Page 104 of Submission

“He’s never asked me to do anything I’d have to say no to.”

“Nothing?” she asks incredulously.

“Nothing.”

“I bet he didn’t even ask you anything. I imagine someone like Hunter Middleton just kind of tells you what’s going to happen, and that’s what you do. I’m pretty sure you didn’t jump at the idea of having a full-time security detail following you around.”

“I didn’t like it, but I understood that it was necessary. His enemies could view me as a weakness and try to hurt him through me. He only assigned the security guys to protect me.”

“Are you listening to yourself, girl? His enemies? People hurting him through you? That’s not normal behavior. I ran away from everything I knew back home because of nonsense like that. And now you’re bringing another human into the world who will be totally connected to all of that drama.”

I place both of my palms on my stomach the moment she talks about my baby, as if I’m protecting him or her from her harsh words.

“Hunter won’t let anything happen to our baby.”

“He can’t promise you that.”

“Then what do you propose I do, Naomi? He’s the father of my unborn child. You want me to run away from my life like you have?”

Naomi stands.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you anything. I knew you’d judge me. You’ve changed so much since falling for him.”

“This isn’t judgment. This is me being taken aback that you’ve been my closest friend– no, my only friend for years, and I don’t know anything about you.”

“You know about everything that matters. You are probably the only person on this earth who knows me for the woman I truly am and not the obedient little girl I was brought up to be.”

“Then let me ask you one more thing about your past, and then we can leave it behind us.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Will your family come for you if you don’t go willingly back to New Orleans to get married?”

Naomi shifts from side to side uncomfortably, and dread fills inside my chest once she answers.

“Yes.”

Chapter 41

Snitch

Hunter

Iwas never the kind of kid who attended school dances or football games. To me, that was for the students who had normal families and simple lives. Unfortunately, that was never my life.

After the death of my mother and the disappearance of my little sister, I spent my teenage years trying to prove to men who didn’t give a shit about me that I could be a valuable member of an illegal organization designed to use us up and spit us out. My complicated and ultimately fatal relationship with Jonathan is proof of that.

The organization taught me many things, but it wasn’t until I got here out on my own that I was truly able to elevate myself and expand my reach in Los Angeles. There was no time or room for emotions and definitely no safe space for a real relationship. Relationships were the kiss of death to a man like me, so I avoided them like the plague.

But look at me now.

“Everything’s been prepared to your specifications, Mr. Middleton. Everything’s set up. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

It’s funny how some women have the balls to be flirtatious when they’ve just finished helping plan a romantic night for another woman.

“Nothing else, thank you.”

The woman shamelessly pouts and sticks out her breasts, thinking that will be some sort of enticement to me. Obvious displays of sexuality were never a turn-on for me like they are for most men. It always feels like the women are trying too hard which must be why I’m so attracted to Megan.

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