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A couple of minutes later, May walks in carrying a tray of food, and never in my life have I been happier to see someone than I am at this moment, except when I saw Hunter come for me in the woods. Relief washes over me, and all of my emotions slam into me like a freight train. My hand comes up and covers my face, and I can’t stop the flow of tears from my eyes.
“Oh, honey.” In seconds, May is by my side, wrapping me in arms that should have comforted me as I grew up, but she’s here now, and that’s all that matters.
The pain in my chest is a mixture of fear and hurt. I never wanted to be put in that situation again like the one six months ago when Hunter saved me, and yet there I was, staring down the barrel of a gun held by my blood relative.
Shouldn’t he have been on my side? Shouldn’t he have cared for me like a bother should?
“Let it all out, honey. I’m right here.”
My sobs fill the bedroom, only the sound of the sliding door opening and closing breaks through. Hunter doesn’t say anything, but I know he’s still here. I sense him close by and believe him when he says he’ll never let me out of his sight again. It’s a small comfort. Still, it doesn’t settle the anxiety that now fills me, causing my heart to race as though it’s about to escape my chest.
I don’t know how long passes before the tears finally settle and I’m able to speak. I lean back, and May releases me, offering me a down-turned smile. I must look like a hot mess, tears still running down my face. “Sorry,” I mumble, wiping my face.
May’s hand comes up and rests against my cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You went through something traumatic, and I’m here for you. No matter what.” She holds my gaze. “Here. I have some food.”
Turning around, she picks up the tray she walked in with off the floor and places it on the bed. It’s a bed table, so the tray doesn’t sit on my scratched-up legs, for which I’m grateful.
“It’s chicken soup and some juice. If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”
I smile even though, inside, I’m broken. “Thanks, May.”
She rises from the bed and leaves the room, then Hunter comes and sits at my side.
“Do you need any help?” he asks gently.
“I think I can manage. Thanks, though.”
Picking up the spoon, I take a little bit of the soup, and once it hits my tongue, it’s like a party in my mouth. I’ve never tasted anything as good as this. My diet has been diner meals. The staff discount was an important factor in my budget.
I sense Hunter watching every move I make. Once I’ve eaten half the soup, I’m ready for more answers. I feel like I’ve waited long enough. Turning my head in his direction, I ask, “What happened to my brother?”
18
Hunter’s body stiffens.
“I don’t think we should be talking about this right now. You need to heal,” he argues, but I can tell there’s more to his words. He’s hiding something.
I place the spoon beside the bowl and look back at him, a glare on my face. “I don’t trust people easily, and right now, you’re making it harder for me to trust you. Now, what happened to Miles?”
Hunter gets up from the bed, and it’s as if he’s about to leave the room. He heads toward the door, then pauses. “If you walk out that door, that’s it. I’m done. I’ll go.” I hold my breath, waiting to see what he does.
Surprisingly, he doesn’t leave. He moves to the end of the bed, standing before me. “Your brother is dead.”
Four simple words slam into me. I rub my eyes, but no tears form. I’m not even entirely sure what I should be feeling. I didn’t know Miles, and it was obvious he was an evil person.
“How do you know he’s dead? Did you do it?” I choke on the words.
He shakes his head. “I was too busy looking for you. Landon went after him.”
The tightness in my chest eases a little, and then I recall something Miles said. “Did you know he killed Nash?”
Hunter’s head flicks up. “What?” he growls out.
I clear my throat nervously. “Miles killed Nash.”
Hunter sighs. “Well, now I don’t feel so bad that Miles is dead.”
I don’t feel bad either. Nash was nice to me. He looked out for me even when it wasn’t his job. He died because of me, and there’s nothing I can do to repay him. Tears fill my eyes as I glance up at Hunter. He rushes to my side of the bed, sitting on the edge.
