Hunter, page 4
Does this mean that my mother and father are still alive? Not that I could ever find them, I haven’t the faintest idea on where to even begin. Hunter is my best bet where finding and meeting people are concerned. He seems to be good at discovering information on just about anything. He’s been nothing but kind and patient with me since I’ve been here, and I wish there were a way to show him how grateful I truly am for his help. I try to stay out of his way and not bother him often for anything. I feel guilty enough that I’m here using his things and eating his food without earning my keep. He doesn’t seem to mind, but I’m used to working for everything. Nothing came easy on the island, and I don’t expect it to be simple here either.
Living with him is another situation entirely. I’ve never shared a home with a man other than my father. Even then, I was far too young to recall much from our time aside from some sweet memories I cherish. Hunter is different—anytime I catch a glimpse of him with his shirt off, I have to take a moment to myself to get my bearings right once more.
I’ve had to fight myself every night from going to his room and crawling into his bed beside him. I’m not used to sleeping alone since we all snuggled together for warmth. The lack of skin-on-skin contact and the shared space have left me feeling lonely and a bit melancholy from time to time. I’m sure there’s more to it since I find myself drawn to him more with each day. Now I’m struck with the new problem of wondering about my old life and what will happen in my future.
Before Hunter, my life was laid out quite simply. I knew I had to get up, do my chores, and worry about what the weather would bring. Now there’s an endless array of possibilities and questions constantly filling my mind. ‘What if’ and ‘why have’ become the two main questions at the forefront of my mind. Rather than allowing myself to get upset over something I can’t control, I do what brings me joy and lose myself amongst the roses.
HUNTER
HEADING OUTSIDE, I immediately search the area for Aura. She’s been in my space for a while now, and I’ve grown used to her presence. I’m confident I’ve discovered who she is as well, but I’ve held back from telling her right away. I like her being here in my space, and I’m not ready to see her whisked away without a backward glance. It’s selfish of me, but I’m keeping her safe. I won’t hide the information I found from her forever. Just a little bit longer.
“I’m beginning to think you enjoy those rose bushes’ company more than you do mine,” I shamelessly flirt without coming on too strong. I want her to know I’m interested but not make her feel uncomfortable or pressured.
She offers a bright smile, one I’ve begun to look for more with each day. She’s been coming out of her shell slowly but surely, and so far, I’ve adored every single layer of her personality she’s shared with me.
Firing up the grill, I move to sit at the small iron table and wait for the burners to heat up. Aura joins me, sitting in the chair nearest me. I’m glad she’s grown comfortable enough to be around me, and she no longer hesitates as she did in the beginning. I can feel her watching me and can’t help but wonder what she thinks when she looks at me. Do I scare her like I have some in the past? I’m not exactly clean-cut—I’m more on the long-haired, scruffy-faced biker type. I rock my cut, leather jacket, jeans, and chains on the regular.
She hasn’t asked me for a single thing since she’s arrived and, in my opinion, it makes her all the more fascinating. I find myself aching to know every minuscule detail about her. My internet searches brought back details of her parents and their lives, but it’s almost as if Aura was a ghost from a toddler on up. I should know since I watched her story unfold right from the beginning. She was reported missing, and all leads went cold on her whereabouts almost immediately. It’s one aspect of her case that’s always raised red flags for me.
Considering who her parents are, several red flags are popping up all over the place for me when I try to find out more details. Something about it all just doesn’t add up. Not in the slightest, and I’m not ready for reality to come crashing down on our little bubble we’ve created. I can’t believe, after all these years and being so close to the story, I didn’t think of it sooner. Perhaps my nearness is what had me blinded to the possibility, but it could’ve been an inside job. I don’t want to think that was the cause of her disappearance, but the more time I spend with her and re-reading the details of her case, the more it begins to make more sense.
“Why do you have shields tattooed on the tops of your hands?” she eventually asks. She’s good with silence and just taking everything in, but she does have a curious side to her as well. I’m chalking it up to her being stuck on that godforsaken island for who knows how fucking long.
I hold my fists toward her and let out a chuckle, jokingly saying, “They’re my virtue shields, I suppose.” Yes, I’ve nicknamed my fists. Any man who deals in pain for a living has to, I guarantee it.
She offers me a sweet smile, not realizing that I use my fists as a means of protection and income. I defend myself when necessary, and due to my job, that’s often. I can’t help but wonder if she’d be terrified if she knew the type of man I am away from her. Would she run away, thinking I’m a monster of a man? She’s naïve and tender-hearted and may not be able to handle the type of life I lead. I’m not ready to give her up just yet, not before I figure out what it is that draws me to her.
“And the others?” She gestures to the tattoos on my arms, and I flex, making her eyes grow wide. No doubt, she’s been sheltered. I won’t lie to myself and pretend that the way I affect her doesn’t entice me further. She’s everything any man would dream of having, myself included.
“Aura, my beautiful rose, your curiosity is my undoing,” I admit with a grin and wrap her hand in mine. “Touch the one you want to know about.” I bring her hand to my bicep, wanting, no, needing to feel her caress against my flesh. From the moment she parted her lids and gazed at me with those enrapturing irises, I knew I wanted her hands all over me. I’d never force her, but I can’t help but dream of the day she reaches for me on her own, and I can bend her over to fuck her until she can’t walk straight.
