Blindsight: The Series (Complete Erotic Suspense STANDALONE) (23 page)

``No,'' I moaned, ready to collapse at Hunter's slouched form and give up. Nothing mattered--the world would cease moving if Hunter's heart stopped in his chest.
 

``Let's go.'' John Walker lifted me from the concrete. ``Get the fuck up.'' He yanked on my arms and was towing me sideways. My thoughts all of a sudden bolted to the thought of the unborn baby tucked inside my belly. I hadn't taken the test yet, but I felt now more than ever that the little guy lived there all the same. I'd been denying it, but now I felt only the need to protect it.
 

I stumbled to my feet, conscious now of protecting what was mine to protect, and sucked up the emotion that echoed in my heart at walking away from the man who lit my bloodstream with wildfire. ``Tie her to a chair.'' JW threw me into the arms of a new guard. ``And you deal with him.'' JW gestured to the VIP bastard that'd dragged me in here and my eyes caught his briefly. I tried my best to plead without words, but his cold gaze averted and nodded at JW before turning to go to Hunter. When the bastard was close enough, he landed a kick squarely in Hunter's stomach.
 

I shrieked and nearly fell to my knees again before the new guard at my elbow pulled me into an office with one large window that overlooked the rest of the loading bay. He tied me to one of the chairs along the wall, before JW slammed the door and closed the blinds with a quick flick just as the VIP cocksucker was landing another blow to Hunter, boot connecting with chest this time. So much for loyalty to friends. They'd seemed perfectly cordial at the VIP lounge, and now here he was, stealing Hunter's life. The streets are a dog eat dog world.
 

``Please don't kill him.'' I sobbed.
 

``Shouldn't have interfered with his work, Princess. You should have stopped him from running, all to save your ass.'' JW's grip tightened at my throat.
 

Choking on angry nerves, I thought of the innocent life I had to protect inside me. I had to get both of us out alive. I would do what I could to save Hunter, only I was afraid there wasn't much that could be done.
 

One more gunshot echoed through the warehouse, causing me to jump with panic. ``He's dead, Erin.'' JW's eyes glanced to the guard at my side with a slick smile. ``I tried to play this fair, but Clu always gets in over his head. Now tell me where the rest of the money is,'' JW snarled just as the office door burst open and Hunter rushed into the room. A shot tore through the silence before the guard at my side dropped to the ground.
 

``Back the fuck off her,'' Hunter warned, his eyes iced and focused on JW's. The older man's long, cold laugh floated on the air in the room.
 

``So fucking smart, huh, boy?'' JW cackled, ratcheting my fear another deadly notch. ``You turned out good, I'll give you that. Much better than that good for nothing crack whore would have raised,'' JW huffed as his gaze cut to Hunter. ``I did you a favor when I got rid of her.'' JW's eyes burned through Hunter's.
 

``What the fuck are you talking about?'' Hunter grit, his gun wavering slightly in his white-knuckled hands.
 

``She knew too much. When we parted ways, she started slipping secrets between the sheets. Didn't take long before I realized there was only one way to shut her up. The pills, the whoring--she made it all too easy.'' JW winked, his yellowed canine tooth gleaming in the fluorescent light.
 

``You son of a bitch.'' Hunter pulled the hammer on the gun, the click echoing through the stifling room.
 

``Then you went and pulled this one into it.'' JW's rough fingertips connected with the tip of my chin and steered my gaze to Hunter. ``Collateral damage,'' he tsked with a disingenuous shake of his head. ``Not in the game plan.''
 

``Get your fucking hands off her.'' Hunter took two steps forward and aimed the pistol at JW's forehead.
 

Just shoot him. Just shoot him
, I pleaded on repeat, knowing it was our only way out. Our only way to stay alive. The only way for Hunter,
for all of us
, to really be free.
 

``Don't forget who saved you, son. Who put clothes on you, a roof over your head, gave you your first job. I was there for you. You don't betray family. Bad move, boy.''
 

``Family? You murdered my mother, you useless cocksucker,'' Hunter snarled and took another measured step forward. I clenched my eyes, preparing for the blast that would soon follow.
 

