Arlo must have cleared this entire hospital wing.
Thank God.
Only a few nurses remain, and they’re all suddenly very interested in their paperwork.
I look back at Hunter, and I swear my heart breaks a little more.
The hurt on his face, the betrayal.
I thought my heart had already shattered beyond repair, but it seems even broken pieces can break again.
Shocking.
Really.
“Goodbye, Hunter.”
He narrows his eyes. “Have lunch with me.”
I swear, the man gives me a kind of mental whiplash.
I shake my head, attempting to form some semblance of a reply, but he speaks over me.
“If that gave the impression of a question, allow me to correct it. It was not. I am not asking, but rather demanding.”
“Hunter.”
“Have lunch with me, or I’ll bulldoze my way into your father’s house and find out who’s hurting you. I’ll find out who this husband of yours is, and if he refuses to talk, I’m not above destroying his empire or smashing his head in until he does.”
“You wouldn’t,” I say, anger rising in my chest.
“Don’t call my bluff, Miss Ashthorne.” His eyes darken. “Or should I say Mrs Ashthorne?”
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be. You have to let me go.”
“That’s never going to happen. Sorry to disappoint.”
He takes another step towards me.
He brushes my hair over my shoulder before bending closer.
“Let me tell you how this is going to go. We’re going to have lunch like two civilised adults, and you’re going to start talking. You’re going to give me more details. You’re going to tell me who’s hurting you and whether it’s your husband. You’re goingto give me names. Then I’ll deal with it. I’ll erase them from your life, ban them from the country, do whatever I see fit. And when it’s over,I’ll putmyring onyourfinger. Because you’re fucking mine.”
“I thought you said you weren’t capable of love. That relationships weren’t for you, and that marriage, children and everything that comes with them held no appeal whatsoever.”
“I’m not. And don’t fool yourself into believing that’s changed. But you’re mine. We don’t need feelings. We certainly don’t need love. People marry for that nonsense every day and look where it gets them. This is much simpler. You. Are. Mine.”
“And if I say no?”
“You won’t.” His expression doesn’t change. “I’ll uncover your secrets regardless. The only difference is whether you choose to make this easy on yourself or force my hand. I’m offering you a courtesy, Piper. One I rarely extend. Refuse it, and the next time we have this conversation, it’ll be at your father’s funeral.”
I jab a finger into his chest.
“Do not,” jab, “threaten my father,” jab, “ever again.”
He takes my hand and doesn’t let go as he turns and heads towards the exit, leaving me little choice but to follow.
He presses the button for the lift, and more than a few nurses openly stare at him as we step inside before making our way to the car already waiting outside.