“This one.” She lightly trails her fingertips over my inked timepiece and crown. Goosebumps pepper my skin as tingles begin in my cock. I’m going insane for this woman. It’s become a chore not to walk around with a stiff dick twenty-four hours a day. “It’s dark yet enchanting,” she murmurs, drawing my gaze to her lips. They’re perfect to take a cock. Fuck. I have to stop imagining her like this.
“Mmm, you should hear what my mother says about them. I was her crown prince at one time before I pulled up with ink on my flesh and a motorcycle between my thighs.”
Her laughter tinkles over me, making my chest warm and feel tight at the sound. “Where did you learn to sing?” I change the subject to her, wanting to know anything I possibly can about the young woman I discovered unconscious in the woods. I heard her singing yesterday when she showered, then again, softly as she smelled every flower she could find in the yard. Contrary to what people say about shower singers, hers was a sound I couldn’t get enough of.
“It was quiet where I grew up, and my friend often sang to me. It was something I picked up from her, I suppose.”
“Your friend?”
“Yes, it came back to me this morning when I woke up. The three women I mentioned to you about being fuzzy, well, they were my friends. I lived with them.”
“Any other memories surface?” I ask as guilt clouds its way into my gut. I should tell her about the family she has waiting for her nearby. I’m a selfish bastard for keeping what I know to myself. I promised I wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her, and right now, I have a sinking suspicion her family would be the first to blame.
She shakes her head. “Not yet, but I’m hopeful now. Did you see anyone else when you found me? There had to be others somewhere.”
“No, but there were definitely more tracks. I picked up multiple sizes, so they belonged to different people.”
“They must’ve been looking for me,” she reasons as her features grow worried. “I hope they were, and nothing bad happened to them.”
I cast her a tender gaze, wanting to set her mind at ease. “I don’t think that was the case. A lot was happening on that island when my brothers and I were there. You looked like you’d been left alone for some time.”
“But they loved me, I can feel it inside.” She rests her hand over her heart, and the protector in me wants to make her forget about them completely.
“I believe you, and if you say one thing, then that’s what we’ll go on.” I’m the last person who wants to break her heart and cause her pain. Everything I’ve been doing thus far has been to help and heal her.
“Do you think they left the island? Without me?”
Abandoned.
It’s a viable prospect.
I shrug. “It’s possible they escaped when everything was happening. It would’ve been chaos for them, I’m sure.” I don’t think they’d have gotten away without anyone noticing, but if they were able to stay on that island undetected for so long, anything’s a possibility at this point. Clearly, everyone underestimated these women for them to survive off the land for so long as children.
I’ll have to give the clubs a call sometime after Aura is asleep to find out if they’ve heard of anything more to do with that godforsaken island. “I’ll see if I can find out more details. What can you remember about them? Were they older than you? Anything special about these people you have a feeling about?”
“They were older, but I don’t know by how much. Laura was the oldest, and she always told me it was her job to keep me hidden and safe. She taught me what it means to be a woman and to be kind and helpful. Luna taught me all the songs she knew and helped me learn how to sing them. Mary made up the best stories. I fell asleep many times, listening to her talk with my head on her lap. I miss them.”
I squeeze her hand, bringing it to my lips. I offer a kiss to her knuckles and promise, “I’ll see if I can find them.” At least I have more names to go on. I’ll have to add them to Aura’s and her parents to see if it brings up more leads. I have a feeling I know who they may be, but it’s a long shot all of them would’ve survived together like she’s saying.
It’s hard to believe a wealthy, semi-famous botanical princess just disappears in thin air, and no one knows a thing. I’ve always suspected something was wrong with her case, no matter what everyone else claimed. I’m not buying it, and the detectives back then shouldn’t have either. If they knew it was foul play and hid evidence, the brothers and I should pay them a little visit. Perhaps jog their memories with some persuasive techniques I like to use on people who cross me the wrong way and piss me the fuck off.
Could the three friends she’s mentioned truly have been protecting her, or were they hiding out and made it seem like something else to Aura? There were despicable things happening on that island, and the three friends could’ve fled from there and taken Aura with them at any time. She’d have been tiny if she recalls being with them for so long. It’d have been difficult, but I suppose they could’ve pulled it off. How they were never discovered is another story entirely, one I’m far too adamant to learn about.
“The grill is on fire.” She points out calmly.
“Oh shit.” I jump to my feet and rush over. It’s enough to distract me from my train of thought, and I let the subject go for now. I quickly get the grill under control and concentrate on making our dinner. I can’t have my beauty starving—she already needs to put some meat on her bones.
MY CELL PINGS AS A text comes through. It’s late, another sleepless night filled with me tossing and turning. I can’t seem to put my mind to rest with Aura in the house. My body craves hers something fierce, and it’s taken everything in me not to act on my desires. Grabbing the device, I light up my screen and check the message. It’s from Radge, and he needs my help with some mafia capos. It’ll be bloody, but with everything else going on, it sounds like it’s exactly what I need right now. I’ll be able to take out my frustration on some fuckers giving him issues, so we’ll both benefit from me heading his way.
