Hunting Her Box Set

“No.” Sarah winces. “No hospital. I’m not going back there.”

“She’s going to be okay.” Hunt sits down on the arm rest, right near her head. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Sebastian nods. “Yell out if you need anything.” He turns to me. “Is there some place private we can talk?”

I keep my gaze on Sarah, taking in every wince and hiss of pain.

“Keira? It’s this way to your bedroom, right?”

He points a hand toward the hall, and I ignore my curiosity at how he knows the intimate details of my house. Nothing surprises me anymore.

“Yeah.”

He leads the way down to the last room on the left, indicating for me to enter first before he closes the door behind us.

I drag my feet to the end of the bed, not willing to face him anymore. I don’t know how to look at him and remain strong at the same time.

“How are you holding up?” he murmurs. “Has shock set in?”

“Is that a trick question?” Maybe I was wrong, maybe I can still be surprised, because he’s not making any sense to me. “You know I’m frantic, Sebastian. And yes, I’m shocked as hell that you’re keeping us here when Cole is on his way.”

He reverts back to the silent treatment.

“Why won’t you run?” I turn to face him, not holding back the frustration in my voice. “Are you waiting for an apology? Is that it? Because I’m sorry. I’m so goddamn sorry I didn’t listen to you. What I did was selfish and stupid, but I didn’t see that at the time. All I wanted was to be able to fight my own battles.”

He focuses his attention on the bed, his gaze wandering over the beaded quilt and the mass of decorative pillows. “That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it?” I start toward him. “Tell me, and I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”

He closes his eyes for long seconds, then huffs out a sigh. “I don’t want you to do anything, precious.”

I stop before him and lean toward his line of vision until he meets my eyes. “What are you going to do when he gets here?”

“Nothing.”

Nothing.

The word shudders through me, bringing an icy chill.

“I can’t stop him, Keira. We both know that.” He bridges the space between us and weaves his hands around my waist. His touch is everything—gentle, smooth, affectionate. “I just want to stay here while I can. No ru

“He’s going to—”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s out of our control.”

“No, it’s not.” I slam my palm against his chest. “You’re giving up, when we could be ru

“Forgives me? Really?” He snickers through a mocking smile. “You’re not very good at this, pumpkin.”

I shove at him. “This isn’t a joke.”

He’s laughing at me. Laughing when so much hangs in the balance of every second that ticks by.

“Why won’t you listen?” I grab his shirt, entangling my fingers in the material to tug, tug, tug some sense into him.

His humor fades, and those eyes turn somber. “Because if my minutes are numbered, I want to spend every second standing here with you… I’d just prefer it without the fighting.”

“No.” I shake my head and thump my fist against his chest. “Please.”

He pulls me close, his arms a vise around me as he presses his lips to my temple. “Just enjoy what we’ve got.”

“I’ll die without you,” I whisper.

“And I’ll die for you. It’s always been that way.” He rocks me back and forth, moving us in a silent dance of farewell. “I love you. Never forget that, okay?”

I cling to him. To the words. To the warmth.

“I won’t let go.” My breathing begins to fracture, each breath getting shorter, sharper, until I’m hyperventilating. “I can’t.”

Tears fall, staining his shirt as I lean into his chest. I hold him with everything I have, and everything I’ll ever be.

He found me. He saved me. He made me whole.

There’s no going back from that.

A thunderous knock at the front door tears a gasp from my throat, and those arms clamp tighter.

“Shh. It’s okay.” He speaks into my hair. “Don’t let go.”

No.

No, no, no.

My limbs shake. I struggle to breathe.

I don’t want this. I can’t live through it.

My door handle turns, the wood inching wide to bring Hunter into view. “Do you want me to let him in?”

Sebastian nods. “Yeah.”

“No.” I vehemently shake my head. “Not yet.”

Hunter winces, ignoring my protest as he disappears down the hall.

“Please, God, no.” I yank at Sebastian’s shirt. “It’s not too late to get out of here.”

“Don’t worry.” He steps back and takes hold of my wrists, his grip gentle. “Nothing is going to happen here. He’ll take me for a ride. That’s when I’ll find a way out. Then I’ll run. Okay?”

He’s lying. I can tell this time.

I see the dishonesty in his eyes.

It’s in the grief-stricken smile.

“You can’t deceive me again. You know once you get in that car there’s no coming back.”

And I’ll never learn the truth. Cole will never tell me what really happened.

“Hey.” He leans close and nuzzles his nose against mine. “Do you know what I’m more certain of?”

I shake my head. I don’t want to hear it. Nothing else matters.

“That you mean the world to me,” he murmurs against my lips. “You’re everything, Keira.”

I squeeze my eyes closed, the heated trail along my cheeks growing wider.

My knees threaten to buckle, and all I do is hold the heartache tight inside my chest.

“Hey. Come on, sugar. It’ll be okay.” He brushes my cheeks, resolute.

I can’t fathom his level of acceptance. I never will.

“It’s time.” He gives me a sad smile, never breaking our gaze. “We’ve got company.”

I shoot a frantic glance to the door and find Cole standing there, his face a mask of harsh lines and barely contained rage.

“Get out of my house,” I demand. “I don’t want you here.”

“Is that any way to greet your brother?” The question is a threat, his words intricately laced with more than disappointment.

“I won’t let you hurt him.”

“I’m unarmed, aren’t I?”

“You are?” I scrutinize him. Up and down.

“Yes. Thanks to Hunt.” He flicks open the sides of his jacket, then does an unenthusiastic turn with his hands out in front of him. “See. No gun.”

I glance back at Sebastian in confusion.

He gives me an unconvincing smile, his eyes speaking of distrust. He’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I need to do the same.

I turn back to my brother and strengthen my shoulders to steel. “You need to let me explain.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Okay… Good.” I nod, my head jerking back and forth as I sniff away the last remnants of tears. “Sebastian has a good reason for what he did. Our father isn’t who we think he is. He’s been trafficking—”

“I know.”

My heart stops. My skin crawls. “You know?”

“Yeah.” He holds my gaze, unrepentant, remorseless. “He offered to cut me in on the action after Richard was admitted to hospital.”

There’s a wealth of heartlessness in his words. Such cold, sterile detachment.

I shake my head, unable to comprehend what I’m hearing. “No.” I place a hand over my mouth, attempting to bottle the effects of his betrayal. “You’ve been helping him? All this time?”

“Of course not,” he snarls. “Jesus. Don’t look at me like that. I said he offered to cut me in, not that I accepted.”

“Why would you keep this from me? We tell each other everything.”