Page 69 of When He Hunts

Uh, hits tended to be problematic by their very nature. Someone was being paid to kill someone else. A bad thing. A problematic thing. “Who’s the target?” Tyler asked.

Silence.

“Gray, I’m not in the mood for games.”

“Ronan.”

“What?”

“There’s a hit on Ronan’s head. He’s the target. I’m thinking Marcus fears he’s in a kill or be killed situation. As I told you before, Marcus sent his goon after Ronan. Only instead of dying, Ronan killed the bastard.”

Yeah, he’d heard all about that. Not just from Gray. Kane had been spilling details, too. Kane was particularly worried about Ronan. And after seeing Ronan with Luna, Tyler understood his concern.He’s not going to be unemotional where she’s concerned.

But Gray wasn’t done talking. “And now, I think Marcus is panicking. I believe Marcus is trying to take out Ronan before Ronan comes for him.”

“I didn’t know Ronan was going after Marcus. Thought he was supposed to stay close to the woman.” Unless there had been a change in plans that he didn’t know about?

Silence.

“I can’t work blind,” Tyler snapped when the silence went too long.

“Ronan is supposed to stay close to Luna. And they’re both supposed to stay alive. Let’s see if we can make that happen, shall we? Double win.”

“Gray…”

“A hit has been placed on the head of our hitman. Priority one right now? It’s for you to make sure that Ronan keeps breathing. I’m rather fond of that bastard.”

Chapter Sixteen

It was just Tyler.Luna was safe the whole time. Just Tyler.Not a real attacker. Not some goon sent by Marcus to take Luna’s life. She was safe.

Ronan forced his head to lift. The kiss had been too hard. Too raw. Emotions seethed inside of him, and he needed to calm his ass down.

He actually needed to put distance between himself and Luna. Only that shit was not going to happen. He had to keep sticking to her like glue. At least, he did until the moment came when Tyler took her away.

Until Tyler swept her out of his life, gave her a new identity somewhere else, relocated her in Witness Protection, and Ronan never saw her again.

Never saw her sweet smile. The innocence that just would not die. Never heard her laugh. Never saw her again on stage as she sang with the sexiest voice imaginable but only looked straight at him. Never had her beneath him as she held him tight and she came for him. Never had her telling him more items on her adventure list so they could mark them off because Luna wanted to live before she died and he was?—

Kissing her again. Even harder than before. He could feel his control splintering. A dangerous thing. He should stop. Back away.

“Don’t,” Luna whispered.

Fuck. Had he rumbled his words out loud? Just how much had he said?

“Don’t you dare stop.” Her hands were around his shoulders. Her short nails bit into his shirt. “I want you, Ronan. I will always want you.”

He felt the same. Always. When she was gone, he’d still ache for her. But she’d be out of his reach. Too far away for him to touch and take.

All too soon, she would be gone from his world.

And he’d be back to death and darkness.

He lifted her up against him. Wrapped his arms around her and plastered her to his chest as he headed for the bedroom. He crushed rose petals beneath his feet as he walked. Rose petals were so delicate. So easily destroyed.

Luna is delicate. I will never, ever let her be destroyed.

“You are so strong,” she breathed against his lips. “Have I told you how sexy I think you are?”

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