4. You’re My Weakness

Chapter 4

You’re My Weakness

Megan

T he dark promise in Hunter’s voice breaks through the suffocating cloud of unease surrounding me, and I shiver at the words that come out of his mouth next.

“You want me to take care of your sister for you? I promise she’ll never bother you again.”

“Stay away from her,” I say with a tense expression. “If Rachel approaches you, just turn the other way. I don’t want you two anywhere near each other.”

When I look into Hunter’s eyes, I can see a fury swirling inside of his pupils, even though his face is expressionless.

“What do you think would happen if she came near me?”

“I’m not saying anything would happen. I just don’t want you two interacting with each other.”

“I didn’t take you for the possessive type, Megan.” He cracks a small smile.

“I’m not.” I can feel my face blush. “I just… I’m just saying don’t let her get near you because now that she’s seen you, she’ll try.”

“She’ll try flirting with me or fucking me?” He grins down at me. “Are you saying that I’m that good-looking?”

“Oh, shut up.”

Hunter pulls me in for an unexpected kiss. Public displays of affection are not really his thing, or mine really, but I welcome the warm comfort of his mouth demanding mine. It makes my whole body tingle.

After the kiss, I burrow my face in his chest again, finding it comforting, the familiar scent of his cologne relaxing me. The way he runs his fingers through my curls makes me calm down. If I could bottle up his methods of calming me down, I’d make a million dollars.

“If your sister makes you feel like this, then why did you agree to meet with her today?”

“Stop calling her that.”

“Isn’t that who she is?”

“Perhaps a DNA test would confirm that, but she’s never been a real sister to me. And as for why I decided to meet with her today, it was a mistake,” I admit somberly, on top of the fact that I was afraid of what she’d do if I didn’t meet her. Rachel is so unpredictable.

“I won’t go near her if just a mere discussion of the girl makes you this upset, but Megan, all your secrets are making my patience run thin.”

There’s a hard edge to his tone that I can feel vibrating through his chest, settling as a lump in my throat.

“I’m not good at swapping life stories,” I explain. “But I’m trying to be a little more open, at least with you.”

It’s true.

The kind of baggage I carry is not something I can easily just share with people. A part of me wants to tell Hunter and get everything off my chest, but it’s hard to be vulnerable when you’ve grown up not trusting anyone.

How do I tell the man I’m dating that things were bad in my house–like Lifetime Movie bad? How do I admit to him that I was frequently physically assaulted by my parents and the horrible dynamic it created between me and Rachel? How do I reveal that my parents are monsters and that I was treated like a prisoner in my own home? What will he think about me then?

“You were wildly defiant when you were trying to evacuate that server from Table 21 when we first met,” he reminisces. “But that is not the same girl I saw in the cafe just now.”

“I know, and one day, I’ll tell you everything,” I assure him. “Just not today.”

His hand tightens at the roots of my hair momentarily but then relaxes its hold. Hunter doesn’t like to hear the word no, but that’s all I can give him right now.

“I hope that day comes soon, Megan.”

My childhood is my story to tell, and I’ll share it when I’m ready. It’s not like I know much about his past, either.

Once we arrive at the car and he gets into the driver’s seat, something hits me. “Hunter, how did you know I was here?”

“I had Christian follow you,” he says as if it’s the most normal thing in the world to do. Then, he pushes the ignition button to start the car. “Also, next time, unless I tell you otherwise, don’t let anybody into your apartment.”

“They said you locked them out of the penthouse,” I say with a slight attitude. “Plus, they’re your friends. Why wouldn’t I let them in?”

“I’m not talking about those two clowns,” Hunter growls. “I’m talking about the so-called plumber that you let in.”

“I knew he felt a little suspicious.”

Hunter swerves the car onto the street before shooting me a careful look.

“Then start following your intuition, Megan. I thought you didn’t trust people? What if Vaughn and Christian didn’t come by? What if that man was there to hurt you? Just because he had on a uniform doesn’t make him any less dangerous.”

“Okay,” I exhale nervously.

“Listen,” he tries calming his voice. “Being with me comes with its own set of risks. I’m not talking about the shooting in my apartment. I was the obvious target of that, but the longer you stay beside me, the more likely that you may become the target. If my enemies think they can use you against me or that you’re my weakness, you’ll be in danger.”

