Page 12 of Submission

“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?”

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