Hunter (The Bang Shift Book 2) Read online

  Hunter looked toward Roc and said, “Don’t you get any ideas,” as they walked away.

  “Ideas are all I got, brother. All I got.”

  Hunter growled something, but didn’t stop. Maya knew that wouldn’t be the end of it. Not that she’d be around to see how it all worked out. She was just glad Heather had people who cared about her that’d help her heal. She was going to miss her friend.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Hunter stared at the unassuming house. He wasn’t sure how long he’d sat outside in his rental car, looking at it, trying to decide which bedroom belonged to Maya. He’d decided it was the second window on the top floor since the light had been on all morning. Jesus, that made him sound like a stalker.

  It’d been three weeks since he’d shot her uncle, but this wasn’t his first trip to her hometown.

  No, not because he was a stalker. He’d shown up for the memorial service.

  Oh, the deceased had been identified as Alonzo Rodriguez, not Alonzo Rudolph, but Hunter knew what man was being mourned. The real man. He hadn’t shown up to grieve. He’d come to pay his respects to Maya. After all, he’d been the one to kill the man.

  Maya had been shocked to see him, but she’d been cordial. Any chance to speak to her alone, however, was shot down with the words, “We have nothing to say to each other.”

  He had plenty to say, but he knew she hadn’t been ready to hear. Hell, she might not be ready now, but Hunter was tired of waiting.

  Not that he’d sat idly by and done nothing. He wasn’t a complete idiot—contrary to his actions. He’d gotten Heather to call her numerous times, and over the last week, the two had made some headway. He’d even overheard Heather laughing while on the phone with Maya. One of the many perks of having his sister being back home. She’d tested out early due to “medical” reasons. He knew Maya had also. The school couldn’t say much since the FBI had backed up the girls’ stories. Heather had decided to transfer back to Arkansas. It had been easier than he’d planned it would be, talking her into it. Having her close to him again was one less worry.

  He had no idea what Maya had planned on doing. He’d asked Heather, but she’d spouted off some girl code bullshit, not wanting to ruin their healing friendship. He really couldn’t blame her for that.

  If he wanted to find out, he needed to get out of this car and go talk to her himself.

  Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself out of the car and walked up the sidewalk to her house.

  He knocked on the door and mentally calculated the seconds it’d take for her to come downstairs and answer it.

  A minute ticked by.

  Two.

  He knocked again.

  Nothing.

  He stepped back and looked up at the window, knowing she had to be in there. The curtain had shifted to the side, and taking a chance, he waved.

  The material fell back. Fighting a laugh, he bounded up the steps again and knocked. “I know you’re in there.”

  This time, he heard her running down the stairs. Then a weird thump.

  “Ow.”

  “Maya?”

  She yanked open the door, holding her knee. “What?”

  He did laugh then. “You are the most accident-prone woman I know. You okay?”

  She dropped her foot to the floor and stood straight. “Never better,” she said sweetly as she crossed her arms.

  “Do you care if I come in?”

  “Yes,” she said, narrowing her eyes.

  “Can I come in anyway?”

  She sighed, dropping her head.

  “I just want to talk,” he said softly.

  “I don’t want to talk to you.”

  He didn’t want her to feel forced, but god, he wanted to talk to her. He’d try a different tactic. “You don’t have to. Can you just hear me out?”

  After what felt like an eternity, she stepped back and motioned for him to come inside. She shut the door behind him and leaned against it, not inviting him in any farther.

  He guessed he’d have to do this here. Standing in a foyer was better than trying to talk to her over the phone.

  “I worked for Alonzo Rudolph.”

  Her eyes widened a little. She was a smart woman, so Hunter had no doubt she knew there was some connection between her uncle and him. His past, though, had been erased, and it wasn’t as if her uncle had time to go into any details the day Hunter had killed him.

  Without saying another word, she walked into a room off the hall, and he followed her. She sat on a small couch. He debated taking the chair across from her, but decided against it. If he never saw her again, he didn’t want his last vision of her to be from across the room.

  When he sat beside her, she shifted, crossed her legs, and stared at him wearily. “When was this?”

