Hunter, page 8
As soon as I’m free from open ears and prying stares, I retrieve my cell from my pocket. There’s a text from Beast, letting me know he’s sending a prospect with a file for me to take a look at. Periodically, he’ll do this, and I know it’s his way of checking up on me. Whereas, I’ll just randomly show up to make sure the fucker is still fighting his demons. I shoot him back a quick reply, grateful his new wife is keeping him too busy to dwell on the past. He deserves to be at peace.
I pull up Diablo’s number. It rings once before his gruff bark comes across the line. “Yeah?”
“You find anything?”
“I did the digging as you requested, it’s taken a while, but I think I found something.”
“Does it involve the aunt?”
“There’re rumors she hires a few low-life scum to take care of the problems she doesn’t want to deal with from time to time. She believes she has the funds to buy their silence, but I hold something greater—their loyalty. The few around here who are familiar with her have admitted to helping make people disappear. Aura’s name didn’t come up, but I wouldn’t put it past her, especially with the price Aura’s head would’ve fetched from her family if they were to find out when she was first taken.”
“One word of her potential worth as heiress to the family’s botanical empire, and every cockroach with a bill to pay would’ve been crawling out of their holes from across the country to get a piece of her. Not only is her aunt a slimy snake, but she’s also an intelligent one, which makes her all the more dangerous. It has to be her... I can feel it in my bones. She’s the only person who’d benefit from her niece disappearing without a trace or a name, for that matter.”
“My thoughts exactly. She needs to be thoroughly questioned. What will you do?”
“It’ll have to wait. I can’t talk about it right now. Aura is surrounded by the rest of her family, so I have to believe they’re capable of keeping her safe as an adult.”
“And if they aren’t? If she’s hurt under their watch?”
“There’s only one true killer in town, and it’s me. They’ll learn as much the hard way, should they push me.”
“It will be their funerals, brother. I’ve got your back, always.”
“Appreciate it and for you passing along the information.”
“No problem. I’ll hit you up if I hear anything else.”
“Sounds good. Later.” I hang up and tuck my phone away.
As I’m stepping toward the bathroom, Aura’s aunt enters the foyer. I quickly duck around the nearest corner, so she misses me. I’m close enough to hear anything going on and also peek around for a visual if needed.
“I told you she was back!” she vehemently whispers toward the man. I’ve never seen him before, but he could be part of the staff. “I thought it was a phony, but one look at her, and there’s not a doubt in my mind she’s my brother’s child. You have to do something. We’ll get nothing if she’s alive. I told you when she was a baby, and you promised to deal with it. All this time I believed she was dead, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that was never the case! I swear I’m surrounded by incompetent idiots.”
His hands go up, attempting to calm the snarling terror of a woman. “I took care of it and gave her away to a skin trader. It wasn’t only her but also three other little bitches. He was selling them all off to some high-scale bidder. How was I supposed to know your niece would show up unharmed?”
“This isn’t good. This can’t be happening. She has to disappear again, and this time for good.”
“What are you saying?” he asks, and she replies bluntly.
“Kill her.”
My hands begin to shake, so I curl them into fists. Now’s not the time to go out half-cocked and declare them guilty. Of course, they are, I just heard them talking, but I need a plan first. Rich people don’t just go down without some sort of a fight. Usually, it’s the opposite, and they twist the trouble around to bring the turmoil to you tenfold.
My heart’s thundering in my chest so loudly it’s hard to hear anything at all for a beat. I breathe deeply, attempting to still my thoughts and slow my pulse. I’ve done this too many times to count, lay and wait for my chance to pounce. Lord, will I ever with these two? I only need the perfect chance to come along.
Pulling my phone out again, I hit the record feature. I’m sure it’s too far away to pick up their voices, but it’s still a shot I don’t plan to waste.
“Grab her tonight. We don’t have any time to waste,” Diana orders, and the guy dips his head in submission, ready to do her dirty work.
“If there’s an opportunity to grab her, I will,” he promises. Little does he know I won’t ever allow it to come to fruition. I’ll get her to safety as soon as they end this secretive meeting of theirs.
“Make one if you have to, I don’t care. Just get it taken care of. This is all your fault. We’d never be in this mess if you’d killed her already.”
“I said I’ll handle it.”
“You better,” she hisses, sounding more serpent than human. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was some vile creature from hell, come to steal the joy from others.
Evil psychotic bitch.
I’m too focused on the pair that I don’t pay my phone any attention. My hand grows sweaty with my nerves and anger, so the cell falls from my grip. I lunge forward, attempting to catch the small rectangle before it lands, but it’s no use. It clamors to the ground with a ‘thwack’ sound, and with it, I glance toward the couple only to realize my hiding spot has been exposed.
The guy rushes at me unexpectedly, hitting my stomach full force. We fall to the floor, him having the upper hand from catching me off guard. I’ve been doing this for far too long, though, and quickly recover enough to climb on top and rain fists below. I bust his face up, blood going everywhere. Once I start, I don’t anticipate stopping with this guy. I was willing to formulate a plan to catch the two in the act of messing with Aura, but I’ll take killing him with my bare hands as an option as well.
