Page 139 of Altered

Another pause.

"Location?"

Heavy exhale.

"I'm on my way."

My heart sank as I watched Hunter end the call and stand up.

When he turned to look at me, Iknew.

He had to take care ofbusiness.

"I need to go out for a bit," he told me, blue eyes locked on my face, gaging my reaction.

"Do you have to?" I whispered as that familiar swell of fear rose up inside of me.

It was the same fear I felt every time I watched him leave after one of those phone calls.

The same fear that stayed with me until he walked back through the door in one piece again.

Noticing the worry in my voice, Hunter walked over to me. "You've got nothing to worry about," he whispered, just to me. "Everything's gonna be fine." He smiled down at me. "Same as always."

"Can't you just…not go?" I knew I was repeating myself, asking him not to leave, but this horrible feeling of dread had settled in the pit of my stomach.

"That's not the way this works, HC," he groaned, looking pained. "I can'tnotgo."

"I'll go with him," Noah announced, jerking off the couch.

"No, you fucking won't," Hunter shot back. "Sit your ass back down."

"If you have to go, then take Noah with you," I urged, feeling a little better knowing that he wouldn’t be alone. "Please?"

Hunter stared hard at me for the longest moment before releasing a low growl. "Fine." He turned to look at Noah and said, "You're an asshole for this."

Noah grinned. "Happy to help."

"I'll be back in an hour," Hunter said, tone much softer now that his attention was focused on me. He pressed a kiss to my lips and said, "two, at the most," before turning around and walking away.

"Hunter?" I called out as I watched him walk out of the room with Noah.

"Yeah?" he replied, casting a glance over his shoulder.

"Stay alive." Forcing a small smile, I tightened my hold. "Please."

I watched him smile that dirty, boyish grin I'd grown to love.

"Sweetheart, you've got nothing to worry about," he teased. "I'm bulletproof."

Then he was gone.

And the worrying began.

****

Chapter Fifty-Four

Lucky

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