Blindsight: The Series (Complete Erotic Suspense STANDALONE) (27 page)

I rubbed at my belly, thankful that the little life that lived inside wasn't out in this big bad world yet. I had time to change this world for him. I had time to make a difference and remove him from this criminal life I'd been pulled into. And if that meant leaving Hunter, I would do it. I'd had enough of Hunter's half-truths and lies by omission.
 

But despite everything, I ached for what we could have. In the moments where Hunter and I existed alone, I couldn't picture a life of happiness and joy without him. The man behind the camera, the artist working to the tune of the rhythmic click. My head told me this was all wrong and running was the only path to survival, but my heart had different ideas. If I left him, Hunter would invade every moment of my life and every shattered corner of my heart. Our love was inevitable.
 

I tucked further into the sheets of my bed, desperate to close my eyes and escape my new reality. Hunter's top notch security system had failed, and my house didn't have half the tech his did. We had a rudimentary system that was on the fritz half the time. If JW wanted me, he could get me right here, and the sad truth was, I was so numb to the shock of all the revelations that my head was left spinning and I didn't have the energy to care.
 

I could stay at my mom's house outside of the city -- I would surely be safer there -- but then that would require explaining everything to my mom and putting her in the direct line of danger.
 

I sighed and rolled over, glancing at the clock to find it past eleven at night, the bright summer moon streaking through the windows keeping my thoughts pulsing with madness. Wandering to the kitchen downstairs, I brewed myself a cup of decaf tea, and as it steeped, I glanced around my home wondering if I could raise a child there. Hell, raise a child by myself at all. I hadn't told Hunter yet; the fact was I could still run. Disappear and remove this baby from all the harm that would surely come of being born into this life.
 

I dumped the tea bag in the trash and added a few drops of honey to my cup before heading for the small deck that dominated the tight square footage of our backyard. Barefoot, I stepped out onto the cool wood, soaking up the soft moonlight as the sounds of the city filled my ears.
 

``Erin.'' A soft voice carried on the wind and startled me from my thoughts, causing hot tea to wash down my hand and scorch. I screamed and dropped the cup on the deck where it shattered and splashed more hot water across my feet.
 

``Fuck!'' Boots thudded up the deck stairs and swooped me into hard biceps.
 

``Get the fuck away from me,'' I seethed and ripped myself from his grip.
 

``Erin. Hear me out for a minute.''
 

``Not a chance. I've heard you out way too many times, starting with that first night you introduced me to your stepfather. Not again, Hunter.''
 

``Well, too fucking bad.'' He pinned me against his hard body before he dragged me to the bench on the porch and yanked me into his lap. ``Need to feel you.'' He sucked one quick breath in at my neck before his fingers tightened at my elbows. The adrenaline had always fueled Hunter's lust, but I wouldn't let it take me under this time. Not ever again.
 

``Let me go,'' I grit and tried to wrench myself from his grasp.
 

``We're way past that, Princess,'' Hunter answered as he held me firmly seated on his lap. ``I've got explaining to do, and we're in this too deep for you not to give me the chance to do it.'' He paused and his deep green orbs flashed in the silver light. He had no idea just how deep we were, and I'd be damned if I would tell him now.
 

I clenched my jaw. ``Fine.''
 

``When I was in the Army--''
 

``Fuck, Hunter, stop living in the past! I don't care about what happened then. Why the fuck have you been stalking me for months?!'' I must have caught him off guard because his grip loosened and I jumped from his arms, sprinting across the deck to gain distance from him.
 

``It's all fucking related!'' His voice barreled closer, and before I could think, I darted through the doors of my house and through the kitchen. I needed away from him, I had to get out. I couldn't handle anymore of his brand of honesty.
 

``Listen!'' he bellowed when he finally caught my elbow and pushed me over the soft leather of the couch. I grit my teeth, wanting to fight him, take my rage out on him for putting me in all of this trouble. I'd settle for a bite, maybe a scratch. Anything to draw some blood. I wanted him to pay for his dishonesty.
 

