Page 20 of Wretched Heart
Hunter drops his head into his hands and rubs his face as if he’s bored with the conversation. “I cleared out every room on this floor, and I have the room next door,” he explains. “I can do things like that because I have good connections.” He looks up and gives me a devastating smile. “What can I say? People like me.”
“Except maybe the woman pointing a gun at you.”
He straightens up. “Yes, about that,” he says getting to his feet. “We both know you’re not going to shoot me.”
“You can’t know that for sure. You don’t know me, Hunter,” I warn.
He’s ten feet away, but shortens the distance by taking a step. Idiot. I flick the safety off.
Hunter’s eyes harden. “That’s not a damn toy, Maddie,” he growls.
“I know what it is, Hunter. My daddy had the good sense to teach his little princess how to defend herself before throwing her to the wolves – to protect my honor until he could offer it up for sale. I can also skin a rabbit with my eyes closed.”
A smile tugs at Hunter’s lips. “I guess I’m lucky you didn’t try that with my cock last night.”
“It could still happen,” I snap.
“Damn, you’re turning me on right now.”
I know I shouldn’t, but I glance down and see his sweatpants tenting yet again. It sets off a reciprocal sensation as I feel my clit throbbing. What do I have to do to get this man to take me seriously?
“I’m not going home,” I tell him through gritted teeth.
Hunter takes another step. “How about we make a deal? I need you in the meeting with your brother, but when we’re done talking, you can pack some things and I’ll drop you off at a place of your choice.”
It could be a tempting proposition if only I had some place else to go. I don’t have friends. I was never allowed to socialize away from my family. Where else can I go? My eyes narrow on Hunter as he takes another step. He’s six feet away now.
“Stay away from me.”
Hunter lifts his shoulders in a half-hearted apology. The bastard isn’t going to stop, and he’s one step away from reaching for the gun. I aim to the left and squeeze the trigger. Wood splinters in the top of the dresser, but before Hunter can do anything more than blink, I swing the gun back to him.
“Are you fucking crazy?” he barks. “That’s it. You’ve got ten seconds to tell me exactly what you want.”
“I want you to promise you won’t leave me with Hugo.”
He looks taken aback. “That’s it? Fine, Maddie, I promise. Now hand me the damn gun,” he says, stretching out his hand. “Because if you don’t, Mace is going to come crashing into this room, and he’s going to shoot the person aiming a gun at his brother.”
My pulse races and I can’t seem to catch my breath. “But I–”
I hear footsteps thundering down the corridor. “Now, Maddie!” barks Hunter.
I fumble with the safety catch and Hunter snatches the gun out of my hand. He strides to the door, but doesn’t open it. “It’s OK!” he yells. “I’m good! My gun went off accidentally.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Hunter!” Mace shouts back, breathless and angry. “Please tell me you’ve taken it off her.”
Clearly his brother’s smart enough to know Hunter wasn’t the one mishandling the gun. “Yes. Just give me an hour to get ready. We can grab breakfast on the way to the airfield.”
“You’re seriously losing it, brother.”
“Tell me about it,” Hunter replies, glancing to me as he says it. “And Mace. Call Rory and ask him to stand down his hotel security.”
“Sure, no problem. Let me clean your mess up for you,” Mace grumbles. “At least she only used her elbow on me.”
When footsteps recede, I back myself against a wall. There’s fury in Hunter’s eyes as he shoves the gun in the back of his sweatpants. “If you were mine,” he growls, “I’d put you over my knee and spank you for pulling that stunt.”
Judging by his ever-present erection, Hunter thinks he’s being suggestive, but that’s not the reaction he gets. His eyes narrow as he registers my flinch. His scrutiny strips me bare. “I don’t want to hurt you. But before the end of this day, you will tell me who did.”
I shake my head imperceptibly. “I don’t need a protector.” Not one who’s going to disappear into the sunset and leave me with more problems than he solves.
