I can’t fathom how a man like me, a man with my past, has been rewarded with such a woman. What a lucky bastard.

  Natalie glances up at me and catches me staring. Her lips curl into a knowing smile. “You think I’m pretty, don’t you?” she says with a chuckle.

  “You have no idea.” And I lean closer, brushing my lips to her ear. “I’m afraid to touch you too hard and you dissipate into smoke. Are you even real?”

  Natalie giggles and I can’t help but smile at her. This woman has my whole heart.

  A man walks past, his gaze lingering on Natalie’s curvy body. A flare of jealousy ignites within me. I bare my teeth at him as Natalie glances away.

  She remains oblivious to the hungry eyes that follow her, and it makes me want to shield her from them even more.

  “Son of a—” I start to mutter under my breath, only to be interrupted by the arrival of a familiar face.

  Simon strides in with his bride, Shannon, on his arm. My friend tilts his chin in greeting to the other guest, and the two are all smiles.

  I nod in his direction and his smile grows, if possible. The scar on the side of his face wrinkles with his grin.

  Seeing Simon is never easy. The scars and his missing right arm are a testament to the battles we’ve faced together. Moments I let him down.

  Simon never held his losses against me, but it doesn’t change the guilt I feel.

  Even with all the trouble, tonight he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him.

  “I’m so glad you could make it!” Simon grins, pulling me into an embrace. It’s a bit awkward on my part, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “I mean no offense, but you’ve become such a hermit I didn’t expect you to show up.”

  “Offense not taken, because you’d usually be right. But not today.” There’s honest affection on my face when I squeeze his shoulder. “Congratulations, man.”

  “Thank you! Remember Shannon from the one time you met before you started dodging my invitations?” Simon asks, making me wince.

  “Of course.” I offer a hand to Shannon and shake it. “Congratulations, Shannon. I’m happy for you two.”

  “Thank you, Hunter,” Shannon replies, but her eyes are not on me. “Who is this beautiful woman? She can’t be your date, Hunter.”

  “Simon, Shannon, this is Natalie,” I introduce her, pride swelling in my chest. “Natalie, meet Simon and his wife, Shannon.”

  “Nice to meet you both,” Natalie says shyly, extending her hand.

  Shannon bypasses that and pulls Natalie in for a hug. “It’s such a pleasure. You look gorgeous.”

  “You too...” starts Natalie, a bit off-kilter after the sudden affection.

  Shannon pulls back, grinning at Natalie’s belly. “And you guys already have a bun in the oven! Oh, Hunter, I’m so happy for you. Simon used to tell me all about your brave stories. How hard you fought for him. You deserve all the best.”

  Her words catch me off guard. I almost don’t believe them.

  “So glad to meet you, Natalie,” Simon beams, offering a hand and shaking Natalie’s. “Hunter didn’t mention you guys were expecting! I wouldn’t have asked him to come all this way.”

  “That was no problem,” Natalie says, glancing up at me. She wants me to tell them. She wants me to say the baby is not mine. That it’s someone else’s. And I know she’s afraid of their reaction.

  But none of it matters. I squeeze Natalie to my side again. “You know me,” I tell Simon. “I’m discreet. Besides, I wanted to surprise you. We’re starting our family, and I’ll do my best to make this kid the happiest in the world.”

  Natalie’s eyes brim with tears when our gazes meet. Love makes my heart grow twice its size.

  Simon’s brother rushes toward us. “Oh, hey, Hunter. How do you do?” We shake hands and, before I can introduce him to Natalie, he turns to Simon. “You should get ready. First dance and all.”

  Simon smiles at us. “Don’t disappear on us!” And he takes his wife to the dance floor.

  I hold Natalie close again, my hand stroking circles on her back. The music begins and Simon and Shannon take the floor. We clap. Then it’s the parents. We clap a bit more.

  Though I’m easily the tallest guy in the place, it still suffocates me. So many people. And the woman of my life is right here. I can’t help but think of all the scenarios of things that could go wrong...

  Natalie touches my chest. “You okay?” she whispers.

  “Yeah,” is my immediate response. I don’t even think about it.