  “A long time ago.” He bent over, resting his elbows on his knees, watching his hands. “I was young and stupid. Out for a quick buck. But I learned the life wasn’t for me and got out before I got too far in.”

  “That’s pretty vague,” she mumbled.

  He blew out a breath. “I’m ashamed of it, okay? Did he have me kill anybody? No. But I was ordered to rough them up, maim them when they crossed him. Hell, even if they were a day late on a payment. No one fucked with Alonzo.”

  “So I figured out.” She rolled her eyes. “You could’ve just had your sister tell me this when she called.”

  He didn’t respond to that. Instead, he said, “I’ve had nightmares for years. Memories of the things he made me do. No,” he said quickly. “Things I did. I carry that blame, and I knew one day it’d all come back to haunt me in real life, not just while I slept. Maya,” he breathed.

  Slowly, she looked at him.

  “I never once planned on finding you. I never wanted to have someone in my life, because of my past. It didn’t feel safe. I didn’t feel worthy. Many reasons.” He tilted his head, watching her. “But I did find you, and I don’t want to let you go.”

  Fire lit behind her eyes. It was the first indication that all was not lost. The woman was pissed, and that was an emotion he could work with. It sure as hell was better than indifference.

  “Well you should have thought about that before you hurled accusations my way and called me names.” She jumped up.

  He stood but didn’t move toward her. “You’re right. There is no excuse strong enough to explain why I acted like that. To me, it felt like the man I’d run from for years was back, and he didn’t just want to end me, he wanted to make me suffer.” He shook his head. “When I thought you betrayed me like that… You have no idea how much it killed me. I knew then Alonzo could win because if that was the truth, then he already had. I love my sister, but you, Maya, you were becoming my life. If something happened to Heather, I’d be devastated, yes, but I’d learn to deal. You’re different,” he said softly.

  “You hurt me,” she said softly.

  “I know.” He cleared his voice. “And I’ll grow old and die regretting that. Doesn’t change how sorry I am. Doesn’t change that I love you so much it fucking scares me.”

  She stared at him, wide-eyed.

  “Yeah, baby, I love you.”

  “Hunter.” She shook her head. “I don’t know if I—”

  He couldn’t hear those words. Not yet. If she was going to turn him away, he had to buy some time, find a way to mend the damage he’d caused.

  Or find the strength to let her go.

  He moved toward her and took her face between his hands.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered before kissing her lightly. “I’m sorry,” he said again before taking her bottom lip between his. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he breathed before taking her mouth fully. He kissed her deeply, needing her to feel even a fraction of how much she meant to him.

  When she kissed him back, his heart soared.

  They kissed as they caressed, neither seeming ready to end it, but Hunter knew if he didn’t stop soon, he’d take her right there on her parents’ living ro
om floor. He dropped a few light, teasing kisses before he rested his head on top of hers. “Please say you forgive me.”

  “I need time, I think.”

  The stabbing pain was much worse than he’d anticipated.

  “Take all the time you need,” he whispered.

  She looked up at him, and he wasn’t sure where he found the strength not to crush his lips to hers again.

  “It’s just that I’ve had this crazy fantasy about bad boys because of the sheltered life I’ve had, but it turns out my family is filled with them. I’ve been lied to enough already.”

  His heart broke with every word, but he wouldn’t pressure her. He kissed her forehead and tried easing away from her, but she tightened her hold.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Er.” To drink myself silly and cry myself to sleep. No way would he admit that.

  “You got to talk. Now it’s my turn.”

  “Okay.”

  Her shoulders lifted with the big inhale she took. “My life is crazy right now, but I love you—”

  “Maya.” He leaned toward her.

  “No, wait.” She put her hand on his chest. “I love you, Hunter. I do. But I need to go slow. There are things I need to re-learn, but I don’t want to do that all alone,” she said softly, looking away.

  He slipped his hand onto her chin and urged her to look at him. “You aren’t alone. Even if you send me away right now, you will never be alone.” He smiled. “And I mean that in a non-stalkerish way.”

  She laughed softly.

  “God, I’ve missed you.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “I’ve thought about you every second.”

  “I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you sooner. My mom has been depressed. My dad has been acting weird. School has been–”

  “You don’t need to apologize. I know you have a lot to deal with.”

