Page 14 of Hunter

“Bella, no matter what you have heard, there has only ever been you,” he breathes. My brain misfires, attempting to compute what he said. That can’t be true. “Give me thirty-six months.”

“Three years? You want me to play wife for three years? No, Hunter. I want my life to start now.”

“You need me to sign, Bella. I could drag the divorce out if I wanted to.”

My mind whirls, trying to consider my options. He’s agreed to sign, but on his terms. Men in power don’t like losing; they’re also comfortable negotiating. He’s willing to barter. Sometimes, you need to play with the lion to get what you want.

“Three months,” I counteroffer, and he shakes his head.

“Twenty-four.”

“Six,” I say, then cross my arms over my chest. I straighten my shoulders and glare up at him, attempting to ooze control. He needs me, and I need him; we’re both in a win-or-lose situation.

“My final offer is twelve, or I instruct my lawyers to contest this.” He shakes the divorce contract. His eyes flick to my open fire burning adjacent to him. He saunters over and throws the paperwork on the flames. “In twelve months, present me with another one and I’ll sign, Bella. Until then, be my wife.”

I look from him to the burning document and back again.

“Do we have a deal?” he prompts, walking toward me with his hand outstretched.

“We have a deal.” He takes my hand, squeezing it in his. His large frame leans down and places a kiss on my cheek. My stomach flips like the traitor my body is around him.

“Grand doing business with ya,” he says, his Irish lilt more pronounced. “I’ll be in touch.”

With that, he releases my hand and leaves out of the front door.

Chapter eight

Hunter’s Residence, London

Isabella

Ronan, Kasia, and I stand on the steps outside Hunter’s home. It’s not a home, per se, but more of a traditional English manor house disguised by oak trees and red brick walls. From the outside, there is nothing personal about the property; it could be anything from an office block to a hotel. The last thing it resembles is a bachelor pad.

The grounds sprawl in all directions. It’s hard to believe one property has this much space in the city. Every flower bed is cleared for winter, and every bush is perfectly pruned. At the center of the white gravel driveway is a roundabout, and a statue of Thor takes pride of place.

The heavy front door opens, and my husband steps out onto the top step. He smiles warmly at me, but his face turns sour when he looks at my companions. I hadn’t told him I was bringing them. There had been an extremely heated conversation via text message regarding my moving in. He insisted it was necessary and I disagreed, but here I am.

“We have staff here, my wife,” he says, his tone calm but a clear undertone of annoyance. “Your help will be put on an extended holiday. I am happy to pay their full wages until you move home.”

“No, I want them here with me.” I pull my cashmere winter coat around myself and walk up the steps toward him. “Ronan and Kasia stay, or I walk out of here, Hunter. You’ve already moved me across the city; I won’t lose the people I trust most, too.”

He looks from me to the two employees standing at the bottom of the stairs, then back to me again. Defeat flits over his features for a second; then he returns to plastering on a fake smile.

“Very well, come in. All three of you.”

When we enter the hallway, a tall man with dark hair stands to one side dressed in a suit. He looks like security but appears relaxed in Hunter’s company. The rest of the men I’ve seen him interact with recently look positively terrified.

“Isabella, this is my associate, Damon McKinney,” Hunter says, introducing the man.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Damon steps forward and offers me his hand. He bows slightly in greeting. “Hunter has told me a lot about you.” Hunter scowls at him, but Damon looks unworried.

“How do you know each other?” I ask, unable to contain my interest. At first, I thought he must be staff, but his manner says otherwise.

“We work together,” Damon replies, glancing at my husband.

“You work for me, you mean,” Hunter corrects him, and the other man smiles wide.

“Sometimes, but then again, sometimes you do as I say.”

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