  She arches an eyebrow. “You’re tense.” She presses the hand on my chest down. “I can feel it. Why don’t we sit down?”

  “It’s the first dance. It’s important for him that I watch. That’s my duty as a friend.” Then I pause. “Unless you’re feeling off. Are you okay?”

  Natalie rolls her eyes and smiles. “Hunter. Stop thinking about what you have to do for others. Duty toward Simon. Toward your country. Toward me. Think about you. I’m okay. Simon is okay. What do you want to do?”

  She’s right. Natalie’s right. I’ve spent too long putting others first, and it’s not making me a better person. And I should become a better person to deserve her.

  I nod and take her hand. “Let’s step back.”

  Natalie smiles as she follows me to the edge of the crowd. I can’t stop looking at her. She’s gorgeous. And she’s all mine.

  Then her gaze drifts away from me. She looks somewhere else... and her face goes ashen.

  Natalie freezes on the spot.

  “Natalie?” I call, and I snap my head that way, searching for whatever made her feel like this.

  Searching for whoever makes my girl tremble like this.

  HUNTER

  There are so many people here. I can’t tell where the threat is, or what she sees that has her like this. My heartbeat kicks up a notch.

  “What’s wrong?” I urge her, but she’s wide-eyed and mute, her jaw locked. Her hand shakes in mine. I step in front of her, cutting her line of sight. “Natalie?”

  The light in her eyes flickers like a candle being snuffed by the wind. She’s paler than that first day when she threw up on my chest.

  She tries to offer me a smile, but it doesn’t fool me. “I’m fine,” she stammers.

  My anxiety grows. She’s lying. Why? Why does she feel the need to? Adrenaline floods my veins. I have to protect her.

  I swing around in time to see him. A man walks our way, a smirk across his ratty features. He’s short, bulky, with blond hair buzzed to his scalp.

  There’s something about him; something that makes my gut churn. And I immediately get it.

  The one person who could make Natalie afraid. The one person who hit her until she broke. Until she left. Until she ran for her life.

  “Ah, Natalie,” he sneers, his voice dripping with fake nicety. “Fancy seeing you here. We all thought something terrible had happened to you.”

  Natalie looks down, an arm covering her belly as if to protect her child. “Why are you here? How did you find me?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper. Her grip on my arm tightens, and I pull her closer.

  Lars's eyes drop to her swollen stomach, then up to me. “Are you...” He narrows his eyes. “No, you’re not old enough to be her father, and I know he’s dead. Who are you again?”

  “This is Hunter,” Natalie says, her voice firmer. “He’s my boyfriend. And I don’t know how you found me, but...”

  “Found you?” Lars cackles. “Oh, someone thinks highly of herself. Shannon worked for my dad and he asked me to come in his place. Do you really think I’d waste my time hunting you down?”

  Natalie’s face crumbles. “It wasn’t... you following me? Sending me those texts?”

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lars shrugs, glancing over his shoulder at the dance floor. “I have a busy life. Not my problem if you don’t want to be part of it. I mean...” His gaze drops to her stomach again. “Since you’ve run away, I’m guessing you don’t want me involved in any of this. Good for me.” Lars looks up and smirks at me. “Lucky you, Natalie. You found someone who doesn’t mind picking up another man’s leftovers.”

  My blood boils at his words, my fists clenching so hard that my knuckles turn white. Natalie flinches at his comment, and I struggle to keep my anger in check.

  A part of me wants to punch him into a pulp. The other part reminds me this is Simon’s wedding and I don’t want to ruin his special day.

  “Listen, piece of shit,” I growl, putting Natalie behind me as my protective instincts kick into overdrive. “I suggest you get lost before I make you.”

  “Is that so?” Lars smirks, not intimidated even when he’s half my size. “You wouldn’t dare raise a finger. Don’t you know who I am? My father has more money than you can ever dream of.”

  As if I give a fuck about this weakling’s daddy.

  “Please, guys, let’s not do this,” Natalie pleads as she steps between us. Her eyes flick up to me, green pools of worry. “This is Simon’s wedding. We don’t want to cause a scene.”

