Page 51 of Hunter's Game
“Already handled.” Darkness handed the drive to King, who then handed it to a prospect on a fast bike. “Dead drops and secure servers across three states. By morning, every law enforcement agency in the country will have copies.”
Eden was impressed. It was no doubt a plan King had put into place long before she’d come along. It made her wonder what kind of things they’d been doing that she didn’t know about to warrant having such contingencies in place.
“Along with proof of which agents are compromised,” Hunter added. “Romano’s entire network exposed.”
Eden felt something tight in her chest loosen slightly. “It’s really over?”
“The easy part’s over,” King corrected. “Now comes the war.”
As if on cue, more vehicles appeared at the perimeter—not rival MCs this time, but the kind of tactical vehicles that screamed private military contractor.
“Aleksander’s not wasting any time.” Hunter moved to cover Eden as gunfire erupted. “Got another backup plan?”
She checked her weapon, falling naturally into position beside him. “Several. But right now? Right now, I just want to hurt them.”
His answering smile was pure predator. “That’s my girl.”
They moved together like they’d been fighting side by side for years, clearing threats with deadly precision as Darkness coordinated the club’s defense. Eden lost herself in the familiar dance of combat, letting instinct and training take over.
Hours later, as dawn painted the sky in shades of blood and fire, they finally had a moment to breathe. Romano’s forces had pulled back, leaving destruction and dead mercenaries in their wake. The rival MCs had scattered after losing too many patches to the Blind Jacks’ superior tactical position.
Eden found Hunter on the clubhouse roof, watching the sunrise with a bottle of whiskey.
“Hell of a third date,” he said as she settled beside him.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that what this is?”
“Well, let’s see.” He pretended to count on his fingers. “We’ve had shootouts, explosions, high-speed chases, complex betrayals... Seems about right for us.”
“Hunter.” She took the bottle, needing liquid courage for what came next. “What happens now?”
“Now?” He turned to face her fully. “Now we hunt down every piece of Romano’s operation. We dismantle everything he and his brother built. We get justice for your mother. And we try not to die in the process.”
“Simple as that?”
“Nothing about this is simple.” He reached out to trace the bruise darkening her jaw. “But I’m in if you are.”
Eden leaned into his touch, letting herself feel everything she’d been holding back—fear, exhaustion, and something dangerous and warm that felt a lot like hope.
“Even knowing I’ll probably get us both killed?” The question carried all her fears—that caring made her vulnerable, that emotional connection compromised operational security, that whatever grew between them would inevitably be weaponized against them.
His laugh rumbled through her where their bodies touched, but his eyes held serious understanding. “Eden.” He said her name like a promise, fingers tracing the bruise on her jaw with unexpected gentleness. “I’ve spent my life calculating risks. This—us—isn’t a liability.” His hand settled at the nape of her neck, thumb brushing her pulse point. “It’s why we fight at all.”
The simple honesty in his words made something shift inside her—decades of learnedisolation confronted by the possibility of partnership based on mutual recognition rather than convenience or necessity.
“Baby, you had me at ‘let’s infiltrate an international crime syndicate.’” His smile softened the declaration, but the truth beneath remained clear. He’d chosen her, complications and all, with full understanding of what that choice might cost.
She kissed him then, tasting whiskey and gunpowder and promises neither of them should make. When they finally broke apart, the sun had fully risen, painting the world in harsh light that left nowhere to hide.
Below them, the Blind Jacks were already rebuilding their defenses, preparing for the next wave of Romano’s retaliation. For the first time since finding her mother’s body, Eden didn’t feel alone in the fight.
“Ready for this?” Hunter asked as they heard vehicles approaching in the distance.
Eden checked her weapons and smiled—the same sharp, dangerous smile that had first caught his attention across a crowded bar that felt like a lifetime ago.
“Born ready.”
The future stretched ahead, full of blood and betrayal and the promise of violence. But with Hunter at her side and the Blind Jacks at her back, Eden was finally ready to face whatever came next.