``I saved you from a life on the streets. I did nothing but good for you, even let you run with this photography bullshit like a bitch.'' JW's fist connected with Hunter's jaw milliseconds later and they were both on the floor scuffling, Hunter's gun scraping across the cracked linoleum at my feet.
 
Without thinking twice, I kicked it across the room and ripped at my ties, hoping to find some slack that hadn't been there before, to no avail. I glanced back to the men grunting a few feet away; JW had pulled a knife and was rearing back to plunge it into Hunter's flesh. I lunged and spun, the metal chair clattering along with me, throwing all my strength into JW's body before his cold steel blade could pierce the man I loved.
 
I landed with an awkward slump, registering almost instantly as my eyes opened that there was bright red blood everywhere. Calloused hands shoved me across the floor into the old wooden desk, banging my head and causing a wave of dizziness to overtake me, before the faint pounding of boot steps brought me back to reality.
 

``Fuck!'' Hunter roared before my blurry vision crystallized and I saw him clutching at his arm, crimson gushing from a gash in his bicep as he leapt across the floor to reach for JW's gun.
 

``Where is he?'' I breathed, unsure I'd even said the words aloud through the incessant pounding in my skull. Before Hunter could reply two law enforcement agents in Kevlar rushed into the room, weapons drawn.
 

``Where's JW?'' one officer shouted.
 

``Ran,'' Hunter choked as a few more agents crowded the office.
 

``EMTs are on the way. Did you see which way he went?'' I could see more bodies swarming outside the office before a medical team poured into the room, their sights on Hunter, and then me. Another one checked the vitals on the guard that had been shot standing next to me before pulling a thin blanket over the body.
 

``He's lost a lot of blood. BP's down. He'll need a liter at least.'' The medics evaluated Hunter as agents freed me of my binds and the paramedics were free to assess my damage. I sat, brain fogged and in fear, unable to utter a single answer to any of their questions.
 

``Hunter,'' I whispered, eyes burning when Hunter was lifted onto a stretcher and taken away, a small group of men scurrying off with him.
 

``Does this hurt?'' The medic pressed at a soft bruise on my upper arm causing me to wince. I swallowed, tears pricking my eyes before water finally unleashed in rivers down my cheeks. ``Anything else?'' The woman's dark eyes held mine.
 

I nodded, finally able to form a full sentence as my stomach churned with panic. ``I-I'm pregnant.''

three

I was released from the hospital that night after being treated for a few sore ribs and a sprained wrist. The Feds had questioned me about the minute to minute details of my abduction and the proceeding shootout that had apparently resulted in an armed and dangerous JW at large. I twisted my hands back and forth and told them I knew nothing of JW and Brant's arrangement or the money laundered, I didn't even know that they knew each other. The men nodded and made a few notes, overly polite and thanking me for my time, reassuring me that despite media reports, I had never been a ``missing link'' in the investigation.
 

Stepping into the hospital lobby, I found a silently sleeping Hunter hunched in a waiting room chair. I smiled, my heart filling my chest with gratitude and love at the sight of him. He was bumped and bruised, looking like he'd rolled in shit all night. I must not have looked much better. Stepping up to his large, hunched form, I ran a palm over his hard shoulder and up to the hot skin at his neck. His eyes flew open and landed on mine, a sad smile gracing his face. Both his hands reached for my own before he stood and wrapped me up in his big body.
 

Right where I liked to be.
 

``Let's go home,'' I mumbled into the cotton that smelled all Hunter, spicy and mouth-watering. My mind floated to a place in the not-far-off future where we would be a family of three. I didn't know if tonight was the night to tell him, but I would. I had no idea what he would think, but I didn't want to overthink it. I wanted a warm bath in his arms as soon as possible, and if then the time felt right, I would share the news.
 

``Fucking worst day ever.'' Hunter threw an arm over my shoulder, tucking me into him as he walked with a cool stride out the sliding doors and into the dark night.
 

We slid into an idling taxi and Hunter rattled off his address before pulling me across the vinyl. ``How are you, Princess?'' he murmured into the crown of my head.
 

