HUNTER

On my phone's security footage, I watch Natasha's SUV convoy passing Tack on his way through the front gate.

At my side, Siobhan wraps her arm around mine and holds on. I smile at my friend. She flashes her bright grin with the little gap between her front teeth. Despite her blue eyes shining with affection, I can tell she didn't sleep well last night.

Natasha also looks exhausted as she exits one of the SUVs. Though her smile can light up any room, it seems forced today. Her blonde hair hangs loose, and her shirt is on the baggier side to deal with her early pregnancy. I relax into her embrace, glad to be surrounded by my people.

Last night, Natasha and Siobhan texted me endlessly to see if I was okay. I think they worried my head injury was more serious than I was letting on.

Now, they take turns hugging me before deciding to hug each other. Natasha's hand goes to her belly as we walk down the hallway to the billiard room. I catch her wearing a silly grin when she thinks of carrying Bear's baby.

My stomach flips as I consider taking the leap with Tack. Is a husband and baby what I want?

"I'm not sorry for interrupting your kiss," Siobhan says and smiles. "Not even a little bit."

"Are Tack and you together now?" Natasha asks as I close the billiard room door to allow us privacy from the staff.

"I don't know."

"They looked together," Siobhan insists and settles in the chair on my right while Natasha sits to my left. "If I hadn't shown up, they might have bumped uglies on the pool table."

Natasha glances at the table and shakes her head. "That doesn't seem comfortable for their first time."

"It was just a kiss," I explain, trying to sound reasonable. "It's been a long time since I tasted his lips. I was merely testing out his flavor."

Siobhan leans closer. "What is your verdict?"

"I haven't decided."

"You like Tack, right?" Siobhan asks, wearing a confused frown. "He's crazy about you. I don't understand why you won't try."

"What if we don't work out? Can I still hang out at the clubhouse or will I need to sneak around to see you?"

Siobhan's reply is exactly what I expect. "Don't be silly. Tack will want you around. He'll likely go back to stalking you. Besides, I'm around Sync all the time, and it doesn't bother me."

Natasha and I frown at her. Her heart belonged to Sync long after he cheated and she bailed. They were hostile for only a short time, but their awkwardness has dragged on for years. I figured they'd become friendlier once she found someone new, except her foster brothers insist on cock-blocking every guy she so much as glances at. It's not cute like when Tack scares guys off from me. Siobhan actually wants to date, but they won't let her.

Then, recently, Siobhan announced she was no longer interested in men.

"I've purchased the most wonderful vibrator, so dating seems like a hassle," she explained with great exuberance at lunch weeks ago. "I'm over men."

I don't know how long Siobhan's disinterest in men will last, but I sense she won't truly get over Sync until she can focus her big heart on someone else.

"It's never been easy to be around Tack without acting on my attraction. Now, we're talking about going on dates. Our kiss felt great, but I'm still aware of why I shut things down initially. I guess I'm afraid if we really do this and it fails, I'll lose a fantasy I've been holding onto."

Natasha nods and offers me a tender smile. "I was the same way with Bear. I never thought we could be together for real, so sharing my body with him felt like a mistake. However, I was mostly worried I'd fall for him and live with regret when I married whoever my family chose for me. But eventually, I had to say, ‘fuck it,' and take the leap."

Siobhan watches us and sighs deeply. "I don't know if I ever told you guys this before, but I was in love with Sync."

"I think I remember you mentioning that," I reply and fight a grin.

"I thought he was going to be mine forever, like how my dad is with my mom. But Sync didn't love me like I loved him. That's why he let his dick do whatever it wanted."

Siobhan pauses as she thinks back to a painful time in her life. "Sync hurt me, and I was brokenhearted for a long time," she says sadly before looking at me and flashing a big smile. "But the pain was worth it. Even knowing what I do now, I wouldn't change our time together. So, maybe Tack and you can't work long-term. Maybe his life with the club will be too much for you, or he'll get turned off by your fancy-pants living. But you'll still get to experience the good stuff."

"Everything you say makes sense, but I've loved Tack for a long time. I'm afraid to try and fail. The dream is too good to let reality kill it."

"But you kissed him."

"That might have been a reaction to what happened yesterday. I was powerless, and Tack saved me. I don't know if I'm making the right choice today."

"I love you, Hunter, but you overanalyze stuff," Siobhan says, and Natasha nods. "Why can't you get out of your own way and allow your heart to win for once?"

Sighing, I can't help how my brain wants to plan for every conceivable outcome.

"I might not be a passionate person."

"No, you're plenty passionate," Siobhan insists. "Remember that time when we got drunk on pomegranate margaritas and you nearly humped my leg?"

Natasha snickers. "When was this?"

"It happened when you were gone," Siobhan says, and Natasha's expression turns gloomy over how she missed out on two years of fun. "While you were raising those babies, we were tempting a possible lesbian relationship."

Natasha finds her smile when she thinks of how she met Jacinda and Hector Grover after waking at a strange man's house. She fell for the babies and has raised them since.

Though I was upset over her staying gone for so long—and keeping me in the dark—I can't deny Hector and Jacinda are great kids and lucky to have Natasha as their mom.

