Page 32 of Shattered King

Hunter moved, climbing to his feet, dragging with him. Van was walking toward us, Neco at his side.

“He got away,” Van said.

Hunter cursed and grabbed me by my shoulders. “You could have gotten yourself shot.” He shook me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

I lost it. Just flipped the hell out. I shoved at him. When he wouldn’t let me go, I punched and fought and bit and scratched. “Let me go!” I screamed. “Let me the hell go!”

Hunter shook me again. “What the hell is going on? Why are you afraid of Pierce?”

I fought harder. Not caring if I hurt myself in the process. I needed to get to Josh. I needed to get out of this city.

“Tell me.” he barked. “Fucking tell me.”

I didn’t stop fighting, shaking my head, desperately trying to pull free.

“Hunter,” Van’s deep voice cut through the air like a blade, through my hysteria.

I stopped fighting, but then I started shaking again. Hunter was frowning down at me.

Van touched his shoulder and he finally looked away. “I know you want Pierce, Hunt, but this isn’t the way. Let me take her to her aunt.”

Hunter stilled. He was breathing hard, still holding me immobile as his blue eyes came back to me, boring into me. I couldn’t hold his stare. “You’re afraid of Pierce. Why?” he asked again.

“I’m not,” I lied.

“You just dove out of my car and ran like hell when you realized it was him.”

I shook my head. “How the hell would I know it was Pierce in that car?” I tried to pull free, but still he wouldn’t let me. I made myself meet his hard stare. “I wasn’t running from him, I was running from you,” I said, doing my best not to choke on the words.

His jaw went tight. Finally, after a long tense silence, he shoved me toward Van. “Take her.” Then he strode away, back to his SUV.

A second later, he was gone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lulu

The drive to Sara’s was a silent one, and the closer we got, the greater my anxiety grew. Van didn’t seem in the mood to speak, which was good. Right then speaking wasn’t an option for me, not with the way my mind raced. I figured I had maybe an hour before Pierce came looking for me. He’d just been shot at, so I had to assume he’d need a few minutes to regroup. Well, I hoped so anyway.

I didn’t want to go back to Sara’s, but my car was there, all my worldly possessions. Josh’s things. His toys, his clothes. I couldn’t afford to replace any of it. My finances had taken a major hit with Sara and Josh staying at a hotel. I didn’t know how far I’d get on the money I had left. Not as far as I’d like, I knew that much.

Finally, we pulled up outside my aunt’s house.

“Lulu . . .” Van started, turning toward me, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

I shook my head. “Don’t. I know how you feel about me and I assure you, I don’t plan on sticking around.” Then I shoved the door open.

“Hang on a minute . . .” He reached for me.

I all but dove out and raced up the steps to the house. Van didn’t drive off right away, he also didn’t follow me in, thank God. I refused to look back as I took the key from under the welcome mat and let myself in, slamming the door behind me.

Racing into the living room, I peeked through the net curtains. He was still there, looking at the house. What was he doing? I needed him to leave. Finally, after what felt like forever, he turned back to the road and drove off.

As soon as I was sure he wasn’t coming back, I ran to the kitchen and called Sara.

“Hello, Lulu?”

Her voice sounded strained. I hated that I’d done that to her.