  As he held her, he knew things would be okay with them. It might take some time. Years, maybe, as she finished school, and found her way on her own terms, but one day, they’d be right.

  “Hunter?” she said softly.

  “Yeah, baby.”

  “Conway has a college.”

  He smiled so hard his face hurt, but he tried not to squeeze her too hard or make any sudden movements. “More than one.”

  “You think Heather would like a roommate?”

  Leaning back to look into her eyes, he said, “I think I’m going to have to beat up a lot of college boys in Faulkner County.”

  “There’s only one bad boy I want.”

  “You have him, baby. You have him.”

  Epilogue

  Three weeks ago

  * * *

  Anna dove beside a shipping container as the gunfire erupted, intent on covering Heather since she was closest.

  Her ankle had other ideas.

  Pain shot through her leg as her foot stayed wedged under a pipe coming up through the floor. Definitely not going to win any medals for this rescue attempt. She screamed out in pain, uttering a few choice curses in the process.

  “Anna,” Blade shouted, and like a blond Greek god, he materialized. Even the pain from breaking her ankle while taking fire couldn’t calm her body’s response to him.

  “I broke it,” she wheezed.

  “Oh shit, babe.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she said heatedly as she grabbed her ankle. Being so close to him during this assignment had been torture. The guy liked to walk around in nothing but his boxer briefs. She didn’t know a man’s body could be that cut in real life. V’s were things of fantasy, right? Wrong. So, so wrong.

  Or so, so right, depending on what mood she was in.

  And the sweet name-calling hadn’t helped her state of mind at all.

  “Stay down,” he barked. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  What? She hadn’t been the one antagonizing the sadistic murderer. Though the retort died on her tongue as her ankle seized on her. “Oh god.”

  Blade’s carefree attitude faded into genuine concern. Yep, and that was even hotter.

  She hated him a little bit more.

  “Let me help you up. The ambulance should be here any second.” He reached for her, and she slapped his hand away.

  “I can get up myself.”

  “You’re hurt.”

  “I’m fine.” It was just a little broken. No biggie. She couldn’t show weakness, especially around so many other agents. She was a professional woman. In a man’s world.

  And she sure as hell couldn’t lean on Blade. The guy had more notches on his belt than rocks in the river, and in this small town, people talked. She couldn’t risk any negative backlash. Besides, Blade wasn’t one to settle down. Every woman in a forty-mile radius knew that. Yeah, getting drunk and having hot monkey-sex with Blade was out of the question. Period.

  End of story.

  She had to get that through her thick skull. She could not have sex with him.

  At least, not again.

  Hey, y’all!

  Thank you for reading my book. :) If you enjoyed it, I’d be very grateful for a review. If you didn’t like it, then share that, too... as long as your review is honest, that’s all that matters.

  And ice cream. Ice cream matters, too.

  Want the latest scoop? Be sure to sign up for my Newsletter! I mean, it’s not as yummy as ice cream, but nothing ever is.

  * * *

  Xoxo,

  Mandy

  * * *

  Want more? Be sure to preorder Blade!

  Also by Mandy Harbin

  The Bang Shift Series

  Brody

  Hunter

  Blade

  Shelby

  * * *

  Paranormal Romance

  Surrounded by Woods

  Surrounded by Pleasure

  Surrounded by Temptation

  Surrounded by Secrets

  * * *

  Young Adult written as M.W. Muse

  Goddess Legacy

  Goddess Secret

  Goddess Sacrifice

  Goddess Revenge

  Goddess Bared

  Goddess Bound

  About the Author

  Mandy Harbin is a USA Today Bestselling author who loves creating stories that explore the complexities of everyday relationships…with some kissing thrown in. She is a Superstar Award recipient, Reader’s Crown and Passionate Plume finalist, and has achieved Night Owl Reviews Top Pick distinction many times. She also writes young adult romance as M.W. Muse because teens like kissing, too.

  * * *

  Get the latest scoop! Not as yummy as ice cream, but almost:

  mandyharbin.com/newsletter

  facebook.com/Author.MandyHarbin

  instagram.com/mandy_harbin

  bookbub.com/authors/mandy-harbin