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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.
