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"What mission did you go on?" she asked.
I didn't want to lie to her any longer. Not when I knew that this was one woman who could love me and my truths.
"We went looking for Hunter. I was so angry at myself and him, I needed to find him and well, you know ..." I trailed off, shuffling my feet.
"I do know," she replied, a glint in her eyes. "I have some news from Harper. The network has been patchy as all hell, but she sent me a text message that did manage to come through.
“She's gotten Hunter to the point he needs to be able to trust her. Turned out, he got stranded in the hurricane and called her, and she kind of saved his life. Which is good." She said this because she saw the dismay in my eyes.
"He can't get me out of the shithole he's thrown me in if he's dead, Reed. But as soon as things get back to normal, I'll meet her.
“He's already given her the low-down on how to become a swindler, and she's got it all taped.
“But the cream on the pecan pie is a little zip drive he has full of all the cons he's ever pulled. And Harper has actually buttered him up to the point where he's thinking of sharing it with her. The things people do when they're worshiped. Especially when they are egotistical fucks."
I pulled her close. "We will get him. Nothing can stop that from happening."
39
Juniper
Aweek had passed since Pandora had changed our lives forever. The community had made significant progress, and essential services had been restored.
My mama, whom I'd called the second I could, handled her precinct's recovery work like an absolute pro.
It was always good to see how people came together after a crisis. It spoke to something more profound about us, about our hearts and minds, and it went beyond base instincts.
Complete recovery, however, would take time.
And I didn't speak just for the town but also for my heart, body, and the men in my life.
I sat in our local cafe, where services had resumed partially. I came here more for the sentimentality, anyway. In front of me, in my bag, lay a confirmation of pregnancy.
It was early days. But I was happy. I was really, truly happy.
Harper had just left the cafe ten minutes back. I would have gone too, but I was waiting for Reed, Miguel, and Asher to show up.
She'd done an amazing job. Not only had she sourced the zip drive from Hunter, but she'd also gotten a full-fledged confession from him by wiring herself. I listened to the recording once more, feeling a savage sense of satisfaction wash over me.
"I think I must have done this to over fifteen women. They're so easy to mess with. I didn't reckon I'd find anyone different until you."
Harper followed with her reply. "Doesn't it get tricky?"
"Not really. All you need to do is convince them no one will love or care for them the way you do, and they'll be ready to lay their lives down at your feet. And when you have them at that spot, you invent trouble in your life and say you need their credit card info."
"Did you ever keep any of the things you purchased with their info?"
"Sometimes," Hunter's voice was interspersed with cruel laughter. "When something really struck my fancy. Otherwise, it was more of a social experiment to prove how stupid women are.
“I don't know why they even try with their business suits and pithy attempts at logic. Frankly, you're the only exception, probably because of your job."
So, to Hunter Montgomery, women could only bemadereasonable if they became lawyers. How did Harper not smack him on the spot? I had to give it to her for her patience.
"I feel pretty foolish sometimes myself. That's why I'm here, though. I've learned so much from you. You've no idea how you've inspired me."
The girl really knew what she was doing. Stupid Hunter.
"Wait until you see what's on the drive."
