Page 58 of Betrayal

CHAPTER NINE

Donna’s message arrivedwithin minutes of Hunter arriving at the childcare centre.

Panic.Nick!

The only time she’d used their silly little code, but it was the first time Nick had visited Hunter’s office.All previous meetings had been in public places—at Hunter’s insistence—although early on he’d been invited to Nick’s palatial office in North Sydney.Nick had intended Hunter to be impressed by a flashy show of wealth.He’d been indifferent.

Like an itch he couldn’t reach, Hunter sensed trouble coming.As a kid, fear had been physical—invisible walls closing in, pressing down on him until he couldn’t catch a clear breath, then his head had popped off his shoulders under the pressure.Fear was loud, starting with a wind howling through a tunnel, then booming like cannon.You wanted your eardrums to burst so it would be over.

Later he worked out he’d been picking up his mother’s mood.Years of living with Nick had given her a fine-tuned ear for when his tone turned spiteful, when he couldn’t be jollied out of his mood with food or booze or sex, when he’d decided he hadn’t got the adulation he deserved.She’d moved differently, her voice had held bewilderment as well as fear, even her perfume changed, the delicate floral fragrance becoming old-vase-water rank.

Never physical abuse.At least not in Hunter’s presence.But emotional beatings left permanent bruises.

Hunter rolled his shoulders.He’d forgotten that period, when his mother had been his soft-hearted defender and companion.He’d spent too long living with the woman desperate to win Nick back.Desperate enough to mimic Nick’s most promiscuous behaviour to encourage a bit of jealousy.

“Hi.”Anna touched his arm, bringing him back to the present.“I’m looking forward to this run-through.You’ve installed the bathrooms.”She rubbed her hands in delight.“I’ve never been so excited about a bathroom in my life.”

“I can’t stay.”Her tiny withdrawal told Hunter he’d stuffed that up.“Sorry.Donna sent a message.Something unexpected has come up at the office.”Hunter was dancing around the truth to avoid mentioning Nick’s name.All he could think was Nick had seen Anna at the party on Saturday, and less than a week later, Nick was in Hunter’s office uninvited and unannounced.

“I can wait to see the changes.”

She was studying him as if he’d grown two heads.Not surprising, given he’d made this appointment wrapped around her in his bed this morning.

“No need.”He signalled to his project manager, who joined them.“Kazim, you know Anna.”

“Hi.”The young man shook Anna’s hand.

“Nice to see you again, Kazim,” she said.

“I have to get back to the office.Can you show Anna where we’re up to?”Hunter ignored Kazim’s surprise.He’d just finished telling his manager he’d be here for about an hour.

“Are we still on for tonight?”

“Yes.”He softened his blunt response with a smile.

Still, she hesitated.

“I’m looking forward to it.See you when you finish work,” he said.

“Okay.”

He didn’t wait to see what happened next, already calling a ride, considering Nick’s motives.Nick’s visitations were never just a friendly drop-in.

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Donna rolled her eyeswhen Hunter walked through the door.“He’s in the green meeting room.I’ve given him a juice.”

The green meeting room was located against the side wall of the property, was soundproofed, windowless, but one wall was filled with soothing Australian landscapes if you needed sedation.

“Thought I’d check out the premises before you moved on.”Nick bounced to his feet when Hunter walked through the door.Edgy?Manic?Convinced he had the edge?Certainly the last.

“I’m keeping the site as a work depot.”Given the suburban location, that had always been a plausible explanation if Hunter was seen here rather than in Darling Harbour.

“A little bird told me your apartment’s upstairs.”

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