Chapter 22

22

"Y ou're going to die." Miles stares at me with such hate, his eyes alight with the devil's fire.

I move in an attempt to run. My body doesn't budge. My hands and feet are bound. I jump and trip. My body slams onto a bed of broken glass, and I scream out in pain.

"Please leave me alone," I plead. My eyes well up with tears. I wriggle my wrists, and the rope burns into my skin.

"You will join our brother in a grave." He laughs, sending chills down my spine. The gun he's holding comes up, pointing directly at my head. "Say hi to Nash for me."

He pulls the trigger.

I bolt upright. My clothes cling to my damp body. My hand grips my chest.

My eyes dart around the room. "No, he's dead. He can't hurt me anymore," I whisper.

To the left of me, the bed is empty. Hunter has been occupying that space since I was injured, and now he's not here when I need him. My stomach is a ball of knots that tighten each time I recall the dream.

It felt so real.

Steadying my breath, I hear some faint voices.

"She isn't ready to meet your father." May sounds angry.

It's been a week since I told Hunter I'd join him. Things between us are still the same — we kiss, touch, and explore each other, but he seems to think I'm still fragile. My sling is off, and the doctor came and checked my shoulder. She's given me some exercises to slowly and gently rebuild its strength.

"She is ready, May." Hunter sighs. "Aelina is stronger than you realize."

"I'm sure she is, but I didn't want her in this life. I didn't want it for any of my children. Growing up in this darkness is all I know, and I don't want her to only know the darkness too."

I climb out of bed and slip out my door, tiptoeing down the hallway and stopping in the shadows to listen.

"May, the way she was brought up wasn't the greatest. She is stronger than you give her credit for. I knew it from the moment I first saw her."

"Hunter..." She sighs.

"She'll be fine."

I step out from the shadows. "I'll be fine for what?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

Two shocked faces turn toward me.

"How much did you hear?" Hunter questions.

May appears exasperated. "Something about meeting your father," I say.

They look at each other, then back to me. "I'm sick of the secrets. Secrets are what got us into this problem in the first place." I point to May. "You, removing my sisters and me from our family. Your heart was in the right place, and for all you knew, Hunter could have been exactly like his father..." I pause, rubbing my forehead. "I justdon't want any more secrets. I don't want the same mistakes repeated."

"She's right," May practically whispers. "This is all my fault."

I rush to her side. "No, don't think like that. You did what you thought was right. If you didn't do it, I probably wouldn't be who I am today. We can't ponder the what-ifs of our life. We can only focus on the present and the future." I take her in my arms and hug her tightly.

She nods into my shoulder. "Thank you. It still doesn't make me feel any better, though."

Stepping back, she runs her hand down my cheek and walks down the hallway. Seeing her so deflated hurts. I don't want her to have these feelings of guilt. It's all in the past. I've let it go, and I can only hope she does too.

Hunter comes up beside me. "She will be all right." He turns to me. "Why are you awake?"

Clearing my throat, I say, "I had a bad dream, then heard you both attempting to argue quietly. It wasn't quiet." I give him a pointed look.

"Sorry about that." He takes my hand, and a flutter stirs in my stomach. Every touch between us is like this. After leading me back to the bedroom, he closes the door behind him. "Tell me about your dream." He releases my hand and slides back into his side of the bed.

I'm silent as I join him, but he doesn't push. Taking a breath, I say, "It was about Miles." My throat swells at the mention of his name.

Hunter takes my hand again. "He isn't here anymore," he reassures, his voice gentle and calming.

Tears start again, and I don't try to stop them. "I'm sorry. I feel so stupid. I know he's dead. I know he's not going to kill me. But what if someone does the job for him? What if my father comes for me next?"

"Hey, it's okay." Hunter pulls me onto his lap. Wrapping my arms around him, I bury my face in his neck, and the tears keep coming. "I've got you." Hunter tangles his hand into my long hair, pressing his warm lips to my cheek.

My body ignites, coming alive to his lips and hands. Laying back, I stare at him. He wipes away the tears on my cheeks, then leans into me, his mouth claiming mine. Within seconds, he has me flat on my back, hovering over the top of me.

