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Shit, I’m sure this isn’t what Lars had in mind when he suggested I have a talk with them.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly backpedal. “I know you both love him, and I’m not here to blame anyone. I’m here because I just want to ensure that everything is fine when he wakes up.”
I stand up and pace the floor, explaining what needs to happen as the thoughts come to me.
“Gage, the club is not going to close. In fact, I want it packed in here. I want our DJ, servers, and a full kitchen staff because I want the club busy and making money so that Fabre doesn’t get any satisfaction from what he’s done. I don’t care what you need to do to make that happen. Just make it happen. That’s why Hunter hired you; he was confident you could do whatever needs to be done.”
Gage offers me an impressed look. “Okay, I’ll start making some calls.”
My eyes settle on Christian.
“Christian, I know you’re privy to all the details of Hunter's business in a way that I'm not. He wants me to live a soft life, make my art, and have his babies, but it looks like fate has other plans for me. If you have knowledge of any ongoing negotiations he was having, you need to figure out how to either continue them or put them on hold until he recovers. I can't tell you how to do that. I just know that it needs to be done.”
Then, my eyes turned to Vaughn.
“Vaughn, I know that your priority is probably finding DiAngelo.”
“It is.”
“What are you gonna do when you find him?”
“You know what I'm gonna do. The same thing Hunter would do if the roles were reversed.”
I pace the floor, rubbing the base of my spine, which has been starting to ache lately.
“That's a lot of energy you're expending on the messenger when maybe you should use that energy to deal with the person who made the call. I don't know much, but I grew up in this city, and I know enough to know that Fabre is the problem. He’s making a serious move by trying to get Hunter out of the way. I don’t think any of this was personal. So, I need you and Christian to figure out who or what Hunter was in the way of.”
“Damn, Megan,” Vaughn comments. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this side of you.”
“I’m more than just Hunter’s fiance or an art student who paints pretty things on a canvas. I’m carrying the reason why Hunter will wake up and come back to us. I may not know everything, but I know what’s important to him.”
Actually, I don’t know shit. I’m simply flying by the seat of my pants, but I’ve got to do something to light a fire under these guys. I can feel it all falling apart if I don’t.
“Let’s all agree to do the work needed to keep the business running and leave the vengeance to him.”
“But, Megan, we can’t just let this go unchecked, or every criminal in the city will come after us.”
“Hunter had a plan for Fabre. A long game. I don’t know what it was, and maybe he’ll have to readjust that plan when he wakes up, but it’s his plan, not ours.”
“Everything you're saying makes a lot of sense, but what about you?” Christian speaks. “I hate that you feel you have to take all of this on.”
“That’s the cool thing. For once in my life, I’m not alone. You all will help me.”
The three of them offer me a smile and agree in unison, “We will.”
And finally, I exhale the breath I’d been holding since I walked into the building.
I can't force Hunter to wake up yet, but I can fix this.
Chapter 22
Where The Fuck Is She?
HUNTER
My head feels like a balloon packed with wet sand as I slowly open my eyes to a harshly lit room. Immediately, I cough, choking on what I soon realize is a tube down my throat. I blink and try to gain my bearings. I’m not even sure if what I’m experiencing is reality or a dream, but if this is a dream, why isn’t Megan in it?
Where is she?