Hunter, page 10
She couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ll figure something out to warn Aura, even if I have to die trying.
Chapter Twelve
AURA
“HMM.” THE WOMAN TAKING my measurements makes the distinctive sound again for the third time. I’m ready to demand she tell me exactly what it means, but with my mother beside me, smiling pleasantly, it’s held me back from voicing my frustrations with this entire process.
“I don’t need anything tailored. I can try something on and be fine with whatever we find,” I murmur, not wanting anyone to go out of their way. Clothes are only meant to help shield you from the weather, nothing more. My mother insisted I needed my items tailored, but I had no clue what it even meant until she elaborated, and it made me feel foolish for asking.
“With these hips, you’ll have to be measured, or nothing will fit properly,” the woman insists, and I flash a frustrated glance at my mother. I’m pretty sure her comment was rude, but I don’t know what to say in response.
She smiles warmly. “Take it as a compliment, my dear. Women are paying small fortunes to have your shape.”
“Then why aren’t there clothes already made that’ll fit me?”
“Because you’re blessed with these attributes, and unfortunately, most of us aren’t. You have the waist of an eight, along with hips and behind of a fourteen. Philip was smart getting you a stretchy fabric for your evening gown as it encased all your gorgeous curves perfectly. I’m also not surprised he followed you around for most of the night, glowering at every man who glanced in your direction.”
“Mm-hmm,” the tailor nods, poking me in random places. “You’ve never had implants? For certain, I thought you had them in your behind.”
My mother gasps. “Matilda, how dare you ask my daughter such a question. Of course, she’s natural, and she’s beautiful the way she is. Anyone claiming differently is doing it purely out of jealousy, and you’re not to believe a word they spew.”
Matilda shrugs the reprimand off. “I see them so frequently now, it’s not as uncommon as you think. You weren’t fibbing about many women paying for them to look like Aura.”
I’m so lost with this conversation, and I have no idea how to respond. Rather, my thoughts snag on what she’s mentioned about Hunter. “I didn’t notice Hunter glaring at any men around us at the party,” I point out, and my mother laughs.
“Trust me, he was making it loud and clear for anyone of the male anatomy to keep their distance. Why does he have you calling him Hunter? You shouldn’t pay any mind to those silly nicknames. The boy has a respectable name and should use it, especially in public.”
“Have you or my father heard from him?”
My mom flashes a glance at the tailor, probably judging how much she’s invested eavesdropping in on my question. My mother warned me we couldn’t discuss some things in public, but she never told me what exactly those touchy items were.
“Can I borrow your phone? I’d like to speak to him, please.”
“Certainly, but keep it brief, my dear,” she replies, her tone laced with warning. I’ve barely been home for two days, and I’ve already begun to figure my mother out. I wish I could say the same for my father, but so far, he’s kept his distance. Tonight’s supposed to be different, though. My mother promises he’ll be around for dinner this evening. Hence, the shopping trip—I had nothing suitable to wear, according to her.
She holds the device out to me, and I stare at it. I learned how to use the phone at the house, but this one is completely different, and I haven’t the faintest clue where to start with it. “Would you mind?” I ask, gesturing to the phone.
My lack of use registers in her gaze, and she nods, offering me a soft look. I don’t know what exactly it means, but I have a feeling she feels sorry for me. The last thing I want is anyone’s pity. I wasn’t traumatized while I was away, simply living a different type of life. I wish everyone understood as much. I like to believe Hunter gets it—he’s never once looked at me like I was lacking anything. He respects me, and in return, I offer him the same.
My mother fusses with her fancy phone for a minute or so, then hands it over. I place the receiver to my ear and listen as it rings. Eventually, his voice message comes on. I got the same recording last time, and it makes me frown. I don’t know what I should think or how I feel about him cutting off all contact with me. It’s not like Hunter. He would’ve gone ballistic if I’d lost touch with him somehow, and now he completely goes cold toward me? I’m not buying it one bit.
