Page 83 of Hunter's Game
The question hung in the air between them, charged with possibilities. For years, Eden had defined herself by her opposition to Alexander, by her determination to dismantle his empire and save her sister. Her identity had been shaped by that singular purpose, her relationships limited to what served the mission. But now, with Alexander defeated and her sister healing, who was she beyond the strategist, the fighter, the avenger?
She turned to him, her expression softening. The question was one she had been grappling with for weeks, and now, standing on the other side ofeverything, the answer felt clearer than ever. “For the first time, I get to decide what that is. No orders, no expectations—just me.”
The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating. The structures that had constrained her—the rigid discipline, the single-minded focus, the emotional distance—were no longer necessary. She could rebuild herself as something more than a weapon aimed at Alexander’s heart.
“And?” His lips curved into a teasing smile, but there was an edge of vulnerability in his eyes that belied his casual tone. Hunter, who had fought beside her through the darkest moments, who had held her when nightmares of failure jolted her awake, who had believed in her when doubt threatened to consume her. Hunter, whose own journey from near-victim to ally had mirrored her own in ways that created an understanding between them that transcended words.
Her chest tightened as she held his gaze, the words coming easily despite the lump in her throat. “You,” she said simply. “I want you, Hunter. I want us.” The admission felt like stepping off a cliff, exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. For so long, she had kept everyone at a distance, convinced that attachment was a liability she couldn’t afford. But Hunter had slipped past her defenses, becoming essential in ways she was only now beginning to understand.
For a moment, he just stared at her, his eyes searching hers as if to make sure she truly meant it.Time seemed to stretch, the hum of electronics and the distant conversations fading into background noise. Then, with a sudden, fierce movement, he pulled her up out of the chair and into his arms and kissed her.
It was a kiss that held all the promises they hadn’t been able to make before, a declaration of everything they had fought for and everything they had yet to build together. His lips were warm against hers, his hands gentle but insistent as they cradled her face. She melted into him, allowing herself to be vulnerable in a way she had denied for years, tasting coffee and determination and hope on his tongue.
When they finally pulled apart, the room around them seemed brighter, less heavy with the shadows of the past. Eden smiled against his lips, her voice soft. “This doesn’t mean I’m going easy on you.”
Hunter chuckled, his forehead resting against hers, his breath warm against her skin. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.” His eyes, usually sharp with vigilance, were softer now, crinkled at the corners with a happiness that transformed his face. It was a rare sight, one that made her heart stutter in her chest.
Their moment was interrupted by Katherine’s voice cutting through the quiet. “Sorry to break this up, but Darkness is asking for you two in the meeting room. He’s got updates on the club’s next steps.” There was a knowing smile playing at thecorners of her mouth, her eyes dancing with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. The entire team had watched their relationship evolve, placing bets on when they would finally acknowledge what had been obvious to everyone else for months.
Eden sighed, though there was no irritation in the sound. She straightened her shirt, brushing away invisible wrinkles, a gesture more about composure than appearance. She and Hunter exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them before they headed to the meeting room. Their hands brushed as they walked, not quite holding but unwilling to break contact entirely.
The corridor leading to the meeting room was lined with photographs—moments from the Blind Jacks’ history, missions completed, lives saved. Eden’s gaze lingered on a picture of the original founding members, taken decades ago when the group had first formed in response to a different kind of threat. The club had evolved over the years, adapting to new challenges, but its core mission remained the same: protect the vulnerable from those who would exploit them. Alexander had been their most formidable opponent yet, but not their first, and certainly not their last.
Darkness was waiting for them in the meeting room, his imposing presence as steady as ever. At sixty-five, he still commanded respect with nothing more than a glance, his silver hair and weather-beaten face a testament to years spent in the fieldbefore taking leadership of the club. The scars on his hands spoke of battles won and lost, sacrifices made and prices paid. Yet, there was a noticeable shift in his demeanor—a sense of relief that hadn’t been there in weeks, the tension that had kept his shoulders rigid now giving way to something approaching ease.
