Page 87 of Hunter

“Maybe you’re smarter than you seem.” He stood in front me, shoulders slack, hands in his jeans. “Did you like the photo I sent you?”

I heard the sound of understanding ring through my brain. The photograph! When Hunter had told me about Wolf being behind the letter, I had just assumed he had sent the photo, too, which Hunter must have done, too. But it wasn’t him. It explained why he thought I’d have the information.

Despite not having the personality of a biker, he did dress like one. The jeans, the boots, the leather cut … the president’s patch. I wasn’t surprised by that one.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don’t have it.”

“No, I don’t think you do.” He looked around the warehouse with a nonchalant sigh.

“What?” I blurted. He couldn’t be serious. “You killed Mint, kidnapped me, and almost killed my son, all the while knowing I don’t have it? I’ve been running from you forfour yearsfor no reason!”

“So, your son survived?” He gave a small shrug. “Nice work, tricking my men. Not that it would be hard; they aren’t the smartest tools. Even so, perhaps you are smarter than I give you credit for.”

“He should be safe with the club by now,” I answered. It was my only solace in this whole situation.

He shrugged, not seeming to care. “As for the other matter, I only figured out you didn’t have it after your timely return to Fellpeak. You were here long enough, even bonded with the Black Angels, yet no police came knocking on my doors. Surely, if you had the power to protect them from us, you would have used it by now.”

It was true. I would have long since given the information to Hunter if it meant keeping the club safe.

“Then why did you kidnap me? I know you failed at the house, but …” My words tapered off when I saw the faintest flash of surprise cross his face. “You weren’t behind the attack on the house? But the guy we captured …” I stopped, not feeling inclined to give out club information. I hadn’t been told it, but I had figured the guy Jax had grabbed was a Hell’s Runner. Was I wrong?

The Hell’s Runners’ president went stiff, his small eyes fixed on me as he took a step closer, and then another until he was leaning over me. “You were saying?”

I felt my mouth press tight. Shit, I really was the idiotic one who the threat of violence only made more stubborn. I hated those characters in the books and movies, pointlessly getting hurt when they could hand over the information. It wasn’t even that crucial. I didn’t know anything about the guy, and what I had thought I knew was wrong. Yet, I could feel my voice steeling up, not ready to give up anything.

He must have sensed it, too, because he stepped away.

Relief flooded through me. I felt the breath rush back into my lungs and even felt a little woozy from the momentary lack of oxygen.

“We didn’t attack the house,” he admitted. “I have men I trust better to get the job done, and I can tell you they’re all accounted for. If you did capture one, I would have noticed by now. A call would have been made to your club. Don’t you agree?”

He was right. Negotiations would have probably been made, not that I would have been told about it—club business and all. Surely, I would have noticed a change in the men, though. I would have noticed it in Hunter if we had been dealing with the Hell’s Runners. Or would I? Hunter had proven himself to be unpredictable recently.

Not that it was the time to think about that.

“So, you know I don’t have the information, which is why you haven’t tried to kidnap or threaten me before. The attack at the house excluded, since it wasn’t you,” I processed out loud. “Why kidnap me now?”

“You’re bait.”

“Bait?” I echoed. “Why would you want the Black Angels to come storming down on you here? You’re on your own. You’re unarmed.”

“Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there, sweetheart.”

“What?”

Then I felt it.

Dozens of eyes looked down at me, at us. I looked up and around the room, paranoia fueling the fear in my chest. My heart felt heavy, and my breaths quickened. It looked empty, but the second he had said the words, I had known he wasn’t lying.

We weren’t alone.

I looked back to the president. He was armed, too. With what, I couldn’t tell. Even without a weapon, his mind was dangerous enough. He was sharp.

“Don’t think you’re the only one who didn’t notice.” He stretched to his full height, turned away from me, and bellowed, “Come out, come out, wherever you are, little mouse.”

I looked at the door and noticed the two guards were gone.

Hope danced in my chest, my eyes welling with tears.

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