  “Fine by me,” Lars sneers. “I’m just impressed by how fast you found someone new.” His eyes narrow, fixed on Natalie. “Did you cheat on me with him? Is this fetus even mine? Is that why you left?”

  “How dare you!” Natalie exclaims, her face flushing with embarrassment. “You know I would never—“

  “Didn’t think you had it in you,” Lars scoffs, his disdain dripping from every word. “I never expected you were the kind of woman who changes men as she changes clothes...”

  “Shut up, fucker,” I snarl, feeling my control slipping. My hands itch to grab hold of him and show him what I think of what he’s done to Natalie.

  I tremble with barely restrained rage, but I keep telling myself Natalie doesn’t need another violent man in her life. She needs me to protect her, not scare her. Not embarrass her.

  “Whaveter,” says Lars. “Have fun picking up the pieces,” he shoots my way, then turns to Natalie. “I only ever gave you the best, and yet the first chance you have, you throw yourself into the arms of a nobody who obviously has no control. Good luck with that,” he spits before walking out.

  And I would punch him—if that wouldn’t prove his point. My arm shakes with wrath, but his words are a bucket of cold water.

  Fuck, he’s right. Natalie’s light calls me in because I live in the darkness. She’s beauty to my ugliness. She’s hope to this never-ending guilt I feel.

  I am violent. I am a monster. He’s right.

  Should I really put Natalie through this?

  I face her, my hands curling around her arms. She winces, jumping in surprise. I let her go. Fuck. Fuck, is she afraid of me?

  “He’s gone,” I tell her, trying to hide my fear of hurting her.

  Natalie relaxes a tiny bit, then releases a sigh. “Okay. I’m okay. It’s all okay.” She strokes her belly nonstop, as if reassuring both herself and the baby. She glances up at me, but her gaze doesn’t lock with mine. “I need a minute, actually.”

  “Sure. Let’s find our seats...”

  “No, I mean...” Her gaze travels around me, unsure, fleeting. “I need a second by myself. I’ll find the restroom.”

  Natalie doesn’t wait for me before she walks out. She leaves me standing there, with my heart shattering in my chest.

  This is it. This is the end of a dream.

  This is where Natalie finds out I am, in fact, the monster I warned her about.

  NATALIE

  My heart still pounds like a thousand thunderstorms in my chest by the time I leave the restroom. The party swirls around me, laughter and music and the clinking of glasses creating a cacophony.

  My head swims. Lars said he’s not the person after me. Then who is it? And that message, saying they knew where I was... It’s something Lars could have said.

  Or am I imagining all this? Am I so broken that I created a narrative of a sequence of coincidences?

  What if all the times I thought someone was after me, I was imagining things? I was so afraid of Lars, looking over my shoulder... Could I have imagined the man in the hoodie? The one following me? Were the messages sent to a wrong number?

  I’m dizzy. I need to find Hunter.

  Hunter. What will he say when he finds out it was all nonsense? A stranger puked all over him, then slept on his bed for two weeks, saying she feared for her life... And then it turned out she was imagining things?

  I walk along the edge of the room, my eyes searching for Hunter’s huge frame. Hunter is dependable and strong, the polar opposite of the storm cloud that is Lars.

  Yes. Yes, I can’t forget that. Hunter feels this connection. That part is no imagination. It’s no accident. He’ll understand. Surely.

  At least I hope so.

  As if summoned by my darkest thoughts, I feel a vice-like grip on my arm. Someone whirls me around, too hard for it to be Hunter. My heart skips a beat and I gasp, stopping myself before I hit him.

  Lars glares at me. He’s much shorter than Hunter, but he’s still taller than me. His bulky frame looms over me like an angry shadow. There’s disgust on his face. All masks are off.

  “Thought you could just walk away from me, huh?” he snarls, his voice dripping with malice, his eyes wide, bloodshot.

  “Let go of me,” I say, trying to sound confident, though my voice trembles like leaves in a gale. “I have nothing more to do with you.”

  “Nothing more? You’re carrying my child, Natalie,” he spits venomously, shaking me like a rag doll. “You belong to me. You’ve always belonged to me. Do you really think you could outrun me?” His smile is an evil grin. “No one escapes me. Not even in that backwater Aspen Glen.”

