Fierce(84)

“I fucking knew it,” Hunter says. “You were behind it all along.”

“Damn right I was.” Brody spits in his face.

Hunter balls his fist, pulls it back, and then punches Brody in the face so hard he flies through the room. Landing on the floor, he groans, spitting up blood and a couple of teeth.

Hunter picks him up and puts him on his chair.

“Hand me those ties,” he growls, glancing at me.

I clamber up to the bed, open the cabinet, and grasp a few ties. I struggle to get to Hunter.

“Tie them together,” he says, still holding down Brody so he doesn’t move from the chair.

My breath is still faltering, but I somehow manage to tie some knots, and hand the long line over to Hunter. He starts wrapping it around Brody, strapping him to the chair.

When the final knot is tightened, Brody is incapable of moving.

“Are you okay?” Hunter asks me, briefly placing his hand on my upper arm.

I sigh. “Yeah.” And then I smile. He visibly relaxes.

My gaze drifts back to the murderous old friend sitting on the chair. “Why …” I stammer, still catching my breath.

Brody only groans.

“Why did you do all of this?” I say, looking up at him.

He chuckles, coughing up blood. “Growing up in poverty isn’t easy. You should know that. I grabbed a chance at fortune.”

“Money? Is that it?”

Brody shrugs, averting his eyes.

I can’t believe it’s true. Did he do all of this just for the money? Start up a drug gang, a frat club, just for the money? He killed Scarlet just so he could keep his money?

This is so messed up, I can’t even begin to describe it.

Suddenly I hear loud sirens screeching outside.

I look up at Hunter, who immediately walks toward the window and peers outside. “Finally.”

“What? Are those the cops?” I say, rubbing my neck because it still feels sore.

He nods, then turns around and leans against the window. His wounds from the arena are still fresh, and he looks like a complete mess. Blood is all over his face, both his eyes are black, and he has bruises all over his ripped muscles.

“Fuck,” he mutters. “I’m glad I came here in time. Lucky I could get ahold of those damned keys to open the cage myself and slip out.”

I gulp. Hunter went through all that trouble to free himself. He came to my rescue. I put myself in danger, knowing what he said about avoiding Brody, and still I came here. Words can’t describe how grateful and lucky I feel to be saved by Hunter.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

“Don’t thank me yet.”

“What do you mean?”

He looks up at me, and then his eyes flick to the door.

A couple of cops storm into the room, and their gazes flick from Hunter, to me, to Brody.

“Agent Williams.” The chief cop holds up his badge. “Is this him?” he asks.

“Yep,” Hunter says. “Like I promised.”

“Where are the goods? I need proof,” Agent Williams says, and he starts untying Brody.

“I’d be careful with that motherfucker if I were you. He just tried to stab us with a pen,” Hunter says.

“Thanks, my partners here will make sure he doesn’t move,” Agent William says, as he cuffs Brody.

“You have nothing on me,” Brody says.

“Oh no?” Hunter lifts an eyebrow, and then directs his attention toward Agent Williams. “Check the bottom of the drawer. Especially the screws.”

Hunter steps forward as I gape in confusion. “How did the cops get here so fast?” I ask.

“I already alerted them back at the arena, once I got hold of a cell phone.”

“You were right,” Agent Williams says, holding up a piece of wood. “There’s a double bottom.” Then he carefully takes out packets of powder, pills, and needles.

Agent Williams instructs the other cops to take Brody away, while another one starts plowing through the room. Williams himself walks up to Hunter. “Well, since you upheld your agreement, I’ll make sure we do the same.”

Hunter’s lips curve up into a smile. Agent Williams holds out his hand. Hunter shakes it. “Thanks.”

“What agreement?” I say.

“The one where they reduce Jessie’s sentence to a week.”

“What?” I say, gaping at him.

“I’ll fill in the paperwork tomorrow. You can come pick him up then,” Agent Williams says. “Now, we have to clear the room, so please, if you will.” He points at the door, and Hunter escorts me out.

When the door closes behind us, I feel like I just closed off a part of my life I can never, ever return to.





Chapter 28


Explanations



“It’s true,” Hunter says. We walk to his room in complete silence. My throat feels thick, and I can barely swallow. So much information is being processed in my brain right now.