offer more, but all he could do was be there for Aubrey and Andrew in whatever way he could. He hoped it would be enough.