“What is it? Did you not reach him?” she asks as I hand the phone over.
I shake my head, my frown turning severe. “It doesn’t seem right.”
“Maybe he needs some space. It’s common for men, especially his age.”
“No,” I argue. “I may have just come home, but I’ve been with him long enough to know this isn’t normal. Something isn’t right. I can feel it here.” I place my palm against my abdomen.
My stomach keeps twisting and turning. I thought it was nerves for this shopping trip, but it can’t be the case. I never denied my senses on the island, and now I find myself doing exactly that here. Haven’t I learned by now it’s what obviously kept me alive and well for so long? I was running from something. I still can’t remember what before I got sick and nearly died. If I hadn’t been on the move, I know I would’ve still been fine.
With a jerky nod, she keeps her phone out. “All right, I trust your instinct.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m calling your father and letting him know we need the location of your young man.”
I sigh with relief. “Thank you.”
“It’s what mothers do,” she reasons and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. It fell from my braid when we were outside, and the wind blew it around. I eagerly watch her while she speaks to my father, eavesdropping as much as possible. She hangs up and nods. “It’s taken care of. Now please pick out some fabrics and styles you like.”
With a shaky smile, I give in and gesture to random items. I pick multiple shades of pinks and blues, as they’ve always been my favorite colors. I don’t know how I know as much, but I just do. I select a rich chocolate leather jacket as well as an ebony-colored one, thinking Hunter may like me in them. My mother helps me with matching boots and grabs several short and tall pairs, along with some stretchy jeans the tailor swears will fit me.
By the time we’re finished, the bags have been packed up and set off to the side. The store will deliver them along with a few rush items my mother’s having altered for me today. I don’t know what the hurry is since I don’t have anywhere to go or anything to do. I took the jeans and short booties to wear for dinner tonight. I was too excited to have them immediately to leave them for delivery.
I wish Hunter would come back and take me with him, even for a short time, but I don’t think it’ll happen. I fondly caress the black leather of the jacket I picked out, and I can’t get over how smooth the texture is. I wore it out of the store just in case Hunter miraculously shows up. I want to see his reaction to me having something similar to his. I’ve daydreamed about riding his motorcycle with him before, and the thoughts come to me now as well. The soft leather jacket would be perfect for a ride in the wind.
“Get your head out of the clouds, Aura,” my mother teases, wearing a knowing smile. “Go put your new clothes on, and then meet me in the kitchen so I can see how they look.”
“Okay.” I offer a grin and jog up the stairs toward my room. I take the time needed to properly freshen up, releasing my messy hair to re-braid the long strands. I do it twice, weaving the hair until I eventually get it styled how I want it. Finding a plain t-shirt in my closet meant for sleeping, I decide to pair it with my outfit. It’s not as fancy as my parents prefer to dress, but it’s okay. This style seems to fit me, and I’m happy to have found something.
Glancing in the mirror, I take in the new items from top to bottom. My casual shirt fits a touch snugly around my breasts the way I like, so I tuck in the looser bottom into the back of my jeans. With a stylish leather jacket on top, jeans hugging my hips like a second skin, and the cute black leather booties to finish it off, I’m pleasantly surprised. I didn’t think much of clothes before, but this outfit suits me. I love it enough to know it’s a favorite for now and in the future. My hair back with wisps framing my face, cheeks flushed, and lip gloss finish off my new look.
I quietly make my way down the stairs, stuck in my head over Hunter. I shouldn’t care as much as I do, but I can’t seem to stop and turn the thoughts off. Where is he anyway? He should’ve contacted me by now. I wish I knew how to get ahold of some of his friends. I have a feeling they’d know how to reach him.
I nearly run smack into my aunt. “Oh! Diana. Your startled me.”
Her lips quirk into a smile. Her expression’s not friendly in the slightest, but it never is. She radiates hostility, and it sends my nerves on edge. She’s the one person Hunter told me to watch out for, and as much as I don’t want to heed his warning, I will. He’s always kept me safe, so I’ll take his word where she’s concerned.
