“I have a niece a who’s two, a similar age, yes?”
I nodded. What the hell was this? He’d threatened my aunt, grilled me about Pierce, and now we were going to chat about his niece?
A shout from the hall, just outside Tomas’s office, made me jump in my seat.
Tomas chuckled. “Sounds like Hunter’s come to collect you.”
“Fuck,” a deep voice growled from behind the door. A smack and crunch, which sounded a lot like someone getting hit, followed by another smack, this one wet. Next came a crash and a heavy thud.
I spun back to Tomas. He seemed unperturbed, relaxed even. He was a man that knew the power he wielded. Knew he was untouchable. The door swung open, and the first person I was the body builder. His big frame was writhing on the floor, hands clutching his nose, blood gushing through his fingers like a geyser, cheek split open.
I looked up, and relief hit me with such force I gasped from the strength of it. Hunter stood over him, fists clenched at his sides, breathing heavily. Van and Zeke were at his back, along with some other guy I didn’t know. Then Hunter’s eyes shifted to me, the blue so dark, it almost looked black.
Everyone else’s eyes came to me as well.
I knew he’d find me.
“You want to explain,” Hunter said to Tomas, voice low and deadly calm as he walked in. “Why my woman is here . . . without me?”
Tomas stood. “I just wanted to ask her a few questions, nothing more.” His head tilted to the side. “You know I’d never harm her.”
Hunter looked like he wanted to shoot him. “You want to talk to Lulu, you ask me. From now on, she doesn’t exist for you. You come near her again, we have an even bigger problem than we do now.” He took a threatening step toward Tomas. “Do you understand?”
Tomas dipped his chin. “You know why I did it,” he said, eyes sliding to me then back to Hunter. “I didn’t want her to censor her answers. I know how much you want Pierce for yourself.”
Van cursed. “I told you we’d deliver him to you after we were finished with him.”
Tomas shrugged again. “I don’t like to share.”
Hunter’s fingers curled into tight fists. “How the hell did you know she was with me?”
Tomas looked to the body builder, who’d climbed to his feet. His eyes darted to Hunter then back to Tomas.
Hunter was on him in a split second, shoving him against the wall, got in his face. “How?”
The guy scowled. “I got eyes and ears all over this city.”
Hunter shoved him. “Who was it?”
“One of Raul’s dancers, Cassie, called and told me where to find your woman. Overheard something at the club, was happy to give up the info.”
Hunter growled.
The stripper he’d been seeing. That bitch!
“I’ll talk to Raul,” Van said, voice vibrating with anger.
Hunter turned to his brother. “I better not see that bitch there again.” He pulled back, taking the body builder with him, and shoved him away. The guy limped off. Hunter’s eyes never left him, burning into him like he wanted to cause a lot more damage than he already had.
“Um . . .” I piped up. And all eyes slid back to me. “I’d like to go home now.”
Hunter strode over, jaw tight. “You’ve got some fucking explaining to do.” he growled under his breath. “What the fuck were you thinking, running off like that?”
“I had no . . .”
“You’re lucky it was one of Tomas’s boys and not one of Pierce’s.” His expression was hard, terrifying. “If it was Pierce? I wouldn’t be taking you home, I’d be tracking down what was left of you.”
My entire body lurched back.
Hunter turned to Tomas. “I’ll be back. This isn’t finished.”
When I stood, I stumbled a little, my legs feeling shaky from first fear then relief.
Van’s arm shot out, snaking around my waist. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
That got Hunter’s attention, and he shoved forward, dragging me from his brother’s arms—and without another word, strode from the room.
Hunter
I led her out of Tomas’s holding room and through his compound, Lulu almost jogging to keep up.
Jesus.
When I thought about what could have happened? Fuck. Pierce was still in town. The guy was unstable, desperate. The only reason to stick around was Lulu. If he’d gotten to her first . . .
I’d never wanted to do bodily harm to a woman in my life. I wanted to strangle Cassie, wring that bitch’s throat.
I led Lulu to my SUV and opened the door. She climbed in and I secured the seatbelt around her. She stared at me, eyes wide.