Page 92 of When He Hunts

A nod. “Maybe we should.”

“I’ve got extra weapons in my car.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” You could never have too many in situations like this one. “Statements like that are why you could be my very best friend in the whole world.”

“I’m not going to tell Gray you said that.”

“Don’t. It would just hurt his feelings.”

“You are not seriously stayingwith me the entire time.” Luna sat in the oversized, rather lush chair in the bungalow’s small den. She took turns glaring first at Tyler. Then at Esme.

Esme waved happily back at her.

“We are seriously staying with you,” Tyler affirmed. There was no happy wave from him. Just a glower. “Because the minute we leave you alone, you’ll run.”

“Where will I run to?” She tried to sound reasonable. “The boat is gone.”

He raised one brow. “So, here’s the deal. You think you’re gonna cut out and save him, don’t you?”

“I think…”There’s a seaplane on this island. Maybe I can bribe the pilot to fly it out.She’d seen the seaplane when she’d been out snorkeling. “I think I don’t want Ronan risking his life for me.”

Esme’s warm laughter filled the air. “Oh,mon amie, risk is his job. It’s what he does. He would risk himself for a stranger.” She wagged her index finger at Luna, as if Luna had just made the most hilarious joke ever. Spoiler, she had not. “Of course, he would risk himself for you.”

Her hands grabbed for the arms of the chair and dug in a bit too hard. “I don’t want that. I don’t want him getting hurt because of me.”

“Ronan has training. Years and years of covert, dangerous training that has honed him into the hunter he is today.” There was no warm laughter from Tyler. There was pretty much no warmth from him at all. Except when he looked at Esme. However, he wasn’t looking at Esme right then. His eyes were on Luna. “You have zero training, drama teacher.”

“You don’t have to be mean, Tyler.” A rare chide from Esme.

“I’m not being mean. I’m being honest. She has zero training. She runs out, she tries to trade herself for him or do some other stupid shit?—”

Luna flinched.

“Then she dies,” he said, a blunt and brutal summary. “Did you hear me, Luna?”

Yes, her hearing was quite good.

“You will die if you do that crap. Not a pretend death. A real one. And it’s very possible that your attempt to save my friend will result in him losing his life. I don’t want Ronan dying. Yes, he can be a pain in the ass to me, but I’m quite fond of him. So I will do nothing to jeopardize him. Kane will be his backup. They’ll handle the situation, and when we have the all clear, you will get your new life.” A roll of one shoulder as he began to prowl around the bungalow. “Or maybe you’ll even be able to get your old one back. Who knows?”

Her old life didn’t include Ronan. Then again, neither did her new one. “I don’t want to put him in more danger.” That was the last thing she wanted.

“Good. Then we’ll all sit our asses down and we’ll—” A knock interrupted Tyler.

She didn’t point out that her ass was already sitting down. Luna thought that was obvious.

At the knock, battle-ready tension rolled through Tyler. He grabbed a gun from the nearby table—he’d placed it there earlier—and padded for the door. “Are we expecting guests?” A lethal intensity underscored his words.

Esme cleared her throat. “Oui.”

He fired a glance her way.

“We’re going to be here for a while.” She shrugged. Appeared vaguely guilty. “I ordered some wine. Non-alcoholic cider. Cheese. No reason things have to be unpleasant.” She tapped her index finger against her lower lip. “Chocolate will be in the delivery, as well.”

“Esme…”

“It’s painful enough for her.” Her gaze darted to Luna. “Let’s make the best of things, shall we?”

Grumbling, he went to the door. Tyler checked before he opened it, and sure enough, an attendant delivered wine and apple cider, three glasses, cheese, and an assortment of decadent chocolates. In moments, the treats were organized and the server was gone.

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