  My stomach plummets. “How do you—“

  “Oh, please. It was so easy to track your phone. We should always know where our things are, right?”

  I squirm, trying to release his hold. “I’m not a thing. And I’m not yours, or anyone’s. Let me go or I’ll scream.”

  His hold tightens. I wince. Blood stops reaching my fingers.

  “Will you? Are you sure? Because you know I hate a scene, Natalie. I’ve always hated drama. People should solve their problems inside their houses, not in the open. That’s what the cop said, right? The first time you called the cops on me.”

  I swallow the knot in my throat, fear burning my eyes. “You bribed him. You bribed him so he wouldn’t take me seriously.”

  Lars smiles. “It’s so easy. When you have money, you can have anyone in your pocket.”

  “So it was you,” I say, glaring at him. “Following me. Sending the threats.”

  “Of course not. Do you think I have time for this? I paid someone to. Someone to follow you, to find you, to keep an eye on you. As I said, I don’t like losing my things.”

  “Why?” I whimper, a tear escaping down my cheek. “Why do you want me so much? You don’t even like me.”

  He shakes me once. “Because I say that you’re mine, and I hate it when things don’t go the way they should.” He pulls me closer to his body and I stumble. “Now, we’re going to make our way back to my car, calmly. You’re going to smile. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt our kid. I know exactly what to do so I’ll get you to obey without hurting my kid.”

  “Stop!” I protest, my heart hammering wildly against my rib cage. I wish I had Hunter’s strength, his unwavering resolve. My gaze snaps around me, desperately searching for him. “Please!” I struggle, sinking my heels onto the ground.

  Scream, I tell myself, but tears suffocate me, fear stops me from acting. I’m numb. I’ve been beat up too many times and my body doesn’t quite remember how to fight.

  “Yes,” Lars sneers, dragging me closer, his breath hot and putrid on my face. “Struggle. Squirm. Fight all you want. You know I like it better that way. The more you fight, the more I enjoy putting you back in your place.”

  His hand shoots up and time seems to slow. I brace myself, but there’s no escaping this storm. His palm connects with my cheek, an explosion of pain sending me tripping. Lars's hold doesn’t keep me up and I stumble, collapsing as all air leaves me.

  “Get your hands off her!” Hunter’s voice booms through the room, his anger a tangible force. Everything stops. It’s like the room is holding its breath.

  My heart leaps as Hunter rushes towards us, his blue eyes coming alive in this moment of fury.

  “Stay out of this!” Lars spits, but Hunter’s determined gaze remains locked on him, ready to protect me from the darkness even as I lie crumpled on the floor, my cheek stinging, and my heart aching for the safety of his arms.

  Hunter’s strong hands collide with Lars, propelling him away from me. A flash of satisfaction flickers within me, as if a phoenix is rising from the ashes of my fear.

  Lars stumbles, but Hunter keeps up. Hunter’s fists fly, striking Lars again and again, each blow a fierce embodiment of his rage. That dark satisfaction burns and burns inside my chest.

  But adrenaline washes off. People gather around. Someone helps me to my feet.

  And Hunter’s still beating Lars up.

  “Hunter, please!” I cry out, my voice quivering with desperation. “Stop! You’ll kill him!”

  Despite my pleas, Hunter’s anger remains unleashed, a relentless force unwilling to yield. He continues his assault on Lars, even after the man stops fighting back. Lars didn’t put up much of a fight, being much smaller than Hunter, but now his arms are lump noodles to his sides.

  Blood colors Hunter’s knuckles when he brings his hand up again.

  “Hunter!” I cry out again, but my legs are lead and Hunter doesn’t falter. What’s going on? What’s happening?

  The commotion ripples through the room, drawing the attention of security guards who sprint towards the scene. They pull Hunter off Lars and restrain him with brute force. Two are not enough. Four men have to pile up on Hunter.

  “Don’t hurt him!” My heart screams in protest, but there’s nothing I can do. One guard pulls me away, then other people help me into a chair. “Please, let him go!”

 

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