“Well, look at you.” Her gaze rakes over me. “Someone’s been playing dress-up with their daddy’s credit card. How convenient.”
My mouth pops open, unsure of how to respond. She almost seems angry about me wearing new clothes. It’s not like I was out spending until I drained my family’s bank accounts. I was simply getting clothes since I don’t have many. Or any, really. I wore Hunter’s while I stayed with him, and since I’ve been here, I’ve worn what was in my closet from my mother.
“Thank you for noticing. Diana, is it?” I ask, although I know exactly who she is. I drop the aunt title in a tiny defiant form of disrespect. I’m not outright rude like she is—I’ve never been that way before. My friends never spoke to me with such bitterness, so I never did in return either.
“Yes, I’m your aunt. From your father’s side, of course. The smart genes run on our side of the family.”
“I don’t care for what you’re implying.” I stand to my full height, meeting her stare head-on.
“Good thing your thoughts and opinions aren’t relevant to me then.” She shrugs and walks off without another word.
I’m scowling by the time I make it to the kitchen.
“Not a fan of the fit?” my mother asks as soon as she reads my expression.
I drop the irritation and offer up a small smile. I need to be grateful she spent the day with me getting me what I needed. “I love them, thank you. It’s quite generous of you and father. I hope I’m not imposing.”
Her smile screws up into confusion. “What are you talking about? Of course, you’re not imposing, you belong here. This is your home, and we want you here and love you.”
“It’s just with Father and now Diana—”
She cuts me off. “Your father will be at dinner, he promised me already. He was taking care of the media, security, and catching his breath after finally having his little girl back where she belongs. He was overwhelmed. When he last saw you, you came up to his thigh, and now you’re this beautiful lady. As for Diana, well, you’ll learn to ignore her ugliness. She may have flawless skin and a slight frame, but karma will catch up with her eventually. She’s been extra testy lately. Don’t pay her any mind, and it’ll settle itself. You’ll see.”
“What’s this I hear? Problems so soon?” my father asks, entering the kitchen. He takes me in, offers me a wide smile, and pulls me in for a hug. He holds me for a beat, then two and three. Long enough to make me choke up with emotion. I’ve wanted him to hug me and hold me like this from the moment Hunter contacted him.
“It’s nothing. I’m grateful to be here, and for the generosity you’ve both shown me.”
“What’s mine is yours. You’ll learn as much. As for Diana, she has mood spells. Give her a little time. If she doesn’t warm to you, I’ll ask her to stay in her city apartment.”
“I don’t want to put her out any. I’m sure it’ll get better,” I state without much conviction. It’s hard to be positive about someone who acts the way she does.
My mother’s brow pops up, reading my uncertainty. “No, don’t worry about her. She’s an adult with a pampered life, and you’ve been surviving in the wild.”
I clear my throat. “Ugh, it wasn’t exactly like that—”
“Nonsense,” my father cuts me off. “Your mother is right. We’re here for you, and we have been from the day you were born.” He winks, and it makes me smile. I forgot he used to wink at me when we were up to something. Usually, it came with promises of ice cream. I don’t know how I even remember as much, but I do.
“Does this mean you have ice cream waiting for me too?”
His mouth drops, surprise overcoming him. He booms out a laugh and tugs me toward the refrigerator. “I can’t believe you remember,” he admits when my mom moves to sit at the table away from us.
“Of course. I never forgot you, either of you,” I embellish, sending a glance in my mom’s direction.
He hugs me to his side and opens the freezer. “Let’s find the good stuff. I know the cook keeps our favorites.”
“Mine too?” I ask, shocked to my core. I don’t remember what it is, so I’ll have to pretend I do.
My mom calls from the table, “Your father stopped eating his favorite. He always has a pint in the freezer, but he goes for yours instead.”
