Page 109 of Strut

Gary shrugged and glanced back at the building. “I don’t know. I’m not sure who will want to hire me after I’ve informed on my previous boss.”

“Do you work behind the camera as well?” Hunter asked, sliding an arm around my waist.

Gary nodded. “I’d originally hoped that working with Darcy would kick start my own career.” He grimaced. “Not so much as it turned out.”

Hunter studied Gary for a moment, and I knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth, and I loved him even more for it. “Come see me in a few days and bring your portfolio.”

Gary’s eyes nearly popped out his skull. “Really? Shit. Well, yeah, that’d be great, thanks.” Then he turned sharply toward the street. “Look, here he comes.”

I turned in time to see Darcy walk through the automatic doors with his hands behind his back, flanked by Ron and his partner, a couple of other uniformed cops weighed down by boxes trailing behind. The box carriers peeled off toward a white van parked in a loading zone, while Ron and his partner walked Darcy toward a grey sedan.

I was zigzagging through the passing cars before I knew it, with Hunter and Gary in hot pursuit. Horns blared and Hunter tried to get a hand on my arm, but I wasn’t going to miss this for the fucking world.

Darcy never even looked around, but Ron spun at the commotion, his eyes going wide when he saw me barrelling toward them. He fired me a warning look that needed no interpretation.Don’t interfere. Don’t fuck this up. Don’t talk to me. Don’t get me in trouble. I’ll arrest you without blinking an eye.

It was enough to sober my intentions and I immediately slowed to a walk and stopped a few metres away. That allowed Hunter to catch up. He didn’t try to pull me away, just held me with a firm pressure to remind me to keep a lid on it.

I cast him a sideways glance and nodded. “I’m okay.”

He narrowed his gaze and whispered. “Stay that way.”

Ron pulled Darcy to a stop next to the car, which gave me the opportunity I needed.

“Say goodbye to your stellar career, arsehole,” I hissed loudly.

Darcy’s gaze jerked to me and he paled.

My lip curled and I could barely form the words I really wanted to say, disgust thick on my tongue. For a big guy, Darcy suddenly looked small and nervous. Good fucking job. I wanted to swing at him again. I wanted to make him feel what I’d felt: powerless, sick to my stomach, and humiliated.

But Hunter’s warm hand found its way to my lower back, and everything calmed.

I stood a little straighter and stared Darcy down, surprised Ron hadn’t already secured him in the back seat. Was he giving me this time? Well, I wasn’t about to waste it either way.

“You’re a pathetic piece of shit, Darcy, and you’re not going to get nearly what you deserve. The only thing anyone is going to remember about you is that you’re a sad fuck who got his jollies from sexually assaulting and illegally filming your models. People will pretend they never knew you. No one will touch you. No one.” I took a breath and fisted my shaking hands. “And so, in the words you used on me at the lake last Sunday—you are so fucking done in this industry, you stupid man.”

Darcy stared, his expression slack, his gaze jerking back and forth between the three of us. But he said nothing, and I took that as a victory of sorts. The arrogant famous photographer was gone and what was left was all kinds of pathetic.

“In the car.” Ron gave me a sharp nod and manhandled Darcy into the back seat. “Nice to see you again, Mr Williamson. I’ll be in touch.”

And with a small smile playing on his lips, Ron slid into the driver’s seat, and the three of us stood and watched his car pull out and head up the street until the taillights were gone from view.

I stood there for I don’t know how long, frozen, staring at where the car had turned at the lights. Then a warm hand slid into mine and lips pressed against my cheek. “I am so fucking proud of you.” Hunter kissed me again, this time on the lips, breaking the spell of my concentration.

A tide of cold ran through me as I sucked in a shaky breath and stared into his eyes. “This is good, right? Even if we never get him on the assault charge, this is still good.”

“It is,” Hunter reassured me. “If Darcy’s prosecuted, his career is ruined, just like you said. And he’ll have eyes on him, always. Plus, we don’t know if this is ended yet. Someone else might come forward.”

I nodded frantically. “That’s right. That’s good.” I finally breathed. “Yeah, that’s good.” I looked around. “Where’s Gary?”

“He slipped away while you were lost to your thoughts. The cops want him in again tomorrow, and maybe you too. He said he’ll call. How about we head home as well?”

I took his hands, staring at the deep olive of his skin against my pale cream. “I couldn’t have done this without you, Hunter. I meant what I told my parents. You’ve been my rock.”

He smiled happily at that. “Well, you can return the favour by being there for me when your bloody parents arrive. I’m shitting myself. I’ve never been boyfriend material and they’re gonna see straight through me. They’re gonna see that I’m not who they think I am.”

For some reason I laughed, and Hunter looked a little stung. “I’m not laughing at you, baby.” I cupped his cheek. “I’m laughing at the fact that you think you’re not boyfriend material, because you so are. You’ve been everything to me when I’ve needed it and more. And you’re exactly who my parents think you are. Someone who loves me. Someone who’ll take care of me. Someone who’s got my back.” I pulled him into a doorway and slid my arms around his waist and under his shirt. “You’re my boyfriend, baby. My partner. And we’re gonna live together, whether here or in Auckland, I don’t give a damn, but it’s happening, starting today. I’m done with temporary. You’re stuck with me.” I arched an eyebrow in challenge and he simply laughed.

“Bossy bastard.” But there was a gleam of pleasure in Hunter’s eyes that told me everything I needed to know. We were doing this.

---