Page 59 of Hunter's Game
The surgeon was already at her beside, checking the readouts on all the monitors. She spoke to him over her shoulder. “You’re not technically related, but I’ll give you an hour. She needs her rest.”
Hunter nodded, his eyes fixed on the only woman to ever cause his heart to start and stop on a dime, as if she held the control to his very life.
As if sensing them, Eden’s monitors showed a slight change, the beeping increasing just enough to get his heart racing. Hunter was at her side instantly, watching for any sign of consciousness.
“Come on, baby.” His voice was barely a whisper. “Fight.”
Her fingers twitched slightly in his hand—not consciousness, but something. A sign that the fierce, unstoppable woman he’d fallen for was still in there, still fighting.
“Hunter.” Darkness’s voice carried a warning.
“Sorry, sir,” the surgeon immediately replied, “only one visitor allowed at a time.”
Darkness ignored her. “We’ve got company.”
Hunter looked up to see a familiar face entering the secure ward—Assistant Director Wilson of the FBI, the man Eden had secretly been feeding information to for months.
“Before you say anything,”—Wilson held up his hands—”I’m here unofficially. What happened tonight...it exposed corruption at every level of law enforcement. We’re still uncovering the full extent of Romano’s network.”
“Gentlemen, please—”
“And?” Hunter’s voice was cold.
“And we need help.” Wilson met his eyes steadily. “Eden’s help. She knows things—connections, methods, players we haven’t identified yet. When she recovers—”
“If you could all take this outside—”
“If,” Hunter spoke over her. The word tasted like ash. “If she recovers.”
“When.” Wilson’s certainty was surprising. “I knew her mother, you know. Sarah had that same fire, that same determination. Eden’s too much like her to let this beat her.”
The surgeon sighed deeply and started out of the room. “You all have five minutes and then I’m calling security.” She leveled Hunter with a warning look. “And that includes you.”
Guess his hour had been revoked. He didn’t care. They’d have to drag him out of here if theywanted him gone. Hunter maintained his focus and studied the federal agent, seeing past the official facade to something genuine. “What exactly are you proposing?”
“A partnership.” Wilson glanced at King. “Both with Eden and with the Blind Jacks. Romano’s operation might be exposed, but there are others out there. Other organizations using similar methods. We need—”
“You need outlaws to help you catch criminals.” Darkness’s laugh held no humor. “Isn’t that what got us here in the first place?”
“This would be different.” Wilson pulled out a folder. “Full immunity for past crimes. Legitimate contracts for future operations. A chance to do what you do best, but with federal backing.”
“And Eden?”
“Full reinstatement. Promotion. Her choice of assignments.” Wilson’s smile was genuine. “Assuming she wants to come back.”
Hunter looked down at Eden’s pale face, remembering every complicated emotion that had passed between them. “That’s her choice to make. When she wakes up.”
“If she makes it.” Darkness’s voice was gentle.
“When.” Hunter squeezed Eden’s hand, feeling that slight response again. “Like the man said, she’s too stubborn to die.”
As if to prove his point, Eden’s fingers twitched again in his grasp. Her vital signs showedsubtle changes—nothing dramatic, but enough to tell him she was still fighting.
Still surviving.
Still refusing to follow anyone else’s rules.
Hunter smiled despite everything, remembering their first meeting across a crowded bar that felt like a lifetime ago. She’d been dangerous and beautiful and absolutely lethal then.