“I wanted to thank you both,” he said, his voice gruff but sincere. The leather of his chair creaked as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished wooden table. “What we’ve built here... it could’ve all fallen apart if Alexander had his way. You didn’t just save those families—you saved this club.”
The weight of his words settled over Eden like a mantle. The Blind Jacks had been her purpose for so long, her refuge when everything else had been stripped away. To know that she had played a part in preserving it filled her with a pride that was both fierce and humble.
“It wasn’t just us,” she said respectfully, meeting his gaze directly. “The club stood strong when it mattered most.” She thought of the team members who had worked around the clock, who had risked their lives infiltrating Alexander’s compounds, who had comforted victims and gathered evidence. “Every single person here played a part.”
He nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. “Still, leadership matters. The two of youled by example, kept morale up even when things were at their darkest.”
His gaze shifted to Hunter, his expression softening slightly. “And you proved yourself, brother. You’ve earned your place here, no question about it.” The words were simple, but their impact was profound.
Hunter had joined the club under a cloud of suspicion, his past connections to Alexander making many wary of his intentions. That Darkness now called him ‘brother’ without reservation was a testament to how far he had come.
Hunter nodded, his voice steady. “Just doing what needed to be done.” But Eden could see the pride in the set of his shoulders, the sense of belonging that had eluded him for so long now firmly within his grasp.
Darkness leaned back, a rare smile softening his features. “The club’s expanding operations. We’ve got leads on a few new cases that bear investigating—similar patterns to what Alexander was doing, but on a smaller scale. Might be copycats, might be former associates trying to fill the void.” He slid the files across the table. “I want you two leading the response teams, when you’re ready.”
The implication was clear—they had earned not just a place in the club, but leadership roles within it. Eden felt a surge of anticipation at the prospect of continuing their work, of using whatthey had learned from taking down Alexander to prevent others from following in his footsteps.
“We’ll be ready,” she promised, her hand finding Hunter’s under the table, their fingers intertwining in silent solidarity.
As they left the meeting room, Hunter wrapped an arm around Eden’s shoulders, his touch protective and warm. The familiar weight of his arm felt different now—not just a comforting presence, but a promise, a declaration of intent. “Looks like you’re stuck with me now,” he teased, his tone light.
Eden smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years. The burden she had carried since her mother’s death—the guilt, the anger, the single-minded determination—had eased, making room for something new. “I think I can live with that.”
The rest of the evening was a quiet celebration of sorts. The Blind Jacks gathered in the main hall, their conversations carrying a sense of camaraderie and hope. Someone had brought out bottles of whiskey, others had ordered food from the Thai place down the street. Music played softly in the background, a mix of genres that somehow worked together despite their differences, much like the people who filled the room.
For the first time in a long time, laughter filled the air, and the weight of their shared struggles seemed to ease, if only for a little while. Eden found herself drawn into conversations about the future, about possibilities that had seemed distantand unreachable just weeks ago. Katherine talked excitedly about new security systems she was developing, ones that could detect and neutralize the kind of technology Alexander had used. Others discussed outreach programs for victims, ways to help them reintegrate into communities that might not understand what they had been through.
Through it all, Eden found herself keenly aware of Hunter’s presence—the way his eyes sought hers across the room, the warmth of his smile when their gazes met, the casual touches as they moved around each other, each contact a reminder of the connection they had forged throughout the rigors of their mission.
As the night wore on, the celebration grew quieter, more intimate. Small groups formed, sharing stories and plans, laughter occasionally punctuating the gentle hum of conversation. Eden found herself sitting beside Hunter, their fingers intertwined as they watched the others. It was a simple, fleeting moment, but it felt monumental in its normalcy—a glimpse of the life they had fought so hard to create.
The soft glow of the string lights overhead cast everything in a warm, golden hue, softening the hard edges of the compound and transforming it into something almost homey. Eden leaned into Hunter’s side, allowing herself to relax fully for the first time in what felt like years.
