33. I Can Only Blame Myself

Chapter 33

I Can Only Blame Myself

Hunter

S o this was all planned by some phantom executioner? I scan the room, wondering if the fucker is in here…watching me.

“Are we any closer to a name?” I ask Vaughn. “No,” Vaughn says. “But stay put. Christian and I are on our way. The exhibition is too public. If they’re paying attention to your movements, they’ll know that Lena is there. We’re bringing back up.”

Shit…the girls.

“Text me when you’re outside.”

Cutting the call short, I stride back inside the exhibition while dialing Megan’s number, but no one answers it. I try Lena’s cell but get no response either.

Walking quickly, I circle the gallery, and my worst fears are confirmed when I realize that I can’t find either woman.

“Mr. Middleton–”

I ignore someone trying to gain my attention as I make my way to the ladies’ restroom and barge inside. It’s empty, aside from one annoyed woman applying more lipstick, and that also means that both my girls are not here.

Fuck.

My heart is pounding with sickening fear as I cross over into the restricted area and take a look around. The gallery is quite large, aside from the exhibition area, because it serves as a full-fledged art gallery.

As I walk across the marble floor, I see a glint of something. Making my way over to it, I recognize the diamond earring Megan was wearing. Looking around, I see the pair dangling from an artificial potted tree. The large plant is next to a door that leads into what looks like a basement area.

I pull my gun from the back of my waistband, send a message to Vaughn before putting my phone on silent, and then proceed to find out what the fuck has happened to my girls.

Gun steady in my hands, I open the door, grateful that it doesn’t creak, and start descending the steps.

Basements of art galleries are usually quite massive and they serve as a storage unit for pieces that are often rotated or have newly arrived. I see the large containers and shelves and slowly walk past them.

I notice a faraway portion of the basement is illuminated, and I make my way there.

It’s difficult to keep my emotions in check right now, with fear for both Megan and my sister at the forefront.

I can only blame myself for this sickening feeling I have in my chest. A few months ago, I would have never made a mistake like this. This is what it means to have a weakness. Being connected to me has put them both in danger. And what’s worse is that it’s happening right under my nose.

I make sure that I’m walking in the shadows of the pallet next to me, which is why I’m not seen immediately. Containers have been pushed back against the wall to make a large space in the center, and the lamps have all been turned on.

My heart crawls up and inside my throat when I see Megan and Lena standing still, their arms at their sides. It looks like it’s just the two of them, but of course, I know better.

My eyes dart toward the shadows, and I can make out the forms of armed men standing there. It looks like a prepared stage just waiting for its last actors.

Then, out of nowhere, I hear the sounds of arrogant clapping, and Jonathan’s voice reaches my ears.

“I know you’re here, Hunter. It took you long enough. You might as well come out. I just want to talk for now.”

If I walk in there, it’s possibly a death sentence for me, but Jonathan is unpredictable enough to harm Megan or Lena if I don’t comply.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I take it out. The message I receive makes me smile grimly.

Gun in hand. I tuck my phone back and walk into the spotlight.

Megan sees me and doesn’t react, her face erased of emotions. It’s almost as if she’s now desensitized to the violence around me. Lena, however, is new to my chaos and is struggling to compose herself. I can see the tear tracks on her face. Thankfully, they both seem to be unharmed.

“Hunter!”

“It’s going to be fine,” I tell them, my eyes flickering towards Megan, who watches me steadily. I can see that something is going on in her brain. She either wants to tell me something, or there’s some sort of plan percolating in that head of hers. Either way, I need her to fall back.

I’ve got this.

“Well, aren’t you going to come out and greet me?” I raise a brow, speaking out loud. “It’s been a long time.”

The sound of footsteps from behind Megan makes me look up. In the dim light, I can see Jonathan’s face. There doesn’t seem to be much wrong with it, but then I notice the red patch on his forehead. It’s an odd color of red and it has traces of a greenish and yellowish hue to it.

“How’ve you been?” I ask casually. “And where the fuck is my money?”

“Where it belongs,” he sneers at me. “You seem awfully calm for someone who couldn’t keep tabs on the two most important women in his life. Shouldn’t you be groveling?”

“You know better than anyone, Jonathan,” I smirk. “I don’t grovel. It’s unsightly.”

