She shakes her head. “Not yet, but I’m hopeful now. Did you see anyone else when you found me? There had to be others somewhere.”
“No, but there were definitely more tracks. I picked up multiple sizes, so they belonged to different people.”
“They must’ve been looking for me,” she reasons as her features grow worried. “I hope they were, and nothing bad happened to them.”
I cast her a tender gaze, wanting to set her mind at ease. “I don’t think that was the case. A lot was happening on that island when my brothers and I were there. You looked like you’d been left alone for some time.”
“But they loved me, I can feel it inside.” She rests her hand over her heart, and the protector in me wants to make her forget about them completely.
“I believe you, and if you say one thing, then that’s what we’ll go on.” I’m the last person who wants to break her heart and cause her pain. Everything I’ve been doing thus far has been to help and heal her.
“Do you think they left the island? Without me?”
Abandoned.
It’s a viable prospect.
I shrug. “It’s possible they escaped when everything was happening. It would’ve been chaos for them, I’m sure.” I don’t think they’d have gotten away without anyone noticing, but if they were able to stay on that island undetected for so long, anything’s a possibility at this point. Clearly, everyone underestimated these women for them to survive off the land for so long as children.
I’ll have to give the clubs a call sometime after Aura is asleep to find out if they’ve heard of anything more to do with that godforsaken island. “I’ll see if I can find out more details. What can you remember about them? Were they older than you? Anything special about these people you have a feeling about?”
“They were older, but I don’t know by how much. Laura was the oldest, and she always told me it was her job to keep me hidden and safe. She taught me what it means to be a woman and to be kind and helpful. Luna taught me all the songs she knew and helped me learn how to sing them. Mary made up the best stories. I fell asleep many times, listening to her talk with my head on her lap. I miss them.”
I squeeze her hand, bringing it to my lips. I offer a kiss to her knuckles and promise, “I’ll see if I can find them.” At least I have more names to go on. I’ll have to add them to Aura’s and her parents to see if it brings up more leads. I have a feeling I know who they may be, but it’s a long shot all of them would’ve survived together like she’s saying.
It’s hard to believe a wealthy, semi-famous botanical princess just disappears in thin air, and no one knows a thing. I’ve always suspected something was wrong with her case, no matter what everyone else claimed. I’m not buying it, and the detectives back then shouldn’t have either. If they knew it was foul play and hid evidence, the brothers and I should pay them a little visit. Perhaps jog their memories with some persuasive techniques I like to use on people who cross me the wrong way and piss me the fuck off.
Could the three friends she’s mentioned truly have been protecting her, or were they hiding out and made it seem like something else to Aura? There were despicable things happening on that island, and the three friends could’ve fled from there and taken Aura with them at any time. She’d have been tiny if she recalls being with them for so long. It’d have been difficult, but I suppose they could’ve pulled it off. How they were never discovered is another story entirely, one I’m far too adamant to learn about.
“The grill is on fire.” She points out calmly.
“Oh shit.” I jump to my feet and rush over. It’s enough to distract me from my train of thought, and I let the subject go for now. I quickly get the grill under control and concentrate on making our dinner. I can’t have my beauty starving—she already needs to put some meat on her bones.
***
My cell pings as a text comes through. It’s late, another sleepless night filled with me tossing and turning. I can’t seem to put my mind to rest with Aura in the house. My body craves hers something fierce, and it’s taken everything in me not to act on my desires. Grabbing the device, I light up my screen and check the message. It’s from Radge, and he needs my help with some mafia capos. It’ll be bloody, but with everything else going on, it sounds like it’s exactly what I need right now. I’ll be able to take out my frustration on some fuckers giving him issues, so we’ll both benefit from me heading his way.
I have Aura to worry about, though. Will she be able to stay alone? It appears she was on that damn island for years, but she wasn’t completely alone. She’s stronger than she first appeared, though, and besides, I shouldn’t care so much. Why do I anyway? What’s this weird hold she’s had over me since the moment I had her in my arms? I’m too close to her case, too invested in the possible outcome.
It must be because I know who she is and haven’t said anything to her. It has to be. I’m living with guilt weighing on my conscience, and I don’t like it. Usually, I can effortlessly brush things off and move forward without a backward glance, but it doesn’t feel right with her. There’s also this drive inside me to dirty her up a bit, to show her what it’s like to be with a man like me. Could she handle it? I’m not an easy guy, especially when it comes to fucking. I fuck hard and rough, and the last thing I want is to hurt her.
With a sigh, I move out of bed and cross to my closet. I begin tossing shit I’ll need in a backpack. There’s no way my thoughts will allow me to have any rest tonight. I shoot a text to my brothers, telling them to meet me at my house. I’ll brief them on this next run, then by the time we’re done discussing it and eat, we’ll make it to Radge in plenty of time.
Let’s hope Aura’s okay with being left alone and waking to an empty house because she won’t have much choice. I’m not letting her out of my possession just yet.
Chapter Six
AURA
Waking up to an empty house, there’s an extra stillness to the air that’s not normally here when Hunter’s home. There’s always some sort of small sound in the background, like the coffee maker or his music in the garage while he’s detailing his motorcycle. I’ll admit it’s a bit overwhelming as I’m not used to being completely alone. I still take time to search through the house one room at a time, knowing they’ll be empty before I ever enter the room. The sun’s high, letting me know I slept much later than usual, and it’s probably afternoon. I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve been restless sleeping alone. It’s already strange enough getting used to the bed and the quiet as I’m used to the sounds of bugs and birds and other creatures of the night.
His bedroom is where I spend most of my time looking around. I can’t help myself as it gives me a small glimpse into the man himself. There’s not much in here. His clothes are neatly folded in his drawers with the thicker items hanging in his closet. I pick random garments and inhale deeply, hoping to catch a hint of his scent. It’s useless as they all smell like the overly perfumed detergent he keeps in the laundry room. I don’t want to smell fake scents, I want his.