Page 36 of Married into the Mob
“Aunt Louisa is amazing. She’s a receptionist at a realtor’s by day and cleans officesuntil late evening, sometimes the early hours of the morning. We both work two jobs.”
“I admire what you did. You kept your family afloat.”
I stared out the window at the countryside, clad in darkness. “Until I didn’t.”
“Okay, enough for tonight. Sorry to make you relive that. But tomorrow we start strategizing about how to find Draven and expose his scheme.”
I had so many questions, but my body was drained of energy. Food, shower, and bed were in my future, I hoped, unless Hunter expected me to cloak myself in a lumberjack persona and fell some trees before building a shelter for the night.
My imagination was racing away, creating improbable situations, but if this time yesterday someone had laid out today’s events, I would have said they were jerking me around.
The road narrowed, and Hunter slowed a little, though he drove faster than the speed limit, whatever that was out here in the wilderness. The road became steeper and twisted around the mountain curves.
My thoughts drifted to the man himself. Physically he was a prime specimen. Not how I usually described alphas, but that was how some of my fellow teachers used to talk about men when we went out for a drink at the end of the week.
His dark hair stayed in place, not one strand making a run for it. His green eyes dazzled when they looked in my direction. Nothing to do with me. That was just who he was.
But a teeny tiny part of me wished those emerald eyes lit up for me.
I hunkered down in the seat and gave myself a stern talking-to. That was crazy talk. I’d been thrown into an impossible situation and now wanted my captor to like me in that special way? Nope. Not happening.
But could I call him my captor when I’d come willingly? If I hadn’t agreed, would he have picked me up like he did at the entrance to the apartment and plonked me in the car? Based on his past behavior, yes.
And what would have happened if I’d stayed in the apartment?My mind didn’t go there.
Being with Hunter was ten times better than being married to Draven. No, make that a thousand times. I shuddered, thinking of spending my wedding night with the man who didn’t see me for me but as repayment of a debt.
Shit! Wedding night. That was now! Cold shivers spread over my skin. Hunter didn’t think that… but carrying me over the threshold suggested maybe he did.
“You’re cold.”
“No, just thinking of...” I couldn’t say I was conjuring up an image of a naked Hunter.
“Draven?” Gods, no, not him. Ewww! “There’s been enough upheaval for the day. Let’s not allow him to interrupt what’s left of it.”
I didn’t respond, my mind on how many beds there were in the cabin and whether he was going to join me
The headlights picked out a building on the mountain slope. It might’ve been a big hill but looked more like a mountain.
“Home sweet home for the next few days or weeks.”
We got out and gathered the bags. “Fingers crossed the power lines weren’t knocked down in last month’s storm, but there is a generator.”
We made it to the porch, and while he stepped out of his boots, I surveyed the scenery. There was a steep slope in front of the cabin and moonlight picked out a rock garden, and beyond that, rugged ground framed by tall trees with pointed tops. The aroma reminded me of a recently cleaned bathroom. If I was anywhere else, with anyone else I’d have said it was magical.
“Come in. Lights are on.”
I suddenly felt alone out here by myself, and I hurried inside after removing my shoes. Slamming the door behind me, I gazed at the largish room. I was all wood with iron chandeliers and checked curtains, sofas that were a little worn, and thick rugs under our feet.
The adjoining kitchen was small, but there was a fridge and a stove. Two doors led off the main room, and I hoped they were two bedrooms. But my hopes were dashed when Hunter followed my gaze and said he’d sleep on the couch.
I hid a yawn behind my hand, but he caught me. “Bet you’re pleased I bought those frozen meals now.”
“I was thinking of just making a sandwich.”
“No, I’ll make us a…” He grabbed a packet from the cooler. “Delicious curry and rice.”
Not sure I could get excited by a frozen meal, but if he was going to heat it up, I’d eat it.
