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“This is all my fault.” My voice shakes, and I know I’m about to cry again. I swallow, hoping it will pass. But everything hurts with each breath.
Hunter moves closer, taking my face in his hands and looking me dead in the eyes. “This isn’t your fault. Nash was willing to die to protect you. I knew that, and so did your grandmother.”
He leans over and presses his lips to my forehead. I close my eyes, taking in the tender moment. As much as I don’t want to trust him, he’s one person who is looking out for me, even though he has an alternate agenda regarding the family business and overtaking his father.
“I’m not strong enough for this. Death isn’t something I wish upon people, and I don’t think I could do it or order someone to do it.” I shake my head at the thought of doing something like that.
“Aelina, you just have to trust me to make the decisions.”
I furrow my brow. “You make the decisions? So, I marry you, and what? Become your little mistress to ignore and use as you wish?”
“No. That’s not my intention at all. I want you to stand by me and for us to run this together. As one.” His fingers glide down my cheek, and my body tingles.
His touch is like a flame to my dead heart. A heart that’s not felt this kind of connection, maybe ever, and I’m craving it so badly.
I can’t, though.
I turn my head away. “I’m tired. Can you leave, please?”
Hunter looks at me, puzzled. I don’t want to get hurt, and Hunter is sure to be the one to hurt me.
He stands, taking the tray from my lap. “I’ll take this. Rest up.” As much as I’m sure he wants to, he can’t hide the hurt in his response.
Mr. Tough Guy isn’t so tough.
* * *
When Hunter left, I ended up taking a three-hour nap. The pain medication that May placed on my tray completely knocked me out. When I woke, Hunter was still gone, so now I’m left to my own devices.
I pick up my phone and notice a message from Hunter.
Hunter:
Message me when you wake. I’m out helping May.
I chew my bottom lip. Do I want to message him? I need the bathroom again, but I don’t want his help.
I manage to sit up with just bearable pain, and my feet find the soft mat. I test my legs by standing and holding onto the bed as I get my bearings. Everything seems fine. So I slowly lift my hands off the mattress and take small steps toward the bathroom. My pace isn’t fast, but it’s steady, and the pain is tolerable.
When I finally make it inside, I slowly do what I need to do, but the fact that I can do it on my own is reassuring. As I’m about to open the door, the handle pulls down before the door swings open.
Hunter stands there, his eyebrows pinched in concern. “Why didn’t you let me know? I would have come and helped you.” He opens the door farther, and I steadily walk past him.
“I didn’t need your help. As you can see, I can manage just fine, even with one arm.”
He blows out an exasperated breath. “Aelina, I know you’re trying to be Little Miss Independent, but you don’t have to be. You can trust us to help you.” He follows close behind me as I slowly return to the bed.
Once I’m settled, I look up at him. “Trust...that’s a pretty powerful word. One I don’t take lightly. Like I said, I don’t trust you. You only want me to help you throw your dad out of his seat.” I shrug, then wince.
That was a bad idea.
My good hand comes up to my shot shoulder.
Hunter clenches his fists and releases them. “Aelina, I know you have trust issues, given what you’ve been through. I promise you’ll get a say in everything if we do this together. I need you by my side.” He appears so calm and collected, making it hard to discern what’s really going through his head.
“Look, I don’t want to talk about this entire situation anymore.” I point to the television on the wall in front of the bed. “How about you get me some food and watch something with me?”
I’ll give him an inch and see where it goes, even if the unease in my stomach pulls tightly at the thought of allowing someone into my life. I don’t miss what appears to be a slight grin on Hunter’s face before he disappears out the door.
