Page 110 of Mistaken Intention

What the hell is going on here?

I was confused enough before. I didn’t think my brain could get any more disoriented. But it seems it could, because I honestly don’t know which way is up right now.

I hadn’t even begun to get my head around how Hunter could have a baby who was conceived before he and Livia even talked about having kids together. Josie didn’t look too keen on explaining that to me, either. But I wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer. I was going to make her tell me… at least, I was, until that enormous car pulled onto the property. It had the look about it of someone who means business… if a car can have ‘a look’.

There was something menacing about its shiny black angles and the way the sun glinted off of it, like it was trying to blind you to whoever was inside.

I decided I could wait a minute or so for Josie’s explanation… until the guy inside the car climbed out and I heard her gasp, then saw the look on her face. Her skin paled to a grayish-white and her eyes were filled with fear, like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

She knows the guy and now nothing else matters to me, except the need to understand who he is, and why his presence here seems to scare her so much.

My brother opens the front door, and the two of them talk for a moment before Hunter steps outside, pulling the door closed. He didn’t invite the guy in? I don’t know my brother, but he doesn’t strike me as inhospitable.

I look down at Josie. She’s shaking, her body trembling beside me, and I pull her into my arms.

“What’s going on, baby? Talk to me.”

“I—I can’t.”

I lean back, looking into her tear-filled eyes. “Are you serious?”

“Please, Drew. Let’s just go back to the cottage.”

I’m about to say ‘no’, when I hear raised voices and turn back to the house. Hunter’s waving his arm toward the gate, presumably telling the guy to leave, and the stranger is standing up to him, wagging a finger in his face. Any hope Josie had of persuading me back to the cottage just vaporized. I step away from her.

“I’m gonna see if Hunter needs any help with this.”

“No!” She grabs me by the arm, pulling me back. “Hunter will be fine.”

“How do you know that?” I shake my head at her. “Something’s wrong here. It doesn’t add up. You’re scared ofthis guy, but you won’t tell me who he is, and Hunter clearly wants him gone. Is he connected to me in some way?”

“Please, Drew… for my sake. Don’t go.”

I notice she didn’t answer me and I stare down at her. “Tell me who he is, Josie.”

“I—I can’t.”

“Then I’m gonna find out for myself.”

I move away, but she runs around, standing in my path. “Don’t… please, I’m begging you.”

I shake my head. “I’m done with all this bullshit, Josie. The stories you and Hunter are telling me don’t even add up anymore, and I wanna know the truth. I know you think you’re protecting me, but you’re not, and if you won’t tell me what’s happening here, maybe this guy will.”

“No, he won’t.” I can hear the desperation in her voice, but I mean every word I say. Holding things back from me might have felt like a good idea to her and the doctor. I might even have agreed with it for a while, but it’s not working anymore. There are too many nagging doubts; too many questions. I need answers, and I don’t care where I get them from.

“Well… let’s go ask, shall we?”

I dodge around her and stride toward the house, the sound of raised voices greeting me.

“You lied to my housekeeper to get onto my property,” Hunter says. “And if you don’t leave now, I’m gonna call the cops.” He sounds mad. He looks it, too… but I focus on the other guy.

He’s around six feet tall, with light brown hair peppered with gray. I’d say he’s in his mid-fifties, wearing an expensive-looking suit and what appear to be handmade shoes. A man of business, by the looks of things, and for a moment, I wonder if this has nothing to do with me at all… whether it’s related to Hunter and his job.

Except Josie knows him.

“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve seen her.”

He wants to see Josie? What the hell for? And why is Hunter so riled up about it? If anyone should be defending my girlfriend, it’s me.

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