``If I have to listen to your explanations one more time Hunter fucking Ellis, I'll claw your eyes out.'' I twisted until his grip softened. Softened but did not release.
 

``The fuck you will, Princess.'' Hunter's voice rang with a thread of amusement that grated across every one of my nerves.
 

``I was special forces in the Army. My last tour I was visited by a recruiter for Quantico...'' Hunter's voice fell off on his last word.
 

``Quantico?'' I turned, my eyes widening with realization. ``The FBI?'' His grip finally loosened, and I stood and turned to find his eyes. They held mine, raw and bare, telling me he had no secrets left to reveal. This was it. The big one.
 

``They'd done their research.'' Hunter pushed a hand through his short hair. ``Knew my connections to JW. Once they saw I was interested in bringing him down, serious about being on the straight and narrow...I flipped.'' He nearly choked on the last word before stalking off to the large bay windows, his hand working fiercely at the nape of his neck. ``I came home from Afghanistan with the intent of going undercover in the outfit. Feds are cracking down on crime in the city, and it starts right here, with me and JW,'' his voice cracking.
 

``Jesus Christ.'' I walked to his large form silhouetted in the moonlight.
 

``This is the first time I've lost track of him. And you--you have been the wild card, Princess. But JW is ingrained deep in your life, and you didn't even know it. So it's true, I brought you in to protect you. I just didn't bargain on falling in love with you.'' His gaze cut to mine and a soft cocky smile lit one side of his mouth. ``If I can't find him in the next few days, they're threatening to take me off the case for my own safety. Feds want me to go wit-pro. JW is a violent variable. He's off the radar, which puts every one of us in danger. Mostly you.''
 

``Hunter--''
 

``I told them I wouldn't go into wit-pro unless they could promise it for you too.''
 

``Hunter.'' My heart thudded dangerously in my chest as this new bolt of information struck me. ``Witness protection? I can't, that's--that's a whole new life!'' Tears I'd thinly veiled now surged down my cheeks. ``No, no, this can't be right. None of it.'' I shook my head, thrusting my hands in my hair.
 

``The FBI doesn't offer wit-pro to just anyone; there has to be an excessive threat...''
 

``God, Hunter. It's so much more complicated than that.'' Bile burned my stomach and surged up my throat. I didn't have the leisure of waiting for the right time anymore. This was life and death. Times three. ``I have to tell you something,'' I said through frustration as I realized my life was making a one-eighty again.
 

``Is everything okay?'' His eyes darted up and down my body as if looking for wounds yet to be discovered.
 

I pulled Hunter down on the couch with me, clutching his fingers in mine for strength I didn't think I possessed. I swallowed the softball in my throat and then blurted, ``I'm pregnant.''

nine

Green irises swam as his muscles tensed and his grip twitched in my hand. I saw him swallow before his fingers pulled from mine and clenched at his own powerful thighs. Finally, his gaze broke and turned away, first across the room, then down to his own legs. His chest filled with a great breath before his head swung to meet my gaze again and his hand reached out for mine. His other arm pulled me into his lap to straddle him, his hands thrust in my hair and his lips pressing with bruising force against mine.
 

I pulled away, my hands at his stubbled cheeks, my lips dusting his. ``I was on birth control, but then my prescription ran out, and I wasn't having sex anyway, so I just thought--'' I caught myself falling into that nervous rambling thing I did. ``I don't know what I thought...'' I trailed off and looked away. ``Please, say something,'' I begged, still afraid of the words that may tumble from his luscious lips. His eyes danced and shone with emotion before his lips curved in the smallest of smiles and his eyes cast down to the floor.
 

With a shake of his head he uttered, ``I can't. You've left me completely fucking speechless, Princess.''
 

``So...'' I trailed off, my insides still twisting with anxiety as my heart galloped at a new speed. ``It's okay?'' was the only question I could think to ask.
 