"Anyway, my point was you are passionate when you get out of your way. So, maybe get drunk with Tack and enjoy his fine body."

"He does have a fine body," I say and sigh dreamily. "If we were together, I could work out with him. That's one of my fantasies."

"Well, there you go," Siobhan says. "Just give in to your heart and see where it goes."

I consider how relaxed I was when I woke up this morning. Even after a night filled with bad dreams and suffering from a headache, I was relieved to know Tack was nearby. My fear eased whenever I imagined him in the guest room, sleeping with his legs and arms splashed out everywhere.

"Last night, I fought the men," I mumble, tearing up. "This guy Tack hired fought them, too. But they still would have won if Tack hadn't shown up. Right now, I feel weird with him away from the estate. I think I'm getting clingy."

"Maybe you should stay in Banta City with Tack until things get worked out," Natasha suggests.

When I texted Siobhan and Natasha last night about my plan to join Suzanne in Hong Kong, they were hesitant about my decision.

"In Hong Kong, I can move around the city rather than hide like I would here," I explain when I feel their judgment.

"How can you know that city is any safer than this one?" Siobhan asks. "You're connected to the most powerful factions in Banta City. Your mom has the chief of police and mayor on her speed dial. If you say jump here, a lot of people will ask ‘how high?' Can you claim the same about Hong Kong?"

"No, but theoretically, the person or people who hired the men from last night won't know where I am. They also might lack the means to attack me in a foreign city."

"True," Natasha says, making Siobhan frown. "But I worry with you gone, the authorities might not be able to smoke out who did this to you. And you'll be stuck hiding for a long time. Or you'll end up back in Banta City without any resolution."

Sighing, I admit, "I don't know the right answer."

"Maybe you should wait a week to see if the answer is clearer," Natasha suggests.

"If I stay, Suzanne will end her vacation and come home. Then, I'll have her micromanaging everything. I'm not sure that's better."

"But she'll micromanage everything in Hong Kong." When I frown at Siobhan's stubbornness, she shrugs. "Natasha has only been home for a few months. Now, I'm losing you. I don't care if I'm being selfish. I want my friends in town."

"I'll go for a week. By then, Tack might have figured out who did this."

"A week?" Natasha replies. "It's nearly a day to fly there and another one to fly back. Makes sense to stay longer."

Siobhan blurts out, "Or don't go at all."

Natasha scowls at Siobhan who scowls back. I pat their knees and play referee.

"Let's go back to talking about me kissing Tack."

Immediately losing her frown, Siobhan asks, "Okay, what finally sent you over the edge into a stampede of horniness?"

"I wasn't horny," I mutter when she pokes at me and laughs. "Something clicked inside me when I saw Tack barefoot and heard his logic about it."

"Barefoot? Is your foot fetish a thing we already knew about?" Siobhan asks. "Should I add this to my file on you?"

Siobhan claims to have files on her favorite people because she can't remember everyone's tastes or important dates.

"I don't have a foot fetish," I explain while she types something on her phone.

Siobhan drops her phone in her bag and reaches for my face. "Don't think," Siobhan says and stares into my eyes. "Go wild and chase your dreams. You nearly died yesterday. You should choose to live your life to its fullest."

"Tack and I are planning to hang out tonight at the house. I also agreed to a date out when I get back. I'm already taking your advice."

"Well, all right, then. Tack is great, and he thinks you're fucking awesome. He hasn't gotten his dick wet in years. That kind of commitment deserves a reward, so get naked and ride that man."

Grinning at her excitement, I ask, "Then what?"

"I don't know. Maybe cuddle until he squirms away and claims he has an early meeting."

Natasha smirks at Siobhan's comment before adding in a lovestruck tone, "After we're sexually satisfied, Bear and I rest in bed and admire each other."

Siobhan insists, "Nerd."

"We also talk about life and our philosophy on pizza crusts."

Her blissful expression stirs a longing inside me. Tack is the guy I want, yet I still worry we're bound to fail. I'm torn between my heart and my head.

"If things go badly with Tack, whether it be now or in the future, I don't want you to make me feel guilty."

"We won't," Siobhan promises. "We'll swear every failure is his fault."

Falling silent, I consider last night. My hand goes to my back near my shoulder, where the first taser prongs hit me. I think of how my body wouldn't respond to my commands.

"Oh, Hunter," Siobhan says and hugs me when I begin to cry. "It's going to be okay."

I'm in the house I grew up in, and the place is dripping with security. Yet, I'm suddenly cold with fear. Tack feels so far away. Is he safe on the road? What if someone targets him for stopping last night's abduction? I reach for my phone and consider texting him. Will my fear prove distracting and put him in danger?

Siobhan's right about how I overanalyze situations. I want to be safe and smart. As a teenager, I suffered by being unprepared. As an adult, I've prided myself on making sound decisions.

Except there are moments when my brain takes all my what-if scenarios and builds a wall to keep me from making a choice.

I need to simplify my thinking, step away from all these questions, and focus on what matters. From now on, I'll let the professionals take charge of my safety. Instead of fearing Suzanne's controlling nature, I'll trust I can break free once life is back to normal. Most of all, I'll let myself love the only man I've ever wanted to make mine.