Page 60 of Hunter's Revenge

“Everything okay?” she asks, glancing through the door as if she can see up the stairs.

“For now.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“A few hours tops.” I’m not going to be out for too long because I don’t think it’s fair to leave Gwen for anyone else to deal with besides me. “When I get back, I have a few things to take care of, so I’ll be in my office.”

“Okay, that’s fine.” She nods, then her huge brown eyes become more open with emotion, which suggests she’s concerned about Gwen. “What about the girl? What should I do if things become difficult with her?”

“Don’t worry about her. Leave anything difficult for me. Right now, I think I’d be right in assuming that we have some level of understanding and she won’t bedifficultfor very long.” I didn’t want to throw the Conrad thing in Gwen’s face, but I needed something to hold over her so she’ll comply.

Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with my plans.

If I had nothing to make a deal with, I would have just taken her and forced her to marry me anyway.

“Should I go up and introduce myself?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. Take her something to eat at lunchtime. You can introduce yourself then. I also want to limit contact to just you for the moment. I’ll let you know when she can meet the others, and when she can leave the room.”

Obvious discomfort enters her eyes, but she gives me a curt nod, agreeing.

“What if she tries to run?”

I smile, but I shouldn’t. There is nothing humorous here. Gwen looked like she

received my threats perfectly well, but I expect her to run again.

“Let’s hope she doesn’t while I’m away.” If she runs, I want to be here because I’ll enjoy the chase. And the punishment. Gwen has the perfect ass made for spanking.

“Okay, well, I’ll make sure everyone else is clued in.”

“Good. See you later.”

Again, she dips her head. I leave and head outside.

Once I get to my garage, which currently holds six luxury cars and three motorcycles, I select the black Kawasaki and speed off the premises, leaving my pretty little captive behind.

I can just imagine what must be running through her mind now that she knows my plans.

She’ll have questions. More questions.

All will be questions I’ll have to spoon feed answers to.

There are things about me that would be easier if she learned gradually—like everything to do with the Knights and my family. Then there are other things I’ll have to figure out as we go along.

So far, I’ve taken care of the important things, so no one in Wilmington will suspect she’s in trouble. Based on what I’ve done, no one will miss her for at least a week. Past that, it will get to a point where suspicions will be raised.

Dru will be the first to suspect something is amiss, followed by the people at the restaurant. Duke and his irritating wife, Marybeth, will probably be the next because they’re close to Gwen’s family.

I’ll have to think of a better excuse to explain her absence so it shuts down anything that will threaten my plans. But right now the primary focus is the wedding and keeping it under wraps until it’s over. The less people who know the better, especially after we contact Diego. I don’t want him discovering what I’m about to do.

Half an hour later, I pull up on the drive of Desmier’s manor home and jump off my bike.

His butler answers the door and tells me Desmier and Zakh are already waiting for me in the office, so I make my way there.

I take the quick route, which leads me to the balcony overlooking the garden.

Sitting on the grass below on a wide picnic blanket are Desmier’s wife Anastasia, and Zakh’s wife Lorelai. Both are playing with their baby girls, my nieces, Mischa and Liberty, who wear matching pink dresses.

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