Page 82 of Give You Up

31

Taron

It takes everything in me not to pummel Hunter to a bloody pulp until his mohawk is the only thing the authorities can identify him by.

Leaning back in the chair, I sling my arm across the empty chair next to me. Is he playing our bluff? Does he think I am that stupid? Gunner isn’t his kid or Syn’s. Gunner is Syn’s half-brother.

Once I got over my initial anger of a different guy knocking up Syn, I mulled over what Syn told me. Had Hunter given two fucks about Syn, he wouldn’t: One, rope Syn into a threesome with his cousin. Two, he wouldn’t ask for Syn to watch him fuck another woman. And finally, he wouldn’t have let her go. Most of all, he should not have let her go.

He should have held on to her, baby or no baby. Lucky for me, he let her go. Now, I have my chance, and I am not giving up on her. I see the fear in her eyes. She has secrets, ones that have the power to destroy lives. I feel her pain. My secrets are equally destructive. Except my parents’ marriage is already destroyed, so why keep my dad’s secret?

Because you gave Sydney your word.

Protecting Sydney is as essential as the air that fills my lungs, so yeah, I’ll continue protecting her. Will protect Syn too. Next to my mom, those two are the most important women in my life.

“I can’t do what you ask. Sorry, man. Syn lives and dies by her calendar, and you fucking up her schedule down to when she and I fuck, will mess with her A-game. Messed-up A-game equals a stressed-out, unhappy Syn, and if Midnight and Dare don’t come after you after I’m done with you for putting my girl in a bad mood, her dad will.”

He scoffs. “That prick doesn’t want more drama, dickwad.”

“I’m not speaking of Beau.” I call my own bluff based off Syn’s reaction when I brought up this man’s name. “Gary Thornton.”

Hunter’s eyes widen. Score one for me.

“He got out of prison two weeks ago for aggravated assault. Some guy mouthed off about his old lady. Gary went after him with a metal pipe. Beat him within an inch of his life. You willing to risk putting Syn between a rock and a hard place and hope Gary doesn’t come for you?”

He tosses the drumstick on his plate, smacks his palms together, getting crumbs all over Syn’s clean table, and rises from his seat.

“You win this time.”

He walks to the door with confidence in his steps. An overconfident bastard is dangerous. And this need of his to have Syn without taking her feelings into consideration also makes him an entitled jerk. Except I did the same when I made her my PA, knowing full well she would be uncomfortable near me again. Shit, I’m cut from the same cloth.

“Watch your back, man. I’m not done with her.”

The door slams shut behind him. Seconds pass. We don’t breathe. Is Syn listening for a loud crash of something being thrown at her window? Or for the door to crash open with Hunter standing on the other side with a gun?

That’s how dangerous he is with the steel glint in his eyes when he demanded I give Syn up.

“You have shitty taste in men, Syn,” I say after nothing but silence.

“Don’t I know it.” She laughs. It’s shaky. She wipes at strands of hair falling over her eye. Her fingers tremble. My chest aches. She’s fucking scared.

I rise out of my seat. Pull her into my arms. Get us on the couch so that she’s straddling my thighs. With my hands cocooning her face, I bring her close and brush my mouth over hers.

“Everything will be okay, baby. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her hands balled on my shoulders, she edges back and looks me in the eye, her teeth wearing down on her bottom lip.

“Is it true what you said about Gary?”

“Nah, Pixie Dust. I made it all up. Don’t know a thing about the guy other than his very name gave my girl an anxiety attack. How come? Should I be worried?” The more important question is, “Did he fucking hurt you?”

“Never. He’s the one who taught me how to play the piano.”

“That so?”

“Yes.”

“He’s a good man.”

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