I have Aura to worry about, though. Will she be able to stay alone? It appears she was on that damn island for years, but she wasn’t completely alone. She’s stronger than she first appeared, though, and besides, I shouldn’t care so much. Why do I anyway? What’s this weird hold she’s had over me since the moment I had her in my arms? I’m too close to her case, too invested in the possible outcome.
It must be because I know who she is and haven’t said anything to her. It has to be. I’m living with guilt weighing on my conscience, and I don’t like it. Usually, I can effortlessly brush things off and move forward without a backward glance, but it doesn’t feel right with her. There’s also this drive inside me to dirty her up a bit, to show her what it’s like to be with a man like me. Could she handle it? I’m not an easy guy, especially when it comes to fucking. I fuck hard and rough, and the last thing I want is to hurt her.
With a sigh, I move out of bed and cross to my closet. I begin tossing shit I’ll need in a backpack. There’s no way my thoughts will allow me to have any rest tonight. I shoot a text to my brothers, telling them to meet me at my house. I’ll brief them on this next run, then by the time we’re done discussing it and eat, we’ll make it to Radge in plenty of time.
Let’s hope Aura’s okay with being left alone and waking to an empty house because she won’t have much choice. I’m not letting her out of my possession just yet.
Chapter Six
AURA
WAKING UP TO AN EMPTY house, there’s an extra stillness to the air that’s not normally here when Hunter’s home. There’s always some sort of small sound in the background, like the coffee maker or his music in the garage while he’s detailing his motorcycle. I’ll admit it’s a bit overwhelming as I’m not used to being completely alone. I still take time to search through the house one room at a time, knowing they’ll be empty before I ever enter the room. The sun’s high, letting me know I slept much later than usual, and it’s probably afternoon. I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve been restless sleeping alone. It’s already strange enough getting used to the bed and the quiet as I’m used to the sounds of bugs and birds and other creatures of the night.
His bedroom is where I spend most of my time looking around. I can’t help myself as it gives me a small glimpse into the man himself. There’s not much in here. His clothes are neatly folded in his drawers with the thicker items hanging in his closet. I pick random garments and inhale deeply, hoping to catch a hint of his scent. It’s useless as they all smell like the overly perfumed detergent he keeps in the laundry room. I don’t want to smell fake scents, I want his.
Moving along in my perusal, I take note of the books on his nightstand. I have no idea what the titles say, but I’m sure they’re full of action. Would it be weird if I laid in his bed? Rather than dwell on the heavy question, I let myself lay down in his spot. I know it belongs to him because the indention in the pillow gives him away.
Turning on my side, I press my face into the soft black material and breathe deeply. I’m hit with the scent I’ve grown to associate as Hunter’s. The smell is outdoorsy yet clean. It’s entirely his own, and I find myself not wanting to move. This is exactly what I was searching for. I know I can’t stay here forever, so I stand, and with a final glance toward his spot, I head for the door.
Eventually, I discover a note with small scratchy writing that I assume belongs to Hunter. I’m grateful he attempted to let me know where he was going, if only I knew how to read. He could leave notes all over the place, but none of it would do me any good. Rather than allow myself to freak out, I decide to head to the one place that gives me peace—the outdoors. The house is completely locked up, and much to my surprise, a shrill alarm alerts the moment I open the door leading out to the back patio.
The piercing sound scares me badly enough I want to fall to my knees, curl up in a small ball, and wait for it to stop. I begin to do just that, but the noise never wavers. With the door wide open, I do the one thing I can to stop the chaotic noise. I run. My feet pound against the dense forest floor, and with each step, the haze clouding my vision eases.
After a while, I stop. I’m far enough away to hear the annoying alert, but not for it to frazzle me like before. Unsure of what to do next, I lean back against a huge tree, tuck my legs into the oversized shirt, and wait. Hunter will come for me eventually.
HUNTER
“FUCK!” I HISS AS THE text alert comes through, letting me know my house alarm has been activated. There’s no way for me to contact Aura. I haven’t gotten another cell for her nor showed her how to use one.
My cell rings as the alarm company calls. “Yeah?”
“Sir, we’ve had an alert coming from your home. Do I need to send assistance?”
“Tell me which sensor?” I have a very elaborate system, and this guy should be able to tell me details.
“Your passcode, sir?”
“0990.”
“Thank you for confirming. The alert seems to be the back door. Shall I send the police?”
“No. I’ll handle it.”
“Do you want me to shut the alert off inside the home?”
“No. If someone has entered unwelcome, I want them to feel the pressure of the noise and lights.”
“All right. Please let us know if we can be of assistance.”
I hastily hang up, shoving my cell in my cut’s pocket, and take off in the direction of my house. I wasn’t too far away, having stopped to fill up with gas before saying goodbye to my brothers after our last job for Radge. It was a quick, bloody trip, but satisfying, nonetheless. My thoughts drown out the roar from my pipes as I press the bike’s engine harder to get back to Aura. If anyone came for her while I was gone, I’ll bleed them out.
