Page 24 of Shattered King

“Why? What’s going on?”

“I know I’m asking a lot. But please, just . . . would you do that for me?”

Her silence said it all. She had a good idea who the players in my current nightmare might be, and what that could mean.

“It’s going to be okay. Just, please do as I ask. Please.” I wanted to ask after my son so badly it hurt. I missed him. I’d never even been away from him a whole night before. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

Sara wasn’t stupid, and she would never take any risks with Josh. “I’ll pack now and move to a hotel. Everything’s fine here, baby. Just fine. I’ll take care of everything. Don’t you worry. I’ll find somewhere to stay and wait for your call.”

“Thanks, Sara.”

“Time’s up,” Ruby said.

“I have to go,” I said to my aunt.

“Okay . . .”

Ruby snatched the phone out of my hand and ended the call.

“Hey!”

She shrugged. “You had two minutes, no more, no less. I take orders, I don’t dish them out.”

Then she stood, walked out the door, and locked it behind her.

Fuck.

CHAPTER SIX

Hunter

Light glowed from the surveillance monitor, casting light across the darkened office. Neco had tried to get me to leave, had offered to watch Lulu tonight, but I’d sent him home. I’d sent everyone home. I didn’t want to think too hard about why it had to be me.

Jesus, being alone with Lulu in that cabin had been a phenomenal mistake. The chemistry between us was as strong as ever. Shit, stronger. Which was messed up, all things considered.

She’d been more than willing, though—the woman I’d once trusted, once cared about beyond reason—and I’d lost my head, my control.

But when she looked at me and I saw the old Lulu, my Lulu, staring right back, I had to lock it down, close it all off. And fuck, I got angry, so fucking angry. She’d done that, she’d destroyed what we’d had, and I’d never forgive her for it. For taking the only good thing I’d ever had away. The one thing I’d thought was all mine.

Cursing, I watched her stand and pace away from the bed and then back. She was chewing her fingernails. Obviously agitated, distressed, which was to be expected. It was also the reason Lulu was here. Maybe some time to cool her heels would loosen her tongue. If not, I still had the meeting with Pierce in a couple of days. Would be good to get the jump on that asshole, though. Find out where he was beforehand and ambush the motherfucker.

Without my say-so, my gaze slid over Lulu’s curves, the way her tank hugged her tits, the way those shorts displayed her round ass to perfection. Her red hair was down, tumbling over her shoulders in thick waves. My cock surged behind my zipper and I hissed.

I used to fist it, wrap my fingers around the soft, warm length, and hold tight while I drove into her. Lulu had loved it.

Or maybe I’d just told myself that, saw what I wanted to see.

Maybe she was a better actress than even I gave her credit for.

An image of big gray eyes staring up at me, soft fingers gliding over my cheek, cupping my face. I love you.

The lie echoed through my head and the knot in my gut tightened unbearably. “Fuck.” I shot to my feet, tearing my eyes away from the monitor. Why the hell was I doing this to myself? Why was I torturing myself like this? I hated her. Fucking loathed her. So why wouldn’t my cock get the goddamn memo?

I stalked to the workout room. I didn’t want to look at her any more. I didn’t even allow myself to look at the door she was behind as I walked by.

I needed to run, to burn of this messed-up hunger inside me, this almost desperate need to go to her, throw her on her back, and have her again. To make her scream my name. To make her beg my forgiveness as she clawed at my shoulders. I cursed again, scrubbing my hands over my face, and went to the locker room. Stripping off, I tugged on a pair of shorts then hit the treadmill. Cranking up the music, I let it drown out the noise crowding my goddamn head. I don’t know how long I ran, but I didn’t stop until I was dripping with sweat, until my legs were close to giving out.

I dried off on my way to the break room and downed a bottle of water. We always had food in here, so I grabbed another bottle and couple sandwiches and headed back down to the holding room. Yeah, I wanted to avoid her, but she had to eat, right? I told myself that was the only reason I was going to her, why I couldn’t even wait the ten minutes it would take to shower and change.