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I leave my office before he has the chance to hunt me down. I find it so sweet that he looks for me as soon as he gets home. As if he’s missed me throughout the day and can’t wait to see me again.
I walk right into his arms and roll to my toes for a kiss. It’s not until I pull back that I see the prominent stress lines between his eyes.
My fingers curl around his biceps as I lean back. “What’s wrong?”
The lines smooth out, but I’ve already seen them. “Nothing that you need to worry about.”
First Megan called acting bizarre, and now Hunter is doing the same. I feel like they know something that I don’t.
My nails dig into his arms. “Something is clearly bothering you. Please tell me what it is.”
He sighs, his head dropping momentarily to glance at his feet. When he lifts his head again, I spot a barely noticeable tic in his jaw.
“I have to leave town. I may be gone overnight.”
It’s like a rope suddenly snaps around my throat, restricting my airflow and nearly choking me. The hair on the back of my head prickles and a flush feeling spreads over my skin, like I ran through a steam room, and a hazy blackness slowly fills the edges of my vision. I stare up at Hunter through the haze, my gaze frozen on his face. I try to force myself to breathe, but it’s like every part of my body, organs and all, has forgotten how to work.
“Shit,” I hear muttered right before I’m weightless and lifted off my feet.
The next thing I know, my head is being forced between my knees and Hunter is squatting in front of me, his hand moving up and down my back.
“Slow breaths, Cat. In and out. You got it, baby.”
It’s his calming voice that has the remnants of a panic attack slowly fading. While concentrating on the feel of his hand on my back, I take a deep breath and slowly exhale. In and out. In and out. The black haze recedes and my throat opens.
When I finally feel confident I’m not going to pass out, I lift my head. His concerned gaze meets mine. “What happened?”
“Panic attack. You almost blacked out.”
“I’m sorry,” I croak.
“No, baby.” He wedges himself between my legs to bring us closer. “Don’t ever be sorry. This isn’t your fault.”
I nod, even though I know it’s not true. For years, I’ve had panic attacks, and I don’t know why. I hate them because they make me feel weak. Like I don’t have control over my own body and mind.
Remembering what brought on the attack, I suck in a deep breath and ask, “When do you leave?”
Instead of answering me right away, he gets up and sits beside me. He picks me up and places me on his lap sideways, my back against the arm of the couch. Taking my hand in his, he brings it to his chest and presses it against his heart. Feeling the heavy thump of the beat calms me more.
“I leave as soon as I pack a bag. There’s a guy I’ve been hunting, and I want to get to him before he’s warned and takes off.”
I nod numbly.
I’m aware of Hunter and Silas’s extracurricular activities. I also understand that by most standards what they do is wrong and unethical, not to mention it could land them in prison for decades. I don’t worry about them getting caught. They know what they’re doing and how to do it without leaving any evidence behind. Their methods are ruthless and vile, but what they do protects others. They aren’t vigilantes who seek out these sick people, but if they hear of one, they also don’t let them live much longer.
Perhaps that makes me a terrible person. To be so uncaring if a person dies. Most of the time, the notion goes against everything I believe in. But the way I see it, those beings aren’t people. They’re monsters, and who wants to walk among monsters?
His hand moves to my lower thigh and his thumb rubs back and forth over my knee. “You know I wouldn’t go unless it was important.”
I force a smile on my face. “I know. I’m being stupid. Don’t worry about me. I just want you to be careful.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Jacob and Peggy are coming over to stay with you while I’m gone.”
I shake my head. “There’s no need for my parents to be here, Hunter. I’ll be fine on my own.”
A look passes over his face, but it’s gone before I can analyze it. “They always come over when I’m away from the house at night. I feel better knowing you have someone here with you. Please do it for me.”
My shoulders sag and a ragged breath leaves me. “Fine.”