``Okay?'' He shook his head and laughed. ``It's fucking incredible.'' His grin shone brighter than I'd ever seen. Happier than he was behind the camera, happier than he'd been in the few pictures I'd seen from his childhood. The smile beaming across from me right now looked radiant. ``It makes things a little more complicated,'' he added as both of his hands slid down my torso and cupped my abdomen, ``But we'll do it. We'll do this, Erin.'' His eyes cast up to me. ``I'll get all three of us out of this.''
 

``Really? Because it's only gotten worse. Violence has escalated, I don't know if...'' I broke eye contact as I gnawed on my bottom lip, worry causing my sour stomach. Worry and pregnancy hormones.
 

``I swear to God, Erin Warner, before this baby is born we'll be long out of Chicago. Far away, anywhere you wanna go, just as soon as I can manage it.'' He rubbed my tummy then brought both his hands to cup my cheeks, running the pads of his thumbs along the arches. ``Now what are you doing up so late? A new mom needs a full night's rest.'' He hoisted me into his arms and climbed up my stairs.
 

``What about the back door?'' I shrieked, laughing and clutching at his broad shoulders for support.
 

``I'll get it. You don't have to worry about a thing. From now on, I'm protecting you and this little guy,'' Hunter huffed with all the pride of a new dad.
 

A giggle erupted from my throat. ``Think it's a boy, huh?'' I smiled and snuggled into his arms.
 

``It's a little dude. I know.'' His green eyes glinted and his full lips lifted in a cocky grin before he walked me across the doorway and laid me in my bed.
 

``Is it dumb that I came here? Your house has better security--''
 

Hunter's sigh echoed in the small space as he fluffed pillows and tucked the comforter around me. ``JW has proven he can get anywhere he wants to be. I'm not sure we're any safer there than anywhere else. You with me is the safest bet.''
 

``You always say that...''
 

``I always say it because it's true. Last time you got kidnapped, you'd snuck out on me.'' He gave me a pointed glance.
 

I twisted and smiled impishly. ``The last time? Better be the only time,'' I grunted then tucked myself into Hunter's body and sucked in his thick smoky scent that sent my toes curling.
 

``You know, you have a habit of running -- is that something I need to be worried about?'' Hunter fixed me with another of his sexy glares.
 

``Mmm...'' I hummed and ran my fingertips across the planes of his etched chest. ``Nope. Stuck to you like glue.'' I echoed my earlier words with amusement lacing my voice.
 

``Good. How it should have been in the first place.'' A hand landed on my head and pulled it into the hollow of his neck. ``Sleep tight, Princess.'' He stroked my hair gently. ``I've got you,'' he rumbled before my eyes closed and I drifted into a dream ravaged sleep. There were still more questions to answer, but I felt lighter than I'd been in weeks. Hunter knew, and he wasn't upset. We were expecting a baby. All things considered, my future looked brighter than it ever had.

ten

 
I woke early the next morning to the sound of Hunter's low rumble on the phone. Pulling myself from the warm sheets, I wished that I could spend the entire day wrapped in them, and headed down the hallway. I walked by the mess of things that had been my house. I hadn't picked up anything since the FBI had been in and out of it gathering files on my husband. If I left it all as is, my own little perfect bubble of denial could remain intact. If I didn't deal with it, it didn't exist.
 

Turning the corner, I found Hunter at my kitchen table, laptop splayed wide open with paperwork everywhere, his low voice murmuring on the phone every now and again, doing more huffing than talking.
 

I waited silently at the doorway, hoping I could decipher who he may be speaking with. He'd left me in the dark far too long and this was survival -- if that meant eavesdropping, then that was the game. Hunter's mumbling soon intensified into a near growl.
 

``That's not an option.'' He rubbed fingers at his forehead. ``I won't do it that way. But I can't walk away. I can have this wrapped up in a few days. We just need to locate him.'' He paused for a few moments listening. ``The plan stays the same. I can get him here, just give me the time to do it.'' He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes, casting his head down to the table, before mumbling briefly and snapping the flip phone shut.
 

It was his burner.
 

``Who was that?'' I refused to be backed into anymore corners. Never again would I allow a man to keep me in the dark.