Page 44 of Hunter's Game
“Which was?”
“The hundred million in bearer bonds in the museum’s private vault.” Now she did reach for her phone, pulling up security footage. “While everyone was focused on priceless artifacts and family drama, Romano’s real team was three floors down, using the confusion to clean out the vault.”
Understanding dawned in Hunter’s eyes. “The maintenance tunnels. That’s why you needed the blueprints.”
She nodded. “They weren’t escape routes. They were access points to the vault. Romano played us all—Katherine, my father, even his own security team. None of them knew about the bonds.”
“But you did.”
“I found the transfer records in Thompson’s files.” She was close enough now to see the muscle working in Hunter’s jaw. “The bonds were payment for something big. Something worth burning his entire operation to cover up.”
“The private military corporation.”
“Bigger.” She handed him her phone. “Romano’s not building an army. He’s buying one. These bonds are just the first installment.”
Hunter read quickly, his expression darkening. “These requisition orders... This is—”
“Enough firepower to start a war,” she finished. “Or put down a revolution. Depending on who’s paying.”
“Jesus.” He ran a hand over his face. “And the DEA deputy director was in on it?”
“Along with half the federal task force.” She was close enough now to smell gunpowder and expensive cologne on his ruined jacket. “Which is why I couldn’t tell anyone the real play. Not even you.”
“Trust issues?” But there was something else in his voice now—understanding, maybe. Or at least less likelihood of violence.
“Something like that.” She finally met his eyes directly. “I needed everyone to believe I was choosing sides. Playing my father against Romano, the DEA against the Devil’s Mark. The only way to expose the whole operation was to let all the players think they were winning.”
“While you tracked the real money.” He was putting it together now. “The bonds...”
“Are currently being loaded into a private plane at the downtown airfield.” She allowed herself a small smile. “Along with Romano, three corrupt federal agents, and enough evidence to take down their entire network.”
“You tipped off the FBI.” Recognition flared in his eyes. “That’s what the third shot was about. Taking out Phillips bought time for the real federal task force to move in.”
“Got it in one.” She wasn’t prepared for how much his approval meant. “Romano was so focused on playing everyone against each other, he never considered there might be honest agents left in the system.”
“And your father?”
“Currently explaining to the FBI how he helped Romano infiltrate federal law enforcement.” The words tasted like ash. “Turns out he’s very cooperative when his daughter puts a tracker on him during an emotional reunion.”
Hunter absorbed this, his expression unreadable. The harsh security lighting cast shadows across the strong planes of his face,emphasizing the slight cleft in his chin and the intensity in his steel-blue eyes as they studied her. His shoulders, broad and powerful beneath the ruined tuxedo, tensed slightly before, without warning, he closed the distance between them with the controlled grace that made him so lethal in combat.
Eden tensed, expecting violence. Instead, his hand curved around the back of her neck, the callused palm surprisingly gentle against her skin. He pulled her into a kiss that tasted like smoke and adrenaline and something darker—relief mixed with residual fear, trust despite deception, connection that had survived betrayal.
The contact conveyed everything words couldn’t—understanding of why she’d made the choices she had, respect for her strategic thinking, and something deeper that neither of them had anticipated when this operation began.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, he rested his forehead against hers, maintaining connection while giving her space to process everything that had happened. The gesture spoke volumes about how their relationship had evolved—beyond initial attraction or convenient alliance into something built on mutual recognition.
“You could have told me,” he said softly, no accusation in his voice, just the honest admission that her trust would have meant something to him.
“No.” She let herself lean into him slightly, allowing vulnerability she normally kept carefully hidden. For years, she’d operated alone, trusting no one completely—not her handlers, not her contacts, certainly not anyone who made her feel the way Hunter did. The admission cost her something, but she made it anyway. “You needed to react naturally. Your surprise had to be genuine.” She reached up, fingers tracing the bruise forming along his jaw with unexpected tenderness. “If Romano had suspected we were working together...”
“He would have changed the play.” Hunter’s thumb traced her jaw. “Still. Next time you plan to shoot a federal agent and collapse a building, a little warning would be nice.”
“Next time?” She pulled back enough to meet his eyes. “You’re assuming there’s going to be a next time?”
His smile was pure predator. “Baby, we both know this isn’t over. Romano might be caught, but his operation’s too big to go down easy. There are still corrupt agents to flush out, politicians to expose, artifacts to recover...”
“Sounds dangerous.” But she was already smiling back. “And complicated.”