He taps his palm in rapid succession against the steering wheel as he talks through what must feel unsettling for him.

“Hell, you probably already are a target. The moment I moved you into my building made you one. None of my employees can afford to live there. Any idiot can put that two and two together.“

I pay little attention to whatever he’s rambling on about because I’m still too focused on the phrase he used a few sentences ago, you’re my weakness.

“Am I your weakness?” I ask, as my heart flutters just by the mere possibility of the answer being a yes.

Hunter shoots me a dark look before shifting the gear and turning his attention back to the road.

“Let’s not find out.”

There’s a thrum of silence, and then he says in a voice that lowers the temperature of the car by a few degrees, “Just be careful, Megan.”

“I found out what you did for me,” I say with a cautious voice, clumsily changing the subject. “Miss Maverick told me, but why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want you to know.”

“Don’t blame her,” I say, worried that he’ll get Miss Maverick fired or worse. “I figured it out on my own, and she only confirmed it.”

“It’s fine, Megan. I wasn’t planning on telling you, but I also wasn’t going to just sit idly by and allow someone to steal away your chance to share your talent with the world.”

“My talent?”

“Yes.”

“You think I’m talented?”

“Obviously.”

“You had her reassess the submissions, but what if she hadn’t chosen my work?” I ask, turning to look at him. “What would you have done?”

“The department already selected you once and then stole the opportunity from you because of school politics. I knew she’d choose your work once she saw it. Your strong technique speaks for itself.”

The confidence in his voice makes my heart full. Sometimes, when I talk to Hunter, the faith that he has in me and my abilities is staggering. I’ve never felt this kind of unwavering support from someone. I have to be careful, though. I could become dependent on that kind of blind faith, and I don’t want to depend on anyone.

“Thank you,” I whisper softly, sinking into the car seat. “For what you did at the university and for getting me out of the cafe today.”

I can see his fingers flex on the steering wheel. He wants to know more about Rachel, but he’s trying to be respectful of my boundaries.

“Next time, if you find yourself in a situation like this, don’t be afraid to walk away or make a scene. Remember the girl from Table 21. Do whatever you need to do, and don’t worry about the consequences. There’s no problem that I can’t make go away for you. I will always have your back, Megan. Remember that.”

His words and the frankness with which he says them stun me.

“Thank you, but–”

“Even if you kill somebody, I promise no one will touch you. Not while I’m around. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

His assurance should chill me to the bone, but there’s a reason why Hunter makes me feel so safe, and it’s because I understand what he’s capable of.

“Yes, Hunter, I understand.”

This is a dangerous man I work for and sleep with… and am falling for. I don’t doubt for a second that he would move heaven and earth to protect me. In fact, I think he’d kill for me.

He’s shown me in countless ways already that he will protect me and while I love he feels that way about me, I fear for what the future may hold.

Will falling for Hunter make me a target in his world as he mentioned, or worse… will it make people from my past his targets?

Do I even care if it does?

I sneak a peek at Hunter’s beautiful face, rigid with worry about me, before I ask, “Do you think I’m a good person?”

“What kind of question is that?” he responds flatly. “Who cares if you’re good.”

“Never mind.” I shrug, feeling silly that I even asked, especially to someone like him.

I stare out the car window at the Los Angeles skyline as the sun sets, and I can feel his eyes on me as he changes his mind about answering my question.

“The words ‘good’ or ‘bad’ are very subjective. There’s always a gray area. I live in the gray areas of the world. I like it there. Do I think you’re good or kind? Yes, and while I consider kindness a weakness, I think you carry it well.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, reminded that Hunter Middleton doesn’t really know me at all.

My weakness isn’t my kindness. I wouldn’t describe myself as a kind person.

My weakness is my fear.

I can only imagine where my life would be if I hadn’t been so afraid to live it for so many years. I would have believed in my art when I was in high school and allowed my art teacher to help me apply to art schools in New York. I wouldn’t have been bullied by a cunt like Ashley or treated like a whore by someone like Ricky when I finally made it to art school. And I wouldn’t allow someone like my sister to still try to make my life a living hell.

Then I daydream for a moment about what it would look like if I took Hunter up on his offer. What would life look like if I swallowed my fear and asked him to blow some shit up for me?

Would I finally be free of the past?

It’s a mighty tempting offer.