Page 68 of When He Hunts

Yeah, and Luna Black would be hurt. “Ronan will not fall in love. He might be fucking her, but…” His words trailed off. Five minutes ago, he would have said that Ronan would never fuck a target. He would have been wrong about that assessment.

“Anyone can love. Even the darkest villain can have one person that touches something softer inside of him.” Her head tilted. Her hair trailed over her shoulder. “What is it about Ronan that makes you so sure he can’t love her? After all, he loves you.”

Tyler frowned at Esme.

“He’s your friend. Your family. You might still be a wee bit pissed about what went down between the two of you, but the bond is there. Unbreakable. Isn’t that why you’re here? Because Grayson called you and told you that he wanted someone to watch Ronan’s back?”

Yes.

“And in a blink, you dropped everything. Here we are.”

He wanted to tell her more about Ronan. About why he was so sure Ronan would not give in and love Luna. About the wall that Ronan had always put up. Hell, Ronan hadn’t wanted the ties of friendship. They’d been forced on him.

Tyler remembered when he’d first met Ronan. The guy had smiled plenty, but the smile had never reached his eyes. That was the thing about Ronan. He could seem open. Even easy-going at times. But it was a lie. Nothing really got past Ronan’s guard.

A guard that had been put in place when Ronan was just a teen. The time he’d gotten the scar on his face. After that horrible day, Ronan had become far too good at pretending.

And maintaining outward appearances. Hell could be brewing inside Ronan, and the rest of the world would never know it.

Tyler exhaled.

“I don’t like it when you keep secrets. Aren’t we supposed to share everything?”

Before he could answer Esme, his phone rang. Right on time, of course. Gray was always punctual. Unless, of course, he’d been kidnapped and subjected to a long torture spree. That recent event had been the only time Gray had gone off the radar. Like his buddy Kane Harte, Tyler was increasingly worried about what that time in torture had done to Gray. Not that Gray would share his secrets or his pain with them. The man tried to act invincible.

No one was invincible.

“Saved by the bell. We will revisit this chat. Secrets bite everyone in the ass.” She released him and stepped back.

“Sweetheart, you are the queen of secrets.” She lived and breathed them.

She blew him a kiss and turned away.

He put the phone to his ear. “Don’t know if you’re aware,” Tyler began, “but phones are frowned on in this establishment.” He was using the Wi-Fi calling option on his phone because regular cellular coverage was pretty much shit on the little island. Or key. Or whatever the hell it was supposed to be.

“Yes, the very lack of phone usage in your location is why the retreat makes for such a perfect hiding spot. But even seemingly perfect things have flaws.” Gray’s voice was tight with tension.

Tyler felt his gut twist. Something was wrong. “I’m in position. Made contact. He knows backup is close.”

“We have a problem.”

“Already?” Way too fast. “I haven’t even unpacked.”

“A hit has been placed. One of our techs just passed along the news. We monitor the Dark Web and?—”

“Yeah, yeah, save me that particular explanation. I get that the Feds have their naughty fingers in all sorts of places. Get focused on the hit.”

Esme slanted him a frown over her shoulder. “Did you mean for that to sound X-rated? Do tell Grayson to keep his fingers to himself.”

“I am focused on the hit,” Gray groused. He’d obviously overheard Esme.

The hit should not have come so fast. “I thought Marcus Aeros believed that Luna was dead?” He’d been briefed before his arrival so Tyler understood what he was facing. Or at least, he’dthoughthe understood.

“Oh, Marcus does believe she’s dead. Currently, anyway. Despite the plan I previously threw out to Ronan.”

What plan?

“This hit isn’t for Luna. That’s what makes it problematic.”

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