“You, stupid boy, you never know when to keep your nose out of other people’s business.” I hear beside me before shocks overtake my body. I can feel where the metal prongs from her taser are latched on to me, but the unit is far too strong for me to fight it completely. All I can do is freeze my muscles up and jolt around on the floor while she pumps enough amps in me to fry my brain and reflexes until tomorrow. Drool spills from my mouth like a weak punk as I continue to shake, then a sharp crack to the back of my head has everything fading to complete blackness around me.
I’m fucked.
Chapter Ten
AURA
HUNTER LEFT WITHOUT me. The thought hits me repeatedly while I stand staring off into space, uncertain of what I should be doing. I can’t believe he’s gone without even a backward glance.
I’ve said hello to so many people and thanked them for coming that it’s turned into an automatic response at this point. If I’ve hurt their feelings or upset them otherwise, I can’t bring myself to care. I don’t know any of them, even if a few do state they knew me as a child. I was a toddler when I went missing, so surely, they can’t expect me to remember any of them. I struggled just thinking of my parents at times on the island, I even cried occasionally because I felt like they were fading from my memory.
“How are you holding up, my sweet girl?” my father asks as he moves to stand beside me.
What would he say if I told him I’m a bit heartbroken, confused, and tired? Mix those three, and I’m the trifecta of an emotional woman searching for where things went wrong when they’ve merely just begun. “I’m fine,” I reply instead, feeling anything but the sort.
I should be happy right now, thrilled even. I’ve been reunited with the loving family I always wondered about. I wasn’t told I’d been kidnapped from my family. My friends always said we ended up lost, and it was their job to look after me. I know I’m going to have to give my parents and the authorities details of my disappearance and the years leading up to now. It doesn’t bother me much, only the possibility of Laura, Luna, and Mary getting in trouble because of everything. They didn’t have anything to do with my disappearance, and I won’t believe otherwise no matter what anyone says differently.
Hunter hasn’t found any new information on them, so he told me to think of them as safe and underground. He’s gone now, though, so it’s hard for me to take whatever he’s said as solid advice. Sure, I want to believe him, but I’m torn because clearly, I’ve been wrong about his character as well. I figured he’d remain with me the entire night, perhaps even a sleepover at my parents’ house tonight. The place is certainly large enough to house a small army should they decide to. It’s too large for me to feel comfortable, and the longer I remain, the more I want to return to Hunter’s place. His is a decent size, too, but not nearly this lavish and untouched.
The welcome-home party my parents have organized for me is in their private ballroom. It sounds ostentatious, but the space is truly wonderful and decorated with lovely, scented flowers. I don’t know if Hunter told them about my adoration for the outdoors, but it’s clear they went to the trouble to incorporate one of my favorite things.
Something tells me they wouldn’t be quite as thrilled or understanding if I told them I’d rather sleep outside in nature than alone under their massive roof. I don’t want to offend them or anything, but a piece of me feels as if I’ve only just met them. Hunter is what I know, who I feel safe and content with even if he did hurt me with his betrayal.
I don’t have a way to reach him. Would he want to hear from me after everything that’s happened? “Do you have a phone I can call Hunter on? As well as his phone number?”
“Who, my dear?” my mother asks, meeting my gaze.
“Hunter,” I begin, and she waves me off.
“Oh, Philip. Yes, of course, we have a phone you can use. Your father will have his number, but don’t bother the boy. He’s done so much for us already.”
He’s a far cry from any boy I’ve ever imagined, but I don’t argue. I don’t want to rock the boat with them already. “Where can I sleep?” I ask instead of demanding she call Hunter and have him come pick me back up like I want. I need to give my family a chance before bolting out of here on a whim.
“Come on, beautiful. I’ll take you to your princess suite.”
I like pink, but something tells me I’m not ready for what she’s about to show me. I follow her up the long staircase and then to the right when she heads in a direction with only two doors. There are massive double doors at the very end and a single door off toward the middle of the hallway. She pauses long enough to open the single door and flick on a light. My curiosity gets the better of me, and I peek my head in without being invited. I draw in a stunned breath at what I discover—white and light blush everywhere. It’s so stunning it brings tears to my eyes. “This is mine?”
She nods, her gaze growing watery as well. “Yes, this was your room as an infant and toddler. The doors at the end of the hall were always meant for you as well, but you never got to use them.” Tears break free, trailing over her cheeks. She pulls me in for a hug on a burst of emotion, and I wind my arms around her tightly. This is the welcome I was hoping for, not the big party downstairs where I felt on display for everyone I don’t ever remember meeting.
“It’s so... so peaceful,” I say, trying to think of the right word to describe it properly. “I thought I’d remembered it, but it must’ve been another room, perhaps.” My stare flicks over the warm twinkle lights, the fluffy ivory ottoman-style chairs, and a small princess bed. There’s a golden crown and sheer, filmy fabric at the top as well, making it feel straight out of a fairy tale.
The skin around her eyes crinkles as she tilts her head and asks, “What room do you recall?”