Jonathan’s eyes flicker and I can see his wariness at my calm reaction, so he attempts to goad me. “You know, I was so disappointed when I discovered that Lena doesn’t recognize me. I mean, overlooking the current situation, I used to babysit her. Remember how she used to follow me around all the time like a little baby duck?”

Lena turns her head towards me, but I’m careful not to show a reaction. “Well, times change, don’t they? Children grow up.”

Jonathan scratches his chin with the muzzle of his gun, a mocking expression on his face.

“I always wondered whether I should have apologized for framing you all those years ago, and then I thought that maybe it made more sense to apologize for leading those gang members to your home. I mean, I was quite attached to your mother and sister, but I did enjoy hearing what those men did to them.”

My smile stiffens at his sudden confession, and the last missing pieces of the puzzle come together. I’ve always wondered how they found my family so easily when I’d made sure to be so careful. I was young, but I wasn’t stupid. Two of the men in my circle swore that they hadn’t done anything to my sister. I still killed them viciously, but both of their versions of events had lined up, leading me to believe that Lena’s remains were unable to be found in the fire wreckage or, later on, that someone had rescued her and was too afraid to contact me.

I never, not even once, suspected Jonathan.

My loyalty to people I trust has always been my Achilles heel.

My weakness.

Now, I’m seeing the overarching results of that mistake.

“So, you were never truly loyal to me, were you?” I say with reserve, as my blood boils with anger.

“Did you really think I would sit idly by while you stepped higher up in the organization? Did you think I’d be satisfied being your second in command? A Scottie Pippen to your Michael Jordan? Hell no.”

“Where you fell in the organization was up to you. We were both young, both building up our reps.”

“It was satisfying to see you break when you realized that your only family died painful deaths,” he says, his gun moving with each syllable that he utters. “But then you weren’t broken for long, were you? You always were resilient. You just tore through anything standing in your way, and it was later that it occurred to me that it was because you were careful to eliminate any weaknesses before they could be found. But you fucked up, Hunter. You fell in love with a girl? Really?”

“Who told you she’s my weakness?” I let out a low laugh. “Do you really think I am who I am in this city by accident? You don’t think all these years didn’t teach me how to protect my actual weaknesses?”

“Your sister, little Lena, is right there.” Jonathan points out. “Unprotected.”

“That was a variable I couldn’t have predicted,” I say coldly.

“Men, why don’t we start our game?” Jonathan says.

That’s when I see two more familiar faces reveal themselves. They are the gang leaders who didn’t show up at the meeting the other day.

I can’t say that I’m very surprised.

I just study them, unfazed, wondering if they realize that this is going to be their last day on the earth because I’m going to kill both of them…slowly.

“I’m going to make this easy for you,” Jonathan says with glee. As soon as he says that, both men take a position behind Megan and Lena, their Berettas pointed at their heads. My hands immediately tighten around my gun, but I don’t show any sign of stress on my face.

Lena looks terrified, and then I see Megan looking at her and frowning as if trying to communicate something to her. Lena’s hands clench the fabric of her dress, and she presses her lips together to hold her cries back even as her eyes fill up with tears.

“I will allow you to keep one girl alive,” Jonathan continues. “You just have to choose. After all, I did take your family away from you once. I can’t be that cruel and take away both your lover and your sister. Just doesn’t seem fair.”

My reinforcements haven’t arrived yet, and my jaw tightens. I need to stall. I need to think of something to buy myself some more time.

Fuck!

Megan meets my eyes, and I see her move her hand slightly. It’s enough for me to notice what she’s holding in it. My eyes move towards Lena, who is standing stiffly, trying to hold in her fear. But when my eyes settle on her, I see a shadow move behind her, behind the pallets, and the flash of a gun. The person hiding moves just enough for me to be able to identify them.

“And what happens to the one who survives?” I ask, choosing my words carefully. “Does she get to walk out with me?”

“Always the negotiator.” Jonathan smiles. “We’ll figure that part out later. For now, you choose. Is it the sister you barely know any longer or the college kid you’re fucking?”

My phone vibrates again, and I give Jonathan a relaxed smile.

“Then, the choice is obvious, of course,” I say.

Megan meets my gaze, giving me a terse nod. Her face is pale, and my hands tighten on my gun.

“Well?” Jonathan prods.

“I have to save my sister.”