Page 88 of When He Hunts

She’d only known him a few days.

Didn’t matter how long it had been, though.I love him.

She opened the door.

“Hi, new friend!” Esme shrilled brightly. She barreled inside and embraced Luna. A warm, strong hug. And damn if Luna didn’t need a hug right then and there. Her hands rose, and, for a moment, she hugged the other woman back just as tightly.

“It will be okay,” Esme whispered into Luna’s ear. “Don’t give up on him. Some men just will not rest until they’ve eliminated the threats to the ones they love.”

But he didn’t love her.

She pulled from Esme’s embrace. “What threat?”

Tyler shut the bungalow door behind Esme. He crossed his arms over his chest. Luna had the feeling he was a giant, immovable object intent on blocking her path. “You’re not gonna like this,” Tyler warned her.

“I was just told Ronan left me. I already don’t like things.” Her chin notched up. “It would have been polite to tell me goodbye.”

“It would have been painful,” Esme corrected with a shudder. “Goodbyes are the worst. Especially when you realize you’ve fallen in love for the first time in your life.”

Her gaze cut right back to Esme. “How do you know I love him?”

“Mon amie,it is on your face when you look at him. In your voice when you say his name.” A sigh. “Love can hurt. But it can also bring so much joy.”

Did she look joyous right then? Joy was not the emotion pouring through her. “I’m assuming you two are my new guards?”

“I am your new friend,” Esme stressed. “Perhaps I will become your very best one.” She offered a wide smile. “I am a very useful friend to have.Je promets.”

Luna’s lips pressed together. Her right foot tapped on the floor. “I feel like you’re both stalling. Just as I felt like you were stalling on the beach.” There were no clocks on the wall. No clocks on the whole island. Part of the whole relaxation and time-having-no-meaning bit. No clocks. No TVs.

But she had seen Ronan’s watch on the nightstand…

She stopped tapping her foot. “I guess the island’s transport boat has left already?” That would have been why they were stalling. To give Ronan time to leave the island.

Tyler inclined his head.

“Am I going to get a new identity now?” She kept her chin up. “A new life some place? Ronan left me because his job was done?”

Tyler and Esme shared a glance. They did that. A lot.

Tyler cleared his throat. “His job isn’t quite done. You won’t be getting that new ID just yet. Instead, you’ll be staying here on the island with us while Ronan takes care of unfinished business.”

Goosebumps rose onto her arms. “Just what would that unfinished business be?”

Esme edged closer to Tyler. “He’s not supposed to reveal confidential info. Grayson will be a pain in the ass to him if he does.” She flashed a mega-smile. “I, however, am under no such restrictions.”

She focused on the other woman. Completely. “What is happening?”

“A hit has been placed.”

Luna backed up a step. “Marcus knows I’m alive?” He’d put another hit on her already? Her eyes widened in horror and fear and?—

“Non.Not on you. The hit is on Ronan.”

The wave of shock that rolled through Luna was so intense that her knees almost hit the floor. “No!”

But Esme nodded. “Marcus put a bounty on Ronan’s head. Because of that hit order, Ronan knew the sharks would be closing in. He didn’t want to risk anyone seeing you with him. So he left. No doubt, he told himself it was so he could better protect you.”

Breathing was too hard. Something heavy weighed down her chest.

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