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Decker grins. “Is it weird that I’m a little turned on right now?”
Hunter glares at me, obviously not appreciating his friend’s enthusiasm. “Congratulations.” He leans back in his chair and gives a slow clap. “And how much time did you spend pla
Asshole.
Trust him to cut right to the only flaw in this plan. “I know what I’m doing, Hunter. And I already have a story straight in my head. A real one. The truth. I’ll tell him exactly what happened. The only thing I have to add is the few seconds where Dan told me the name.”
He continues to eye me, his focus bordering on a glower.
“Look,” I plead. “This isn’t new to me, and it sure as hell doesn’t daunt me. I’ve wanted this for too damn long not to be enthusiastic to get it done.”
“Then tell us your story.” He spreads his arms wide. “Why were you with Dan that night?”
“To make him stop assaulting women. He’d been beating prostitutes on a regular basis and leaving them for dead.”
“And why was that your concern?” Decker asks.
“It should be everyone’s concern. Vulnerable women were hurt, and he had no intention of stopping. The police wouldn’t do a damn thing and nobody held his father accountable—”
“So you beat him?” Decker interrupts.
“Yes.”
They continue to bombard me with questions, one after another, but my responses are confident and given with conviction. I know my story. The timeline is infallible. The account is legitimate. All I have to do is leave out the parts about Jacob.
“And why would Dan just give you Vaughn’s name without you having to ask?” Hunter raises a brow. “Especially when he demanded a large sum of money from Torian for the information.”
“Because Rohypnol can be a bitch.” I keep my expression blank. “In the minutes before he passed out, he was so confused he blurted a whole diatribe of what I thought was useless information. He said his father would kill him if another scandal got out. Then he pleaded once more for me to let him go, and told me Vaughn was the name I wanted. That Vaughn was Torian’s informant.”
Hunter’s nostrils flare as he glares at me in an intimidation tactic. Or is it legitimate anger? I’m not sure. He pushes from his seat and silently begins snatching used food wrappers from the table.
“Is that it?” I follow him with my gaze. “Are you done grilling me?”
“Not even close.” He shoves garbage into the empty takeout bags. “We need to keep going over this.”
I sigh and glance to Decker for support. “I told you I won’t do this a million times. I know my story. It won’t change.”
Hunter slams his palms against the wood. “And I told you that convincing Torian won’t be a fucking walk in the park. You’re not ready until I say you are.”
I close my eyes briefly and find calm. He’s upset that I nailed my account of what happened, because once this is all over, he knows I’ll leave him. I get it. Really, I do. But I’m not going to wait around until he feels all warm and fuzzy about this. That shit could take weeks.
“You’re angry.” I look up at him, trying to reiterate how important the culmination of this moment with Torian will be for me. “I need this, Hunter. I’m ready.”
His nostrils flare.
“She’s right,” Decker murmurs. “She’s got this.”
“How the fuck do you know that?” Hunter snarls. “I promised Torian she knew nothing. Going back on my word will make him suspicious. He’ll come at her from every angle—”
“You don’t know that, either.” Decker stands. “He might not even want to talk to her in person. Having the conversation over the phone might be enough, seeing as he already knows there’s an informant. But no matter what he does, we can’t prepare for the unknown. We can only bank on her story being straight. And it is.”
I give Hunter a sad smile. I can see the concern in his glare. He’s worried. On edge. “I can do this. I promise.”
“Go on.” Decker jerks his chin toward the kitchen. “Get your phone. Call him. This could be as simple as a ten-minute conversation.”
Hunter doesn’t move. Not apart from clenching his fists in a white-knuckle grip against the wood.
“Please, Hunter.” I clasp my hands in prayer and bat my lashes softly for dramatic effect.
He rolls his eyes and snatches the trash-filled bag from the table to stalk to the kitchen. My belly tumbles as he grabs his phone off the counter, then strides back in my direction, then past to the porch door, and outside.
I don’t know if I should give him space or follow. Chase after him, like he’s always chased after me. Or remain in place, where it’s safe and sterile from his affection.
“He’s fucked up over you,” Decker mutters. “Well and truly fucked.”
I don’t respond. I can’t, not when I know what it feels like to be in Hunter’s shoes. I feel exactly the same way. I experience it with every breath.
Hunter slumps onto the top step leading to the grass and stares off in the distance. He’s picture perfect from this angle—the back view. The one where I can’t see his massive scowl and harsh eyes. Looking at him front-on won’t be as pretty—I know that. But I still want to be beside him.
I always want to be beside him.
“He won’t call until you make him do it.” Decker grabs the second bag of trash from the table and walks around me. “While you’re here with him, he’s going to try to protect you for as long as he can.”
The beat of my heart quickens, in both sorrow and determination. There is always too much conflict when it comes to Hunter. We’re opposing forces that continuously try to unite but consistently fail.
“I’ll convince him.” I drag my feet to the door and step onto the porch, the cool morning breeze sinking straight into me.
Hunter sits there cradling the phone in his hand with Torian’s name displayed across the screen, the call waiting to be co
“Please call him,” I beg.
His jaw ticks as he stares down at the device in his palm. “I need you to promise me you won’t do anything stupid.” His gaze flicks up at me, those gorgeous hazel eyes peering through dark lashes.
“Stupid is a really broad term. You might need to be more specific.” I smile, but he doesn’t reciprocate the expression.
Instead, he sighs. “I’m just as likely to stop you from doing something stupid as I am of convincing you to stay with me, aren’t I?”
I sit down beside him, our arms brushing. “I’ve wanted this for ten years. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted. Well… I spent months wishing for the impossible—that I would wake up from my nightmare and my family would all be surrounding me. Eventually, I got sick of kidding myself and I focused on something tangible. Something I could actually achieve. And this is it. My family deserves to be at rest knowing the person who murdered them isn’t capable of hurting anyone else. I deserve to know that, too.”
He glances down at his phone, and the seconds tick by with the peaceful chirp of birds in the trees above.
“Don’t say a word while I talk to him.” He gives me one last glance, then presses the call button.
I hold my breath as he puts the loud speaker on, and the ring, ring, rings sail through me like arrows. The call co
“You’re up early,” Torian greets.
All the air leaves my lungs in a sudden rush of anxiety. It’s time to start the game. Out-master. Out-strategize. Out-play.
Hunter places his hand on my thigh and gives a comforting squeeze. “I’ve got news.”