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The silence in the car becomes deafening as Tanner stares at me. I don’t know if I just took him by surprise over that information, or if he’s just shocked at how fucking stupid I am. I don’t back down. I don’t say anything as I hold his stare and show him that I’m serious. After too fucking long, he finally shakes his head and turns away. His hand runs through his dark hair, and he lets out a long huff of air.
“Look man, I’m not going to say anything. I like Anya, and honestly, I think you’d be good for her just as much as she’d be good for you. But you know as well as I do that Alec isn’t going to see it that way.” I swallow down more of the gravel in my throat and nod. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Hunter.” I want to argue that this isn’t a game, but even so, I know his words about it being dangerous are true. I have no idea how Alec will react, and that alone is scary as fuck.
“I know.”
“But it’s your choice. If you want to risk it, I’m not going to stand in your way.”
“Thank you.”
He lets out a low, ominous chuckle. “Don’t thank me. Just because I’m not going to stand in your way doesn’t mean I’m going to help you. You’re playing with fire, and sooner or later, you’re going to get burned.” Again, his words are the truth, but I refuse to back down.
Anya is mine, and I won’t give her up. Ever.
“I know.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Anya
I walk outof the judge's chambers, trying to hide my smile. One thing I learned in law school is to not let anyone see your satisfaction. No one even blinks an eye when a man acts like a cocky fucker or gets upset if they lose. But if a woman does it, then they deem her too emotional or some other crap. So I don’t show any of it. Sure, I get excited when I win. Like now. Walking into the judge's chambers, I knew it could go either way. But I had a solid case and I fought hard.
“Thank you so much, Anya.” I turn and give Lucy a smile and squeeze her arm gently.
“You’re welcome. They’ll send me the paperwork for the settlement in the next few days and I’ll get everything taken care of.”
“Do I need to do anything else?”
“Not at the moment, but I’ll be in touch.” I watch as she walks away, the relief from the whole ordeal officially off her shoulders. I was more than happy to help Lucy go after her sex-offender boss. Especially when he tried to fire her for bullshit reasons. Men like that are sick. He owns a restaurant and thinks he’s the most powerful man in the world because he holds people’s livelihoods in his hands.
I shake my head, clearing it of thoughts of Lucy’s boss and the sniveling smile he kept giving me throughout the entire hearing. I turn on my heels and walk toward the side exit of the courthouse to the off-street parking lot where I parked my car.
Most people who don’t work at the courthouse full-time park their cars out front, but I prefer to avoid the crowds. When I worked in corporate law, I always had to go out the front with my clients in order to field questions from the media. I hated it then, and I’m thankful I don’t have to do it now.
I step out of the side entrance and take in a breath of fresh air. This parking lot is basically abandoned right now because the only people that usually park on this side are ones who won’t be leaving until late in the evening. I glance around for Hunter and when I don’t see him, I pull out my phone.
“Are you done?” That’s the only greeting I get from him, and it makes my lips twitch. Straight to the point.
“Yes. I’m heading to my car now.”
“Go right back to the office. I’m on my way there now.”
“Yes sir.” I can hear Hunter’s growl on the other end, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Anya.”
“Relax, Bash. I’m walking to my car now and I’ll go straight to the office. No pit stops. I promise.”
“You better.” His tone softens slightly, probably from the nickname, but I can still hear the warning in it.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I hang up the phone and glance around the lot. There’s still no one out here. I start walking toward my car, an excitement simply from the knowledge that I’ll get to see Hunter in a few minutes running through me. I go to slip my phone back in my bag, but just as I do, something wraps around my face and the telltale feel of microfiber hits my face and the smell of something putrid hits my senses. I hear something crash on the ground, but before I can make out what’s going on, my body becomes slack and the world goes blank.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Sebastian
Where the fuck is she?She should have been here ten fucking minutes ago and now her phone is going straight to voicemail. I storm into the office, needing to hold onto this anger in order to keep my worry at bay.
“Willow!” The petite redhead comes out of her office, her eyes wide with concern.
