Page 79 of Hunted Vengeance

“Go shower while I get you something to eat, then we’ll go shopping. I’m sure you need everything.”

I do need everything—every damn thing. I open my mouth to tell him that it’s okay, I can figure it out, but he doesn’t let me. Merrick closes the distance between us, lifting his hands before he cups my cheeks, then touches his mouth to mine. He doesn’t deepen the kiss. Instead, he speaks against my lips.

“You’re here, you’re safe, you’re mine. Let me take care of you, Colette.”

Yes, please.

I melt for him.

This man who didn’t need to come back to save me. Who didn’t need to come back to me at all. And yet, here he is and here I am. I’m never going anywhere, not ever again. I would have to be killed to ever leave his side again. Because no way in hell will I ever go willingly—not ever again.

Chapter Thirty-Six

MERRICK

Opening the car door,I look around the street, wondering if we’re safe. I honestly don’t know. That contract may not have been canceled. I was so preoccupied with Ravet, Adriano, and everything that was happening in that room, I totally fucking lost my focus. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I lost control.

Complete and total fucking control—gone.

Walking into the shop, I tug Colette back, spinning her around to face me. She looks like she is a fucking deer in headlights, and I can’t help but smile because she’s so fucking cute right now.

Maybe it’s because she’s now irrevocably mine. Possibly because she’s just fucking adorable. Because she is. Dipping my chin, I touch my lips to hers in a chaste kiss. “Go shopping. Get whatever the fuck you want. I need to make a few phone calls.”

Colette sinks her teeth into the corner of her bottom lip as her gaze searches mine for a moment, then nods once before she turns and walks farther into the store. I don’t know what she’s hesitating about, but I don’t turn around until she starts to actually look at the clothes.

Her fingers slide over the fabric of one item, then another, before she pulls a dress off the shelf. She examines it for a moment, then drapes it over her arm. Feeling confident that she’s going to be good, I step outside and stand next to the front door as I reach into my pocket and take out my phone.

Finding the name in my contacts, I touch the call icon. As I hold my phone to my ear, I scan the street in front of me. A motorcycle rides by, the rider’s back patch reading Night Devils MC, and then three more follow behind him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them downtown before.

“Vaughn,” the deep voice clips on the other end of the line.

I was going to meet with him this afternoon, but I can’t shake the feeling that I completely and totally fucked the fuck up. My focus vanished when it should have been at its sharpest.

“Ravet is dead,” I murmur.

Vaughn doesn’t say anything, likely because he already knows through Theron or Grayson. Instead of waiting for him to respond, I figure he isn’t going to, so I continue.

“I’m pretty sure I fucked up. I forgot about that contract. Shit got out of control.”

“You mean you got out of control?” Vaughn asks.

I’m not sure I want to respond to that question. I open my mouth to say something, then snap my lips closed and clear my throat as I rock back on my heels. Sure, this situation, for the most part, ended up the way we wanted, but at the same time, it didn’t.

“I don’t know how to fix it,” I confess. “I fucked up.”

Vaughn chuckles before he clears his throat. “You didn’t fuck up. None of us can think straight when it comes to Ravet. He’s gone, but the contract hasn’t been canceled yet, so yeah, you’re still wearing a fucking target. But it’s not the end of the world. I think we might have this figured out.”

I almost laugh. Almost. Because it would be the end of my world if someone fucking offed me—literally.

“Explain to me like I’m fucking stupid how this isn’t the end of anything,” I reply instead.

Vaughn chuckles. “Come down to the office. We’ll have a conversation. Some new pieces of information have come to light on the situation.”

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

“We’ll be waiting.”

COLETTE

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