Page 89 of Betrayal

Anna hadn’t guessed at the depth of Nick’s betrayal of Hunter.Hunter had been arming himself for years in readiness for ambush.And Nick had form where Hunter’s women were concerned.

Stupid, bloody, protective idiot.Hunter had been dealing with Nick before Anna’s arrival on the scene.She was missing something.Hunter had bought The Hariri building to protect Casildo’s family.He’d set up the foundation secretly to disguise where his mother’s money had gone.She bet that was to protect his uncle.He’d circled the wagons.He had his loved ones safe when she’d met him.

He hadn’t expected to have a relationship with Anna.

“Never the same woman twice?”

“Not until you.”

Hunter was trying to put her inside the circle of wagons.

Did the stupid idiot know he loved her?

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Anna opened the doorto Casildo twenty-four hours later.“Are you escort, peace-maker, or bodyguard?”

“All three,” he said.“Depending on the moment.Right now, I’m escort.”

“Where are we going?”

Anna collected her bag and followed him down the stairs.Hunter had proposed, and she’d accepted, this meeting via text, ridiculous hope flaring at the invitation.

“The childcare centre.I’ve brought the armoured vehicle and have access to the underground carpark.”

Placing a hand on his arm to stop their descent, Anna turned to him.“Not funny.”

“Sorry.Dad’s car.It’s got heavily tinted windows, so it’s not easy to identify who’s in it.Gives us some privacy.No one will comment on Hunter being in the building.”

“What’s going on, Casildo?”

“Hunt’s changing the game plan.”

“His plan to stop Nick?”

“Yeah.I don’t trust the snake even with all the evidence we’ve got.”

“Did Hunter tell you about Helen?”

Casildo was Hunter’s lifelong friend.Hunter didn’t accept it, but he had integrity and loyalty, qualities Casildo was also known for in their industry.She’d bet Hariri senior set the example for both of them.

“No need to answer that,” she said.“I’m glad he’s got you in his life.Has Nick always hovered in the background?”

“Like that snake I was talking about, Nick has slithered in and out of Hunt’s life at different times.We thought he was gone.Hunt’s mum’s death triggered this cycle of hell.Nick’s got the kind of ego that can’t accept no.He’ll coax and cajole, but if you tell him to piss off, he has to punish.”

“Hunter told him to piss off, and trying to bankrupt your father was part of Hunter’s punishment.”

Casildo nodded.“Hunt says Nick has turned his big guns on you.”

“I’m a big girl.I can look after myself.”Although Hunter’s rejection was testing that resolve.She hadn’t completely forgiven Hunter’s high-handedness, even when his goal was to protect her.The jury was out until after this meeting.

“All I’ll say is that Hunt blames himself for Nick turning his gunsights on you.If Hunt wasn’t in your life, this wouldn’t be happening.”Casildo hit the remote to unlock the car.

“I’ll grant him that.But teams often achieve more than individuals”—Anna settled in the car and allowed some of her frustration to surface—“he’s accepting help from you.”

“Nick destroyed Hunt’s mother, almost destroyed his uncle, and has tried his damnedest to beat the goodness out of Hunt.Hunter’s my hero.”Casildo was a staunch defender.“And he hates it when I say that.He’s tired of having his loved ones attacked.”

“What happens if Hunter’s plan doesn’t work?”She stole a sideways look at Hunter’s closest friend.“Will he banish me permanently?”