“Hunter,” my name’s whispered, then repeated. Aura keeps saying it, each time a little louder than the one before. “Look at me, Hunter, I’m okay, and we’re safe. You killed them both, they can’t hurt us. Please look at me and tell me you’re all right. You’ve got dried blood all over you. Please, I want to touch you.”
Eventually, I manage to shake myself out of my foggy haze. The adrenaline saved us. If it weren’t for the natural burst of energy and clarity my body provided, I never would’ve been able to fight them off Aura. She would’ve died down here alongside me.
Fuck. She got hit with the plant!
I leap to my feet and charge in her direction.
Her hands go up in surrender. “It’s only me! P-please, Hunter, you’re scaring me!”
Stalling in my steps, I glance over myself as much as possible without a mirror. I was heading her way with my knife in her direction, completely covered in blood. Not to mention my injuries, I probably look like a fucking monster coming for her. Dropping the blade to the floor, I meet her stare and offer her my palm, facing upward.
It’s all the reassurance she needs before she leaps for me, our bodies colliding. She wraps her arms around me tightly, tears pouring over her cheeks as she presses kisses to my cheeks. “I was so-so worried. I’ve been going crazy for days. I knew something wasn’t right. I promise I’ve been searching for you.”
“Well, you found me,” I offer a grin and press a kiss to her forehead.
Everything dims and goes black as I hear her shouting my name, but it’s okay.
She’s safe.
Chapter Fifteen
AURA
“Tell me he’s all right,” I bombard my father as soon as the doctor speaks to him. He was the only one he’d talk to, so the rest of us are left in the dark until he shares the news.
He holds his hand up and nods. “Try to calm down. I know you’re worried, but it won’t help to be worked up.”
“Calm down? The man I love was held captive for who knows how long, then passed out in my arms. He means everything to me. Don’t tell me to be calm.”
My mom pulls me into a hug. “You heard her, sweetie. She has every right to be upset.”
“You love him?” he asks, tilting his head with raised brows.
I give him a jerky nod, biting down on my cheek to stop myself from demanding he put me out of my misery where Hunter is concerned. I’m ready to storm into his hospital room and see him for myself. The ‘only family’ rule is bullshit, and the moment his parents arrive, I’m going into the room with them.
“He’s suffered a concussion. There have been multiple hits to the back of his head. Diana and her helper weren’t kind to him. I’m sorry.” My mother and I both gasp. He continues, “The doctor and nurses have cleaned the cuts and stitched him up. Shaved his head, so that will be interesting.”
I say a silent prayer for all his glorious hair. It’ll grow back, but I’m not sure how Hunter will feel about it missing.
“He has rope burn in several spots, a dislocated shoulder, which they reset, and was dehydrated. He had a rough run, but he still managed to hold his own when it mattered most.”
Tears cascade over my cheeks as the reality of how injured he is hits me full force. This is my fault. If he weren’t always looking out for me, he’d be fine right now. “I can’t believe this happened,” I say after a beat.
My dad takes me from my mom’s grip, wrapping his arms around me and tucking my body into his chest. The tears come like a waterfall, and I cry hard. I need it and don’t give a second thought to who else is in the hospital with us as the tears fall from my face. To think this entire nightmare is finally over is an overwhelming relief but also hard to believe. “He’s hurt, and it’s my fault,” I mutter into my father’s shirt.
A strong squeeze on my shoulder has me lifting my head. I meet the pensive stare of a massive guy. He looks utterly miserable, frowning severely. I flick my gaze to Briar and a few other guys.
The big mean-looking dude says, “It’s not your fault, honey. Hunter wouldn’t have put himself in the position to protect you if he didn’t want to be there. Trust me, he’d be much worse off if it were you in that room and him out here.”
Briar squeezes my shoulder next, offering me a tender smile. “He’s right. These are our brothers. We were all there when Hunter found you. They’re in our group chat we’ve been texting in. They were following other leads when I came to help search your family’s property, or they would’ve been there as well.”
I offer them a shaky, grateful smile.
“Diablo,” Briar continues and gestures to the frowner, then “Charmer,” he says, and the handsome guy offers me a wide smile full of perfect pearly white teeth. “Last but not least, Malevolent.” The man with a tall black mohawk nods his greeting. “I’m sure you’ll meet Beast soon, as well as a few guys from his charter. He’s further out of town, so it’ll take him a while to stop in. Probably show up in the middle of the night and may have a woman with him. If he does, don’t freak out. He doesn’t care to deal with people if he can help it.”
I sniffle and nod. “I won’t, promise. Nice to meet all of you. I’m glad Hunter has friends.” They chuckle at my words and take their seats, leaving me to my thoughts again.
“I’m glad he has a lot of support. Philip’s always been a good kid.”
“Call him Hunter, Dad.”
His face lights up at me calling him Dad. “If he wants me to stop calling him by his name, then I will.”
“When can I see him?”
“Soon,” he replies as two people come rushing in our direction.
They’re Hunter’s parents, I’d know them anywhere. He looks so much like his father, and he had the same color hair as his mom before they shaved it all off. The couple eagerly greets my parents with hugs, and at some point, I’m pulled in as well. There are lots of tears from all of us, and then they go into Hunter’s room to visit.
I’m trying to be patient, but it’s hard. The last time I saw him, he was falling over, unconscious and covered in blood. I was terrified he was dead as well and never screamed so loudly in my life. A few of the staff heard the noise and came to check it out, then they alerted my father. He found me completely hysterical and had a private helicopter take Hunter and us to the hospital. Everyone followed us here, including the police. I haven’t spoken to them yet, but I’ve already been warned I’ll have to.
“My dear, you’re so flushed. What’s all over you?” my mother asks. “Is that a rash?”
“Oh no,” I mutter and shake my head.
“What is it?” my parents ask at the same time, worry lacing their tones.
“Diana had a plant. She threw it at me, and Hunter was trying to warn me,” I share and begin itching all over the place. “Why am I so itchy? I was fine. I don’t understand.”
Without skipping a beat, my mom runs for the nurse counter, yelling she needs help.
This day is never going to end, I swear.