Page 176 of Reckless Vengeance

“I know, but he insisted she was Marla’s kid. He told her the baby died, Hunter. Mom’s out there thinking she can’t safely see me, and that her biological daughter is dead. I have to fucking find her. I⁠—”

“One thing at a time,” he said gently, reaching out and tucking my hair behind my ear. “But I’ll look into the Claire thing for you and we can start from there. I can start looking into Marla more too since it’s obvious Skeet isn’t doing shit.”

“He’s been looking, but nothing’s coming up. She’s a ghost,” I said tightly, knowing it wasn’t Skeeter’s fault.

“My tech’s better,” he shrugged, finishing his dinner and becoming silent again.

My memory had blank spots of the afternoon, like when I arrived at the house to find Max, and even now I wasn’t sure what I’d done for the past hour while Hunter cleaned up from dinner.

Marco mentioned sleeping on the couch to be a lookout, making me feel a little better about going to sleep. No one could sneak up on me then.

I was wearing one of Hunter’s baggy shirts, a pair of his boxers underneath to make sure I was covered, and I was practically asleep on my feet when Hunter led me into his bedroom to tuck me in.

“I needed him, and as usual, he’s nowhere to be found,” I whispered, hearing Hunter sigh as he pulled the blankets up around my neck to make sure I was warm.

“You have me. I know it’s not the same, but I’ve got your back, Rory. I know I like to tease you, but I honestly don’t expect anything from you. You can always rely on me to be there for you. We’re friends.”

I blew out a breath, forcing back the frustrated tears that burned my eyes.

“He never answers the phone.”

“Then stop calling him. Dammit, babe. Don’t cry.”

The tears broke free and I pulled back a little when he went to wipe them. Not even Diesel had answered, and he always did. Until he’d kissed me, anyway.

“Move over,” he murmured, turning the light off and saying something quietly to Marco out the door before closing it. I could hear him strip down, the blanket moving back until he slid beneath the covers and shuffled closer. “Come here.”

“You can’t⁠—”

“Not making a move. Besties only, I got the memo,” he assured me, waiting for me to move a little closer until I was curled up against him. His bare chest was hot, and he didn’t seem to give a shit about me getting tears on him as I nuzzled closer.

I cried because of Skeeter, for the torment that was over, and for the fact that the last monster in my life was gone. I jumped between sadness to relief, and I probably looked like a basket case, but Hunter didn’t care.

He just laid there holding me as I let it all out until I fell asleep.

I was having a good sleep too until the bedroom door banged open, jerking me awake.

“Cops!” Marco snapped, Hunter springing upright and trying to pull me closer, instantly on alert as I struggled to catch up to the conversation.

“Why are they here?” Hunter whisper-yelled, and Marco threw his hands up.

“I don’t know! I made sure everything was done properly!”

A loud bang sounded as the front door was kicked in, and I flinched, Hunter tucking my face against his chest as if he could hide me there.

“Police! Hands where I can see them!” someone shouted, my heartbeat thundering in my chest. There was nowhere to hide, and the second bright flashlights appeared in the doorway, I had to look away. “Aurora Donovan?”

I glanced at Hunter, who sighed with a nod, telling me to answer. “Uh, yes?”

“You’re under arrest for the murder of Max Donovan. You have the right to remain silent. Anything—” I was yanked out of Hunter’s grip as cuffs were slapped on my wrists, my rights read out to me as Hunter scrambled to his feet.

“Hey, take it fucking easy. She’s not fighting you.”

“Stay out of it, Rivera,” one of them warned as they started dragging me from the room.

“I’m calling her lawyer, assholes! Donovan, I’ll get Josie! Don’t say a fucking word!” he called after me as I was dragged out into the night air. The ground was rough under my feet, and the icy air bit into my exposed skin.

Cameras flashed, telling me someone had been told the cops were coming for me, and I could hear Hunter yelling about letting me have my shoes and some pants.