I meet his gaze. It’s watery, but I let it pass without acknowledgment. My parents love me, and they’ve never stopped. If I doubted as much before, I don’t anymore. It’s in all the little things I’ve noticed since coming here to my home. They never stopped believing I was out there somewhere, and it fills my heart full of love. Having them in my life now far outweighs the negativity coming from Diana. I can deal with her if it means I have my parents around to cushion her blows.
Chapter Thirteen
HUNTER
“I OVERHEARD STEVEN’S conversation this morning. My niece is searching for three friends she had on the island with her. We need to find them before she does. I don’t want anyone else miraculously showing up and causing any more problems. The biker was enough,” Diana gripes at her partner. I still haven’t figured his name out. She doesn’t seem to respect him to call him anything at all. She merely complains and barks orders his way every chance she gets.
“What do you know about them?”
“Only their names. Laura, Luna, and Mary. They sound familiar, but I can’t place them. Were they the caretaker’s daughters? I recall you saying Aura was with other little girls when you took her, but I was under the impression they were toddlers.”
He shakes his head. “No, there were three girls playing and looking after Aura when I had the opportunity to snatch her, but they weren’t toddlers. I took them all and sold them to the same man. They were old enough to recognize and point me out... I’d say about ten years old or so. I don’t know enough about kids to say for sure.”
“How on earth did you get them all to go with you? Kids are wretched little beasts, especially when they’re young.”
“Gave them some of the drugs I’d brought for Aura. They were too stupid to say no to free candy, especially since I work for the estate.”
“You work for me,” Diana clarifies.
“I care for you,” he states in return.
She ignores him completely, turning on the large computer screen against the far wall. She begins searching through employee records until she finds a particular woman. She searches her name next, and sure enough, the images of three little girls pop up. They were eight, ten, and twelve when taken on the same occurrence as Aura.
How could I have not known they were the daughter of another employee here? Was I too young and headstrong to only focus on Aura and not anyone else? I suppose I was blinded by her beauty and significance to me to notice anything else when it all happened. I was immature and too inexperienced to know where to start in a kidnapping case. Her disappearance is what spurred me on to become a bounty hunter. Though, endless searches leading nowhere with her had me picking up cases in the areas I thought she may have ended up in. It turns out they were all dead ends, and she’d been off the grid for so long, no one would’ve recognized her if they saw her.
She randomly blurts out, “Can you believe my niece had the audacity to ask if I’d seen the biker?” She gestures in my direction. “Wanted to know if I’d spoken to him again before he’d left. She’s so entitled it makes me sick.”
I call out, “I told you! She’s not the only one looking for me either, I guaran-damn-tee it. You’re going to get caught, and the pain will be real unless you let me go and escape. You’re running out of time, my brothers are coming for me, and they’ll want blood.”
Her lackey screams, “Shut up!” He rushes me, delivering a swift kick to my head.
I struggle to remain coherent.
As I’m fading out of consciousness, I hear Diana murmur, “Not long now, indeed. We haven’t given him any water or anything, so he’ll lose his fight soon enough. Before long, he’ll become delirious and not know up from down.”
AURA
TEARS FILL MY EYES as I think about Hunter. Something’s wrong. Not only do I feel it in my stomach, but my heart has been hurting since last night. When I told my mother, she insisted I see her physician, but the doctor only came back to say it was my intuition, and I should follow it. I don’t know how the doctor knew what I needed to hear, but I’m grateful for her advice.
I glance at the guy sitting in the back of the car with me as I anxiously wait. My father finally took my requests seriously and got his driver to bring me to Hunter’s place. The catch being is that I had to bring one of his security men along with me in case Hunter truly is in some sort of danger. The guy kind of gives me hostile vibes, but I’m chalking it up to not being around many men in my lifetime. I spent most of my years with three women, so it’s strange, but I’m beginning to adjust. Being with Hunter was a good chance for me to see how men can be and not to fear them.
