The act was wholly possessive; it was also sexy as hell. I got the feeling he'd been just as shaken as me tonight, when everything went pear-shaped. He hated that I'd been put at risk, but knew as well as I did that I might be the only way to find Pierce now he'd gone into hiding.
He kissed me again, and I kissed him back.
But here in this bathroom, in this moment, I wasn't in the real world. The real world was just outside the door, and it was ugly and frightening. A place where men carried guns and innocent children got hurt by the people they should be able to trust the most. I clung to Hunter tighter.
I planned to avoid the real world, just for a little bit longer.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lulu
My mother ran her frail hand over Josh's hair, unable to contain her joy at having another visit with her grandson. I'd brought him to meet her two days ago. At first, she'd been shocked, but I couldn't think of a reason to keep him away, not now. Pierce already knew about him and so did Hunter. There was no point denying them the chance to spend time with each other.
When she asked who his father was, Hunter, who had been standing silently in the corner of the room watching us, the way he always watched us, intense and alert, had piped up in that deep, rough voice, "Josh is mine." That's all he said, all he had to say.
Mom accepted it.
We visited the day before as well. We still didn't have any leads on Pierce, but Hunter was sure he was still in the city. I'd been racking my brain for where he could be. Pierce had taken me to a lot of places, but over the years they'd become one big blur. A nightmare I'd worked hard to forget. Several stuck out, though, but some I'd have to see to recognize.
It was frustrating. I wanted to help. I wanted Pierce locked up. I wanted Josh safe.
But this afternoon, I didn't want to think about any of that, because for the first time since I'd seen her, my mother had color in her cheeks. Her eyes, that had been a dull gray instead of her usual bright blue, were sparkling like sapphires. And even though I knew the prognosis, I couldn't stop the hope stirring inside me. Hope was stupid and a waste of energy. Miracles didn't happen, despite what people said. But if the light shining from her today meant that I got a few more with her, I'd take them, and I'd treasure every second.
We'd been at the hospital for several hours. Though she looked bright and happy, I could see the fatigue creeping in. Josh had been chatting animatedly most of the time we'd been here, but I could see my son was getting tired as well. He'd been rubbing his eyes for the last hour. I was reluctant to leave. But he'd had enough and was ready for dinner and bed. And if I didn't get him home soon, a meltdown of epic proportions wouldn't be far away.
I stood, leaned in, and kissed my mother's soft cheek. She turned to me. "Are you going?
"Yeah, Mom. We better let you get some rest."
Her hand came to my wrist, and she held on, making my heart squeeze painfully. "Are you coming back tomorrow?"
"Bright and early." I kissed her again then lifted Josh into my arms.
"I'd love that."
I helped her settle back, making sure her pillows were where she wanted them, lifted her water to her mouth so she could take a sip through the straw, then tucked the blankets around her. Her eyes grew heavy instantly. "Sleep well, Mom."
She smiled again and we left, closing the door behind us.
Hunter wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck and pulled me into his side as we walked down the hall. He didn't say anything, didn't have to. He was there for me, for Josh, and he managed to show us every day that we meant something to him. He was making it extremely hard to think about leaving. I was starting to rely on him, not only for protection, but support, comfort.
I hitched Josh higher on my hip. He was getting heavy and restless, and started wriggling, wanting to get down. Hunter reached for him without missing a beat. My son went to him without complaint, resting his head on that beautifully inked, broad shoulder.
Hunter draped his arm around mine and pulled me back into his side. I wrapped my arm around his waist, gripping his T-shirt.
Like we were a real couple again, like we were a family.
Our hips brushed as we walked, and I shivered. I couldn't help it. I was starved for him, for every scrap of affection, every touch. It didn't matter how much he gave me. I couldn't get enough of him. When he touched me, it felt like I came out of myself, and I could think of nothing but him. I needed that, so much.
We hadn't had sex, not since the time in the bathroom at the agency. I knew he was trying to ease me back into this relationship, was worried about my state of mind after opening up about the abuse and rape, after what Pierce had tried to do again. But I didn't want that, I didn't want time to process, or come to terms, or find some other way to move forward. I wanted to keep it locked away, deep, deep down inside, and forget all about it. I didn't want to unpack that crap and throw it all over the place. I didn't want to deal with the mess that was my life.
Why would I want to do that? I couldn't see the point.
Besides, our time together had an end date. I didn't want to waste what little we did have left. I wanted to make the most of every damn minute.
He kept his arm around me the whole way, only letting me go when we got to his car so he could unlock it.
I reached for Josh to put him in his booster seat, but Hunter ignored my outstretched arms, opened the backseat, and put him in. I headed to the passenger side and opened up. I was about to get in when my phone rang.
I checked the screen. Ruby.
I frowned and answered as Hunter moved around behind me.
"I'm bringing pizza and a movie over for girl's night tonight," she said. "Any preference on the flick? Action or romance?"
"Um . . ."
"I'll get wine too."
"O-kay . . ."
"So the movie?"
"Romance?"
"Good choice. See you a little later." The phone disconnected and I stared down at it.
"Who was that?" Hunter asked.
"Ruby. Apparently we're having a girl's night tonight."
Hunter smirked. "Jesus."
"What?"
He just shook his head, that smirk front and center.
I shoved my phone in my back pocket and started to get in. That's when the rear window of the car beside us exploded. I screamed and covered my head.
Hunter shoved me toward the front seat. "Get in!"
Something hit my right arm as I dove for cover, but I barely noticed. All my focus centered on getting in the car, getting to Josh.
He was screaming in the back. I needed to make sure my baby was okay. There were shots being fired all around us, and I scrambled into the back seat and threw myself over my son.
Hunter crouched low, wrenched open the driver's door and jumped in, yelling into his phone.
"The glass is bulletproof, but keep your fucking head down, Lulu. And put your goddamn seatbelt on."
Then Hunter revved the engine, backed up, and roared out of the hospital parking lot. I quickly buckled up and held on as he tore out onto the street. He cursed as he shifted through the gears, tires squealing around corner after corner.
Josh was screaming. I did my best to calm him, but he was terrified, and only after we'd been driving a while and Hunter had slowed down did he start to settle, his screams turning to shuddery, hiccupy little gasps. I kissed his chubby cheek and held his hand, all I could do with him strapped into his booster.
Hunter kept driving, keeping quiet, but the energy coming off him was frightening. I kept my mouth shut, knowing he'd tell me what was going on when he could. He was checking the rear-view mirror, scanning the street around us constantly. After a few more minutes, he grabbed his phone and punched in a number. "We're clear."
He was quiet a moment. When he spoke again his voice was steel, edged with barely-contained violence. "Someone just shot at us, at my woman, again, with my kid in the fucking car." I was in the back, but I could still see his jaw getting hard, the way he gripped the steering wheel. "We'll be there in ten. The cops can come to us. I want them home where I can keep them safe."
Then he disconnected.
"It was Pierce, wasn't it?" I whispered, fear reaching up and taking me by the throat.
Those flying bullets weren't for me. My stepfather wanted Hunter dead. He wanted me and the information he thought I had. His little set-up with Bret hadn't worked. I'd gotten away. Pierce wouldn't be happy about that. And now the cops were after him as well. Staying here in New York was stupid, even if he believed the painting was his ticket to freedom. That meant he wasn't only desperate, he was out of his damn mind. Was capable of anything. He was convinced I had the painting, or knew where it was, and he wouldn't stop until he had me again. So, yeah, Hunter had been his target. Shooting me didn't make sense.