``Bruised. Tired. How are you?'' I turned and dusted careful fingertips across the tightly wrapped bandage at his bicep. The memory of the jagged gash there had a shudder racing through me.
 

He shrugged before answering, ``Been better.'' He pulled me to him and snaked his nose along the skin at my neck, inhaling deeply. I settled into him, my arm across his broad chest, grazing the dirty cotton that hung loose with tatters from his time spent on the floor tonight.
 

``How did you escape? I thought you were dead.'' The words I hadn't wanted to face finally shattered through me.
 

Hunter sighed and pulled my trembling form against his. ``They stabbed me with a fucking paralytic,'' Hunter said and rubbed at his shoulder blade. So they'd used it on him too. He was never dead, JW had only wanted me to think that so I would give up what I knew. Which was nothing. Anger boiled in my veins at the violence this man had brought into my life for no reason at all. ``I was awake when they dragged you past me. Still numb as the shit wore off, but it fucking killed me when you dropped to your knees, Princess. I would’ve lost it right there and given up the whole fucking plan to pull you into my arms and tell you I wasn't fucking dead, if I could’ve fucking moved.'' Pain choked his voice as his hands kneaded at my neck and shoulders, his body pressed to mine as if he needed to feel every inch of his body against mine. ``When I finally thought it'd worn off enough that I could move, I yanked the guard's gun from his holster. Gave him a flesh wound and ran to that office. When I opened that door and saw you tied up like that...'' Hunter trailed off, one fingertip tracing the shell of my ear while his eyes glazed with violent fear. ``Just really glad you're safe.''
 

I swallowed the sharp knot in my throat. ``JW is still out there.”
 

``Yeah.'' Hunter said, his nose still buried deep at my neck. ``I've got you, Princess.'' His fingertips pressed at my scalp, leaving me with the aching need to kiss, fuck, be connected with him in every way to feel the safety I craved.
 

``Are we even safe to go back to your house? It's like hiding in broad daylight; he knows exactly where we are.''
 

``Fuck,'' he ran a hand through his short hair. ``It's the safest place I know right now. And if JW wants to fuck with me in broad daylight, let him.''
 

The cab pulled to a stop outside Hunter's home and Hunter passed the driver a bill before pulling me out behind him. Once we were inside, he slipped off my sneakers, one by one, then pulled me into his big arms.
 

``Your arm!'' I tried to wiggle free, but failed when his muscles tightened around me.
 

``Mouth shut. I need to feel you. I failed at protecting you; I need the night to make this better. Tomorrow we'll deal with tomorrow, but tonight--you and me.'' His searing greens captured mine and held me suspended, short of breath, and craving more. I nodded as Hunter padded up the sweeping staircase and into his master bath before settling me on my feet again.
 

The hot steam filled the room in short order before Hunter was undressing me, kissing me, tracing my bruises with his fingertips and his tongue, and then swallowing my mouth in long, languid strokes that stole my breath and caged my heart.
 

``What can I get you? Anything at all and it's yours,'' Hunter uttered against my lips before his warm palms trailed my torso and lifted me into the steamy tub. ``Wine? A massage?'' One hand kneaded at a sore shoulder.
 

``Just you.'' I planted a soft kiss on his lips, urging him into the bath behind me.
 

His bulky form followed before I was tucked neatly between his thighs, his impressive cock nestled against my ass, his devilish tongue whispering across the nape of my neck and sending shudders of pleasure straight to my clit.
 

``The doctor said I should avoid sex for a few days'' I said, remembering the warnings about physical trauma during pregnancy.
 

``You're the one that sounds disappointed.'' Hunter's delicious chuckle filled my insides before he wrapped my fingers in his own and laid them across my waist. With his heavy hands draped over my abdomen, I couldn't help but think of it swollen in just a few months' time.
 

``Hunter--'' I sucked in a breath, the results of the pregnancy test at the hospital burned in my memory. A blood test had confirmed it.
 

``What's that, baby?'' He nipped at my ear as my stomach began to swim. Could I do this? Could we do this? Maybe this was wrong, all wrong. Maybe bringing a child into this life was the worst thing we could do. Christ, maybe I hadn't thought this through. I loved Hunter, but that didn't make this the right decision.