Page 41 of Hunted

There was so much to say, and no time to say it. Not to mention he sucked at putting things into words.

But she deserved something, after what he’d put her through.

He turned onto his side, running his fingertip down her shoulder, breathing in her scent. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, when I left. I didn’t want to. I just thought—I don’t know. Quick would be better. I figured—”

Mikey snorted. “You’re an idiot.”

“Yeah. I guess.” His fingers traveled over her breast, along her collarbone. This was the part he didn’t even want to say.

“Back then, I guess… I figured you’d find someone else. Someone who could be part of your family, not take you away from it. But now…”

Now he was selfishly hoping she wouldn’t. That someday they could figure a way. Like Hawk said—against all odds.

Mikey blew out a sigh. “Look, I know your pack needs you. I get that. But that doesn’t mean we have to just give up. I—”

She was interrupted by an emergency alert from his phone. Gunn swore, and got up to hunt for it among the scattered remnants of clothing.

He found his pants and pulled his phone out of the pocket. It was a text from Rex. The pack’s about to show up at your door. Thanatos wants Mikey at the Big House, and they want to make sure she gets there. Or maybe that she doesn’t.

“Fuck.”

“What is it?” Mikey was already out of bed, taking the phone out of his hand. She read the texts. “Damn.”

“Grab your stuff,” Gunn told her. “Leave through the tunnel.” He fished his keys out of his pocket and flicked on the lights. “Use the first exit—it comes out by the parking area. Take my truck. This fob opens the gate.” He held it out to her.

Tossing his phone and keys on the bed, Mikey found her pants and shimmied into them, not bothering to look for her underwear.

Just as well—there were only scraps of it left. Gunn pulled one of his own shirts out of the closet and handed it to her. She said, “You’re still buying me a new one.”

He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her. “Damn right.” He was done breaking promises to her—even small ones.

There was a pounding at the door, and Sanchez’s voice. “Gunn! Bring the prisoner out!”

“Go on,” he said. “I’ll stall them.” Still, she hesitated. He looked deep into her eyes. “This isn’t the end. I swear. Someday—”

The pounding came again. “If you don’t come out, we’re coming in!”

“Go!” Gunn headed for the front door.

Michelangela hurriedly finished dressing while Gunn argued with the men, thinking he was buying her time to escape. Was he crazy? Running away and leaving him to face the mysterious Thanatos on his own was not her style.

If they were going to fight, they should fight together.

Gunn’s phone beeped again, and she picked it up off the bed. The message was from a guy named Switch, and it hit her like a gut punch. Tracked down the kid. Good news—still safe. Bad news—not for long. She’s being held at Trevor McIntyre’s estate outside Chicago.

Trevor McIntyre was a human—a corporate titan worth hundreds of millions. He was also suspected of shifter trafficking, though no one had caught him at it. Yet.

Was it possible the little girl was a shifter? Or was she being used as leverage against someone for some other purpose? Another message popped up.

Worse news—he’s published a sale of a ‘special item’ on the dark web. In-person auction, under cover of a fucking charity ball.

Following that were the details—time and place. Only a few days from now.

Michelangela felt all the warmth of Gunn’s touch turning cold. McIntyre was going to sell that little girl to the highest bidder. And it was her fault. Dobe had tried to get the girl out—had been about to get her out, and Michelangela had gotten in the way.

She felt sick inside. This had to be stopped now—and she could do it. McIntyre was a contact of hers—or rather, a contact of one of her undercover identities. In fact, he was the ‘in’ she’d used to find Dobe in New York.

And now she could use him to find that little girl and get her to safety.