Page 71 of Betrayal

Maha wore the dark trousers that were the uniform at her existing centre, and the comfortable shoes Anna had noticed on her visit, but she’d changed the colourful uniform T-shirt for a blouse in crimson tones that flattered her olive skin.The fluorescent yellow safety jacket did nothing to hide her generous curves.

“Nothing to tell.”Hunter shrugged.

“You knew him as a kid?”Antonio looked from one to the other.Anna had given him the relationship, not the history.

“You’ve blown it now,” Hunter muttered.“Antonio will think I’ve hired you because you’re family, not because you’re the most suitable candidate.”

“I’m the most suitable candidate.”Maha turned a full-wattage smile on Antonio and stuck out a hand.“Hi, I’m Maha Hariri.I understand the contract is signed, so assume you did due diligence.This is just putting faces to names.”

“It is,” Antonio agreed.“It’s also my first visit.”

“Mine too.Hunt talks to me, but he’s been keeping this place a surprise until now.Let’s explore together.”Maha turned to Hunter.“Antonio and I can handle this on our own.I promise not to stick metal objects into power points or throw anything off the rooftop.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me?I’m a regular visitor.I might be able to answer some questions,” Anna offered.

Maha’s arched eyebrows rose, and Anna was reminded of Casildo.Same dark hair, same almond-shaped hazel eyes, same straight nose.The features looked softer on Maha.“And here I thought you were going to pump me about Hunt.”Maha sent Antonio a sideways look, half-conspiratorial.

“She was,” Antonio agreed.

“I heard that,” Anna said.

“You were meant to.”Maha laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.“Don’t get me wrong.I like you.A lot.”

“You promised to behave, Maha.”Hunter’s warning sounded half-hearted.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing.Follow me, Antonio.If we have questions, we’ll note them down and ask when we get back.”

Antonio winked at Anna before following Maha with a docility none of his employees would believe.

“Did you really plan to pump Maha about me?”Hunter leaned against a wall.

“She’s family.You’ve met my family.”

“I have.Lovely people every one.They haven’t told me any of your secrets, Anna.Nor would they.They’re all letting us fumble along and find our own feet.”

“You’re right.”Anna reached up to plant a kiss at the side of his mouth.“But she confirmed something.She’s loyal.To the bone.You inspire loyalty in your friends and in your employees.That’s a big recommendation.”

“I’m no saint, Anna.”His brow puckered, revealing yet again his caution.

“I’m not looking for a saint.”She’d found what she was looking for: a man who valued loyalty, who inspired loyalty, who made love to her as if she was the sun, the moon and the stars.She just had to convince him they could build a future together.

* * *

Two days later, Huntersat alone in his office.Not yet five o’clock and he’d sent his team home.Donna had given him a bemused look, but had accepted his decision when he escorted her to the door.Now he slid the naked photos of a young Anna back into the envelope, leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

“You bastard!”he muttered, but he’d made the mistake, pushing Nick to the back of his mind in the weeks since Lily’s birth.Anna adored Lily.

“Fucking bastard.”Hunter pushed out of his chair, paced to the window, to the door, raised a hand, found it was a fist and hauled back to smash it into the wall.Stopping short of the wall, he dropped his forehead against it.

Hunter lived with the knowledge Nick could summon photos of Hunter’s battered ex-girlfriend Gina from the internet sewer at will.Now Nick was threatening to broadcast naked photos of Anna.If Nick followed through on this threat, Anna would live in the same state of uncertainty as Hunter did.

Hunter’s pervert of a father dirtied everything he touched.Now the manipulative bastard was trying to weaponize Anna’s innocent adolescent rebellion.Anna was all that mattered, her peace of mind, her physical safety, and Hunter would sell his soul to prevent sleazy photos of Anna being splashed across social media.

New South Wales had laws about revenge porn.He’d checked after the fiasco with Gina, but Gina had uploaded photos she’d taken herself.The cops were obliged to pursue people who recorded and distributed original and altered images without the consent of the person in the image.It took time to lay charges.A successful prosecution was rare, and by that time the damage was done.

Snatching up the envelope, Hunter upended it, then peered inside.A white card was wedged in the bottom inside corner.Identification?Not that he needed confirmation to know the author of this threat.Still, he read the card and gagged.

“I don’t believe it.”Hunter flung the card across the room.“You bastard!You bastard!This time I’ll kill you.”A sob caught in the back of his throat.Nick Richardson’s stories always held a fragment of truth.

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