Gripping the bottom of his shirt, I pull it over his head, and my eyes eat up the delicious view before me. I pull his mouth back to mine, needing to be close to him, touch him, and explore him.

"I want you, Little Red. All of you."

My body throbs with need. I want him too.

His hand slides up under my tank top. Thank goodness I'm not wearing a bra.

"Easy access," he breathes out against my lips, and my shirt is gone moments later.

My heart opens a little more with every kiss, touch, and nip. The feeling of being wanted and cared for is unlike anything I've ever experienced.

Hunter's tender kisses etch themselves into my skin and memory. The way he claims my body is savage and sweet all at the same time. Our bodies press together as one, as though that's how we should have been all along.

* * *

Heat presses against my back. Memories from last night flood my thoughts, and a smile touches my lips as I wake.

I take a second for myself, enjoying the moment—the feelings. I've never felt wanted or even loved my entire life. This moment will be engraved in my heart for a long time and be something I will keep with me in the future.

Hunter's fingers glide up my arm. "Morning, beautiful." His husky morning voice makes my stomach tingle, a familiar ache in my core from last night.

I'm not sure anything could wipe this smile off my face.

"How did you know I was awake?" I ask, rolling over to face him.

Damn, he looks good. All his usual stress lines that show along his forehead aren't there. The dark, hard look that clouds his eyes has evaporated. They're bright and alive in this moment.

He brushes away the hair that falls across my face, and I want him to claim me all over again.

"Your breathing changed." He notices things like that?

The memory of the deal he growled at me when I first came here has me rethinking this entire situation.

"What's going through that head of yours? Your entire body just changed." His worry lines are back, and I know I'm the cause of them. Being the cause of his concern unsettles me. That's the last thing I want.

"Oh...um..." I pause, my heart rate skyrocketing while Hunter holds my nervous gaze. "I was thinking about the deal we made." The lines on his forehead pull down. "You know, the one about me getting my freedom or you getting me, depending on who gave in first."

He sits, and I've completely killed the moment. "So you want to leave," he bites out, his tone slicing my chest.

He's climbing out of bed, but I grab his arm. "I never said I wanted to leave," I respond gently.

He turns to face me, his once softened features now pinched with heavy creases of concern. "Then why bring it up?" He pretty much growls out the question.

My defenses automatically start building back up, preparing for a fight. "Forget I said anything about it," I snap and climb out of bed, naked, and march my way to the bathroom, where I slam the door behind me.

My eyes burn from the tears wanting to fall. I won't allow them to this time. One minute, he's caring and kind. The next, he's rough and dangerous. I don't understand him, and the rapid back and forth is giving me whiplash.

Why can't he see this is hard for me? Is it so wrong to want some reassurance through this? After what we shared last night, I simply want him here for me, just me at some level.

I step into the shower and blast the heat over my ragged body. Some parts ache that I didn't even know could hurt. It was a wild ride last night with Hunter and one I hope to do again. Well, that's if he gets over himself.

I place my head under the cascading water, letting it wash away some of the tension. The heat is a reminder that this is life. Sometimes, it's rubbish, and in the end, we all die. But I'm not ready to die yet. I've got a family to meet and get to know.

Hearing the door, my head comes up. "Are you ready to pull your head from your ass?" I ask.

Hunter stands at the door for a second before stepping into the room and shutting it behind him. My already hot body starts to smolder. The way Hunter's eyes work their way down the entire length of my body, taking in everything, ignites my center.

He strips off his shorts, and I swallow. Knowing what's coming, my chest and throat tighten.

Hunter steps in, joining me, and I take in his perfectly chiseled body, the incredible six-pack, or is that an eight? His V has me biting my bottom lip.

"See something you like?" He laughs.

"That depends if he's decided to stop being such a dick."

"I'm sorry I was a dick." His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against his wet body.

"Well, then, yes. I see something I like."

His mouth is on mine, hungry to taste me.

"So you don't want to leave?" he asks between kisses along the nape of my neck, leading back up to my lips.

I groan. "It seems you've weaseled your way into my heart. I'm not sure I could walk away even if I wanted to."

"Good, because you are mine." He growls before claiming my body once again.