Chapter 8

8

H unter's outburst startles me so much that my body crumbles to the floor. My head falls to my knees, and my hands come over my head. It's not a physical blow, but my body is trying to protect itself on instinct.

Within seconds, Hunter's hand is on the back of my neck. His thumb rubs small movements, providing a tiny comfort. "I'm sorry for scaring you. That wasn't my intention. I'm angry with myself that I couldn't keep you safe and your father found you." He releases a heavy breath before continuing. "He's a tyrant, a dominant man who lives to rule by fear and intimidation. He's a monster. It wouldn't surprise me if he actually killed your brother, Nash."

I tremble at the thought of someone so vile and evil killing their own blood, someone who was a part of their life. I feel Hunter press his lips to my head, and my stomach swarms with butterflies.

Lifting my head, I stare into the eyes of the man I was apparently promised to. "Hunter, why are you coming for me now? Why not just take me with you when you saved my life? I probably would have had less fight then, considering I was almost killed, and you saved me." I give a small smile.

His hand stays on the back of my neck but stops moving. "I need you with a fight in your belly. I need you on my side to take over the underworld and push my father out. I don't want any of my brothers to take the lead. Otherwise, they'll be worse than my father. Right now, I'm mostly in charge and can run things how I want, but if my father asks for something, it has to be done because he hasn't ‘fully' handed it over."

My eyes widen, and my heart jumps into my throat. I hesitantly ask, "Are you trying to wipe out your own family?"

Hunter stands, and I follow his movements. His expensive shoes track back and forth on the carpet in my bedroom. Staring at the floor, he says, "It's not that simple."

"Well, of course not. It's your family." I laugh nervously,, but how ironic is it that he wants to take out his family and mine? This makes no sense.

"No, what I mean is, they worship my father and what he stands for. Everything bad. Everyone dies around me. I can't get close to anyone without him killing them off. I'm the eldest, but he has this hold over me for some strange reason, and my brothers do whatever he deems necessary. If I remove him from the situation, then perhaps I could change things..." He pauses for a moment and looks down at me. "We could find the rest of your siblings, and they would be safe. No harm would come to them, but that's only if I can remove my father from his throne. You and your family are the threat he doesn't want."

Things are starting to fall into place, but I still have so many questions. "I'm still not seeing how I have a part to play. Okay, I was apparently promised to you, and you keep saying I can help. But how?"

I slowly push myself off the floor and walk toward him, resting my hand on his arm. His suit is the softest material I've ever felt. Not the right time to think about something like that.

Hunter turns to face me. "Me and you would bring our families together, giving us power over both. Your remaining brother would have to take his orders from you and me. Same with my family. Together, we could remove my father."

His words slowly sink in.

"I'm not strong enough for this world...your world, and I don't want to be a part of it."

He takes my shoulders. "You're stronger than you know. But you must understand that the world you're about to be introduced to isn't one with fairies and princesses. It's full of death, blood, and betrayal."

My body tingles with fear, but I can't ignore the mix of curiosity that follows. "I've never even shot a gun. I'm not sure I could kill someone. That's not who I am."

His hands rub up and down my arms, then slide down, taking mine. Goose bumps cover my skin at his gentle touch. Why does he have this effect on me? I don't know the man, yet I'm ready to throw myself at him and his crazy plan.

But I'm no killer.

"Little Red, when you're done with your training, you'll be ready for anything."

I raise my eyebrows. "Training?"

Hunter nods. "Yes. When you do decide to go to your grandmother's, you'll get everything you need."

"Pfft. What do you think I am? One of Charlie's Angels who can fight? That's not me. I don't know how many times I must spell it out for you. You have the wrong girl," I yell the last part in his face and take a step back from him. To his credit, he doesn't flinch, only watches. I can't help but wonder what's going through his mind.

Am I just a pawn in this game of chess he has going on?

Without a word, he walks away, zipping up the bag and suitcase I was in the middle of packing before they showed up, and grabs the rest of my toiletries. Surprisingly, he says nothing while gathering my things.

My mouth hangs open as I watch him place it on the floor in front of me.

"If you want to leave, then go. I won't follow you. But I can't promise your safety, especially now that I know your father is in town and knows you're alive."

I hesitate, stalling as Hunter's words play over in my mind. I'm about to take my suitcase when I finally ask, "Will my father kill me?"

