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Most of all, the dread. The dread of what’s coming. Of the promise in his eyes.

I swallow back the tears and look at them again. The moment Hunter calms, even for the briefest second, I turn and flee.

As usual.

It seems I can add coward to the ever growing list of things wrong with me.

Chapter 20

Hunter

I spare the man on the ground one final glance before I turn away, my attention already elsewhere.

On her.

Piper is halfway up the stairs, moving quickly, and too lost in her own thoughts to notice anything around her.

I pick up her book from the ground and follow.

I need answers, but I’m not convinced I’ll get them from her.

But that doesn’t stop me from following her up the stairs.

I followed her to the library and then all the way back here. I kept my distance the entire time, to give her the illusion of freedom, of space.

But the moment I saw Julian...

The moment I saw his hand on her...

Yeah.

Everything went pitch bloody black.

I reached them just in time to hear her tell him he was hurting her, and after that there wasn’t much room for reason.

He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.

I’m not reckless. I’ll leave that particular trait to Milo.

Before I do anything, I need answers. I need to dig deeper and find out exactly what his relationship with Piper is.

I know he’s her father’s right hand man.

What I don’t know is what exactly he wants from her.

Perhaps her father sent him. That would certainly make sense.

But the way he looks at her leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

But once I have more answers...

Well.

He may find that putting his fucking hands on Piper was the worst mistake he ever made.

And especially if I find out he’s the one responsible for those bruises.

She reaches her door, opens it and steps inside.