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I stepped closer, seething, my voice low and dangerous. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Richard. I thought we had an agreement.”
Richard shrugged, nonchalant. “Agreements change, especially when the stakes are this high. You two make quite the story, Hunter. A story worth a lot to the right people.”
I stiffened, fighting the urge to let my anger take over. “You’re treading on thin ice. I won’t let you exploit us.”
Richard scoffed, a malicious smile on his face. “There’s nothing you can do to stop me. If you try, well… let’s just say I’ve got plenty of leverage. The world will find out everything about you two, and it won’t be pretty.”
My threat hung heavy in the air, but Richard only laughed, his demeanor infuriatingly calm and collected.
“Oh, Hunter, such dramatics. You do have a flair for theatrics, don’t you? Just like in the movies. But let’s not pretend we’re in one. Murder? That’s a bit… messy, isn’t it?”
I struggled to keep my composure. I knew he was goading me, but it was difficult not to let him get to me.
“You think you’re untouchable, Richard?” I asked, my voice steely. “You’re playing with fire.”
Richard sauntered to the door, turning to give me a final, sleazy smile. “The thing about fire, Hunter, is that it can be quite illuminating. Or it can burn everything to the ground. Let’s see which way this one goes, shall we? Ta-ta for now.”
With that, I watched him as he slipped out of the room, leaving me seething with a mix of anger and concern.
I had to protect Morgan and myself from this parasite, but the way forward was murky. I needed a plan, one that wouldn’t put us in more jeopardy. As I headed back to Morgan, I knew the next steps required careful thought and a cool head.
I had neither right now.
CHAPTER 25
Hunter
When I walked into my penthouse later that afternoon, I could tell I wasn’t alone from the very first step inside.
As I closed the door behind me, the silence was unnerving. I cautiously moved towards the living room, where the sight that greeted me was both unexpected and alarming. There, lounging on my sofa with a casual air of defiance, was my uncle Vincent.
Fuck me sideways.
What now?
“Uncle Vincent,” I said, my voice tight with a mix of surprise and irritation. “How did you get in here?”
He smiled, a hint of mockery in his expression. “Come now, Hunter, you know I have my ways. Breaking out of prison and stealing a helicopter was just the beginning. Let’s just say, I haven’t lost my touch.”
I sighed, crossing my arms. His escape had already caused me enough trouble. “What do you want?”
He shrugged, standing up to face me. “I need a place to lay low for a while, and I figured who better to turn to than my favorite nephew?”
I was about to protest when he held up a hand. “Before you say no, I heard about your little problem with that paparazzo, Richard Conway. Sounds like you could use some of my… expertise.”
His offer, while tempting, was a dangerous road.
“I’m handling it,” I said firmly.
Vincent chuckled. “By playing nice? Hunter, we both know guys like Conway don’t back down from mere threats. You need to be more… persuasive.”
His implication was clear, and it aligned with the darker impulses I had been struggling to suppress. Still, involving my uncle was a very risky move. “I said I’m handling it. I don’t need your brand of help.”
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Your call. But remember, I’m here if you change your mind. After all, family helps family, right?”
Vincent paused at the door, turning back to me with a calculating look. “I’ll deal with Conway for you,” he said. “But in return, we’re square. No more bad blood, no more obligations, nothing.”
The offer hung heavily in the air. It was a way to keep Morgan safe and shield her from the cruel reality of what could really come of this. Yet, agreeing meant a step back into the shadows I had tried to leave behind. I thought of Morgan, her pleas for me not to revert to my old ways, but the urgency of the situation was undeniable.