He reaches for my hand and squeezes, offering comfort. "No. He will take you to my father because he is in debt, and I'm not sure if he will kill you despite your father or if something else will happen. I can never know what's going through my father's mind. Even on days when I think he's in a good mood, he'll literally shoot the messenger if they bring bad news. Can you guess what happened to the people who delivered the information about you and your sisters being gone?"

I shudder to think. Those poor people died because of my family.

"Hunter, I can't do this." I release his hands, grabbing my suitcase.

"Please reconsider." He takes my arm. "I fear I won't be able to protect you from our fathers."

Tension fills the room. My heart pounds at the thought of a cold and slow death. The way Hunter stares at me makes me pause. My stomach twists in knot upon knot, painfully wrenching my stomach and making me gasp.

"I can't." My voice trembles.

Standing in this room that's been my home, my safe place for the last couple of months, I can't believe it's all about to fall apart because Hunter decided it was time for me to know the truth. I could have continued to live my life without knowing everything I do now.

Grabbing my suitcase, I wheel it out to the living area. I pause, taking my now lukewarm coffee into the kitchen and pouring it into my travel mug. Hunter silently follows me, watching my every move.

With my back to him, I say, "Since you know someone in the building, could you please take care of everything here? I know I shouldn't expect you to do anything for me, but this entire situation is all your fault. You decided to come back into my life when I was content and happy with how I was."

Closing my eyes, I sense movement behind me. Then, all of a sudden, heat presses against my back. The change in temperature causes an involuntary shiver to race down my spine.

At least, that's what I tell myself is the cause of it.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to try to make things better for everyone whose lives are in danger. Now that your father knows you're alive, you're not safe. He'll be watching you. Waiting for you to be alone. Aelina, you're not going to last long without my protection." His breath hits my hair, which falls over my neck and shoulders, sending a shiver through me.

His warm hand comes up and brushes it to one side, placing it over one shoulder. Soft lips press to the bare skin now exposed around my neck, and my breath catches, my heart rate rising with each kiss Hunter places on my flesh. Tilting my head to the side, I give him access, wanting more. Needing more.

His kiss intensifies, and he sucks gently as his lips move. My breath becomes heavy, and the desire building is at war with my mind. I need to go. I need to walk. No, run out that door and never look back. But this man makes me want him in so many ways that I want to throw all caution to the wind.

Who the hell falls for the bad guy, someone they hardly know? I don't want to be that person so easily manipulated.

"Little Red..." he whispers, and I have to bite my lip from whimpering.

My legs become like Jell-O, and I curse my body for its reaction. A heady want pulses through me, an electric current passing between us, pulling us together as if we're stronger together than apart. His breath is ragged. His hand snakes around my waist, pulling my body flush against his. Desire burns between us.

There's something here I really want to explore. The more Hunter inserts himself into my life, the easier he makes it for me to be interested in him, even if my body and brain fight against each other.

He slips his hand under my tank top, pressing against the bare skin of my stomach. In one swift move, he spins me around to face him. The desire in his eyes is evident, his pupils dilated. Without warning, he leans down, devouring my mouth.

The wind is knocked from me, and I decide I don't need to breathe as long as his lips are on mine.

I ache for him, for more of his touch, to taste him again and again.

Hunter pulls back, his eyes boring into mine. "Don't go. I want what is mine... you. "

I hold my breath at his words. "I'm not yours. You can't claim me."

"I can, and I plan to, Little Red." He practically growls.

The truth in those words hits me in my core. Could this entire situation be a moment of weakness caused by lust between us? There is a connection, like an invisible cord pulling us together, but still, this could be a terrible idea.

"As much as I want to say yes, the stubborn part of me tells me to run away as fast as I can," I admit.

Hunter's arms tighten around my waist, holding me against him. I rest my hands on his firm chest and play with a button on his crisp white shirt, not wanting to meet his gaze.

Hunter sighs. "If you want to go, I won't stop you. You have your grandmother's phone number and mine. I will walk out that door now and never return if that's what you truly want."

I glance up at him.

He's giving me what I want.

I push away from the security of his embrace. His demeanor changes from the soft, wanting, and gentle man he was while holding me into the cutthroat leader of the underworld that he is.

I clutch my hands at my chest, coldness seeping from my heart through my lungs like a morning frost settling over my body.

"I want to go."