Page 48 of Torment

Hunter tightened his hold on her hand. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“I can literally hear those wheels turning inside your head. Don’t think about what’s going to happen tomorrow. You just concentrate on getting through today. Okay?”

She looked up at him. “Okay.”

Hunter’s face was still bruised, the cut above his eye slightly swollen from the way she’d punched him a few days ago. Why he allowed her to do it, she didn’t know. He said it was because she needed it, but she suspected that maybe he needed it more. After that night in Winnetka when he took her to an illegal cage fighting match, she was well aware of his masochistic ways. It was how he dealt with his shit.

Come to think of it, the night she met him at Twisted Fable was the only time she had seen him without a bruised face. The bruises were starting to become part of his facial features.

Colton and James were already waiting by the foyer when Hunter and Scarlet came walking down the stairs.

She saw how Colton’s gaze zeroed in on Hunter’s hand enclosing hers. He looked away and leaned his head to each side like he was loosening his muscles, easing the tension in his shoulders.

Everyone was on edge.

James stepped up to them. “You want to go over the plan one more time?”

“No,” Scarlet replied. “I’ve got it.”

“You sure? This has to go according to plan, Scarlet. Brent knows about this meeting, and he’ll do anything to stop it from happening.”

Hunter let go of her hand and moved forward, blocking her from James. “We got the plan, Baxter. And believe me, she knows the risks better than any of us.”

James rubbed his head. “Sorry. I know you know the risks. I just…I wish I could go with you.”

Scarlet nudged Hunter out of the way, wanting to face her dad. “I get why you can’t. I do. So don’t worry about it. I’m sure between Hunter and Colton, I’ll be safe.”

“Yeah.” James turned toward Colton, who was still standing by the front door. “You ready?”

Colton nodded.

James faced Hunter. “Take care of my little girl.”

Hunter gave a slight nod, and then Scarlet noticed this look between the two of them, like they knew something the rest of them didn’t.

“What was that?” Scarlet whispered as they both approached Colton.

“What was what?”

“That look between you and James.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Scarlet glanced up at him. “Of course you don’t.”

Colton straightened when they stopped next to him, and reached behind him before holding out a gun toward Hunter.

Hunter shook his head. “No need, soldier boy.” He lifted his shirt, showing off the gun at his side. “I have my own.”

“Fine.” Colton reached for the door handle, but paused. “Don’t be a hero, Hunter.”

“Don’t be a pussy, Riggs.”

Scarlet just shook her head. There was no way those two would ever like each other, which was why she never told Hunter about Colton’s sister. It wouldn’t change Hunter’s mind about him—not in the slightest.

When they stepped outside, there were four black SUVs waiting. Each would be going in a different direction just in case they were being followed.

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