I unfroze, jolted from my frozen terror and all but dove over to the driver side, slamming my hand down on the horn, holding it there.
Pierce turned instantly and took off.
He was going to get away.
I don’t know that came over me; I just knew I wanted this to be over. I wanted Pierce to pay for what he’d done to me. I’d unlocked the door and opened it before I knew my intention. Lifting the gun, hand shaking like hell, I aimed it at his retreating back and fired—then I kept on firing until there were no bullets left.
The ear-splitting bang, bang, bang was now a far less satisfying click, click, click. But I couldn’t stop. I continued squeezing the trigger over and over again . . .
Hunters inked fingers seemed to come out of nowhere, curling around mine. He took the gun from me, handing it to Van.
“He was here,” I whispered.
Neco and Jude took off after Pierce. I watched them disappear into the night.
“He was here,” I said again. “I . . . I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to make him pay. I . . .” Hunter curled his hand around my shoulders and pulled me into him. I buried my face against his chest. “I missed. Goddammit, I missed.”
Hunter’s hands lifted, cupping my jaw and tilted it back, so he could see my face. “We’ll get him. I promise we’ll get him.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lulu
Hunter wrapped his large warm hand around mine, leading me down the hall to his apartment.
Something big was going to happen tonight, something besides me trying to blow Pierce’s brains out. The night I’d woken and found Hunter on the couch with Josh, his arms protectively around his little body, I’d felt the shift . . . deep inside me. And I knew I couldn’t fight it anymore. So I jumped off a cliff, praying like hell I landed on my feet and not my ass.
I wanted Hunter more than anything, and I refused to let Pierce take him from me, not again. And that’s what could happen if I didn’t give us a chance. That bastard would win. I owed it not only to myself but also to Hunter and Josh to try and make our little family work. I didn’t know what the future held for us, how we would make it work, or if I could give him all he needed, but I needed to try—I wanted to try.
Starting tonight.
We reached the door and I pulled him to a stop before he could open it. He turned to me wordlessly, brows lifted in question. I didn’t say anything. Instead, I went up onto my tiptoes, pulling him down at the same time and kissed him, deep and slow, giving him everything I had.
When we finally broke apart and he looked down at me, heat in his pale gaze. “What was that for?”
My belly fluttered and I shrugged, pressing closer to that tall, solid strength. “I just . . . I needed you.”
His eyes flared and the heat in them got a whole lot hotter. “Yeah?” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “That all you need?”
I shook my head, even while nerves fluttered to life. The two times we’d slept together since he kidnapped me didn’t count, that hadn’t been Hunter. He’d been angry and hurt, the situation volatile and confusing.
Tonight was different.
And for some crazy reason, taking that big step back to him, back to us, I was afraid, nervous I’d disappoint him. We’d both waited so long for this. We were finally back together, and I wanted it to be perfect.
For once Hunter didn’t question me, or ask me if I was sure, if I was all right. He trusted me to know what I wanted, what I needed. I clung tighter to his big, callused hand as he opened the door and led me inside.
Josh had fallen asleep while Ruby was looking after him, so now he was having a sleepover. A quick call from Hunter, and Zeke had agreed to stay with them as well.
We were all alone.
I bit my lip, nerves fluttering madly in my belly, along with excitement. I hadn’t decided which was winning out at that moment and it was throwing me off balance. I wanted this so bad I shook—to get back what we’d once had, what we’d lost, but I was terrified it wouldn’t be the same between us. So much had changed.
I just didn’t want to screw this up.
He carried on down the hall, towing me along behind. “I have something to show you.”
His voice sounded different, low, but there was also a hesitation I’d never heard from him before. He led me to the spare room where Josh had been sleeping and pushed the door open, flicking on the light.
I sucked in a breath, stunned. “Oh my God. How did you do all this?”
“Ruby and Zeke. Ruby picked out the blankets and curtains and shit like that a few days ago. I’d planned to take you out so she could set up. After the way things went down tonight, I wasn’t sure this was the right time, but it’s done now. So . . . yeah.”