“I remember being in a giant bed, laying between you and father as he read me stories.”
Her hand goes to cover her mouth as sobs begin to rip free. I pull her to me again, not sure why she’s so upset or what to do to stop it. Was it a bad memory? It’s always been a favorite of mine. I hold her while her shoulders shake, not sure how else to comfort her. I feel for her, I really do, but what did I say?
Eventually, she pulls back, her palms moving to warm my cheeks as she meets my gaze. “I can’t believe you remember your father reading. He made sure to tell you a new story every night before you went to sleep. You were so insistent after a while, you refused to sleep until you heard one. At some point when he was on business, he’d read to you over the phone.” She offers a kind smile. “I thought you’d forget.”
I shake my head. “Never.” It also explains why Mary told me stories so much. I probably drove her crazy as a child.
She releases me, leaving the door and light on in my old bedroom to head for the end of the hallway. “I hope you love this space but feel free to do whatever you want with it. This is your home, and you’re welcome to change anything.” She offers an excited smile as she opens both doors, and the light comes on automatically.
I follow her inside, my mouth gaping at the magnificent features. The ceiling alone is remarkable. It’s filled with unique tiles and gold trim. In the middle is a massive mural filled with angels and flowers. There are so many different kinds—roses, chrysanthemums, orchids, lilies, hydrangea—too many varieties for me to process at once. “Wow, this is stunning.” My gaze falls to the rest of the space, and I find myself wondering what Hunter would look like in here. His presence is consuming, so much so I bet it’d feel remarkably smaller in here with him inside.
“I’m glad you like it. I put a lot of thought into it over the years. If you ever made your way home back to us, I wanted to make sure you had something nice waiting for you.”
“I lived in a place made from trees and brush. The floor was dirt.” I don’t know why I share as much with her, perhaps to set her at ease. I never minded living on the island—for me, it was almost all I knew. I’m sure it was hard at first, but I was a toddler. I didn’t have any choice but to adapt and overcome any obstacle we faced. I’m grateful to Laura, Luna, and Mary for all they’ve done for me. “I didn’t know this is where I truly came from. I believed most of my memories I’d made up at some point or embellished them.”
My mother shakes her head. “No, you’re the heir to our botanical company.”
“Do you mean flowers or something different?”
“Flowers, yes. The many blooms downstairs today came from one of our several farms. We have all types from upscale boutiques to well-known chain stores selling our products. Of course, it’s not only flowers, but we also sell a variety of products for them as well. Your father has become quite famous for his eye for quality. Over the years, your father not only grew the empire, but he also trades stocks and such. He’s made us very wealthy, and it’s all yours as well.”
“I didn’t work for this.”
“No, but we did it to offer our family a good life. We want to share it with you.”
I offer her a kind smile. She has a good heart and is genuine—I can read it on her easily. Earlier at the party, she and my father seemed so different, maybe they were acting a certain way because of all the people around us, but I could be wrong. “What about my aunt?”
Her lips briefly tip downward. She sighs and glances me over. She carefully takes my hand and pulls me toward my bed with a lace paisley coverlet that’s more delicate than anything I’ve ever owned. I’m supposed to sleep with it, which both excites and terrifies me. “Diana is your father’s sister. She’s always been jealous, I suppose. It became more pronounced when you were born, but she changed once you were kidnapped. She’s stepped up and hired many private investigators to try to find you for us.”
“And Hunter?”
She grins. “Always back to him... I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s been stuck to your side since you were born. He was your own little soldier, always looking out for you when you were tiny. We thought it fate, you and he intertwined throughout your lives, and perhaps it’d blossom into something more. Unfortunately, when you disappeared, those hopes and dreams went along with your absence. I couldn’t cope day to day for many years. My friendship with his mother suffered terribly. His father, Henry, and yours are still good friends, though.”
“He’s a decent guy, though?” I want her to confirm. I already know what I think of him, but I need to hear it come from my mother as well. I have to learn to re-trust my instincts, but Hunter has thrown me all off track with him leaving abruptly and withholding important information.
“He’s had his hand in a bit of trouble from time to time. He’s toed the line between good and evil. Overall, however, yes, I’d say that young man is good. His heart is pure, and in the end, that’s where it truly matters the most with love.”
I dip my head, silently agreeing with her. Talking about him only makes me miss him more and wonder all over again what I did to make him leave so suddenly. Men are confusing, I’m learning as much already.
My mother lets the subject drop for now, going back to the latter. “Speaking of your aunt. She has a room here, or rather, a wing. She comes and goes as she pleases, so don’t be surprised if you see her around. She may be moody at times, but she’s harmless overall. Don’t let her push you around if she should try. Stand up for yourself, and she’ll back off. I had to do the same many years ago when I started dating your father.”
“What general direction is hers in so I can stay far out of her way?”
“Hmm.” She shakes her head. “You’re our main priority. Don’t worry for a minute about being in her way, you go wherever you desire. The world is at your fingertips, and we’ll do whatever we can to make sure your happiness is at the forefront. We want you to succeed and live a fulfilled life.”
