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Shocked, my head snaps to Mom. Hunter and Dad look at her too, but either they aren’t surprised or they’re concealing it. Mom is one of the most gentle people I know. But right now, she looks like she could easily pluck out Jimmy’s eyes and jam them down his throat without batting an eye.
Her gaze moves to me. “That bastard has hurt my baby too many times. He’s taken far too much from my family, and I know he’d take more if given the chance. No matter how badly he suffers, it’ll never be enough.”
“Mom,” I croak, leaving Hunter and walking to her. I pull her in close. “He’ll never hurt me again. He’ll never take anything from any of us again.”
She sniffs and pulls back. “I know he won’t. Because Hunter will ensure it.” She looks at him over my shoulder before bringing her eyes back to me. “Justice will be served the way it’s supposed to be.”
I nod.
She dashes away her tears and gives me a tremulous smile. I can still see the pain and anger in her gaze, but she drops the subject and turns to Dad. “Go grab the groceries from the car, dear.” She smooths her hands down her navy blue slacks and walks around the bar. “I’m making spaghetti lasagna.”
* * *
After my parentshave left and Hunter and I are getting ready for bed, my phone rings. At first, I consider ignoring the call, but when I see the name on the screen, I accept it. As much as I want to fall into bed and sleep for a week, I can’t leave my best friend worrying about me.
“Hey, Megs,” I say, leaning back into the pillow against the headboard.
“Are you okay?”
The sound of tears in her voice makes my chest spasm. I would be just as worried and upset if I were in her position and she was the one hurt.
“I’m okay, I promise,” I tell her softly, hoping she can hear the truth in my words.
She lets out a muffled sob that crackles through the speaker. “I called as soon as I heard. Peggy let me know everything. I wish you had called me. I want to be there for you.”
“I was planning to call you tomorrow. I just… needed another day. Mom and Dad came by earlier with Ginger and her family and they were about all I could handle right now. I’m sorry.”
“No, no.” She sniffs. “I get it. When can I come see you?”
I smile. I knew she would understand, even if she wants to rush to my side. “Can you give me a couple more days?”
“Yes.” Her voice drops. “But promise me that if you need anything, you’ll call me.”
God, I miss my best friend so much. “I promise.”
Hunter emerges from the bathroom wearing only boxer briefs, his concerned eyes moving toward me. I mouth Megan’s name and he nods, taking a seat on his side of the bed.
“Is this Saturday okay?” she asks, and I focus back on our conversation.
“That’s perfect. And you can tell me the latest news about Wyatt.”
Her laugh is strained. “There’s a lot to tell. I’m actually at his place right now, but we’ll talk about it this weekend.”
If I weren’t so tired, I’d insist she tell me right now. But what I really want is to curl up in bed with my husband wrapped around me. I’ve had my fill of socializing today.
“I’ll call you in a couple of days,” I tell Megan.
“Okay. Love you, Cat.”
The sincerity in her voice brings tears to my eyes. “Love you, too.”
Once my phone is on the nightstand, I’m pulled across the bed into a firm chest. Instead of staying with my back facing him, I roll over and smash my face against his chest. As if knowing exactly what I need, Hunter’s arms tighten around me, securing me against him in his protective bubble.
ChapterThirty-Nine
Hunter
When we make it down the stairs and arrive at the metal door, I grab Cat’s hand and turn her to face me. A few feet away, Kurt stands with his beefy arms crossed over his chest. For a week now, he and one of Mathias’s men have been vigilantly watching over the scum behind the door.
