Page 92 of The Hunter

When she whispered my name, it wasn’t just a sound. It was my salvation.

I cupped her cheeks, her expression twisting as I brought her closer and closer to the edge.

This wasn’t about satisfying a craving or giving into my urges. It never had been. I knew it from the first time our eyes met, even if I didn’t want to admit it.

This woman was mine.

And God help anyone who tried to harm her again.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Henry

The bunker always stirred up memories of my childhood. Even more so today after sharing my past with Ariana.

At one point, I was able to push out all the bitter thoughts of my father when in this room. It looked nothing like it once did. The walls were no longer lined with shelves containing cans of non-perishable food. The space was no longer littered with boxes upon boxes of more weapons and ammo than some small countries. And there wasn’t a constant feeling of dread.

Of fear.

Yet somehow, my father’s presence still lingered in this space.

But so did Ariana’s.

The memory of her body tangled with mine, the echo of her voice, the scent of her skin… It followed me. Branded itself into me. I would have given anything to be wrapped around her again, to bury myself so deep inside of her I forgot the rest of the world existed.

But I’d ignored reality long enough. Had ignored mypurposelong enough. Salvatore’s text an hour ago reminded me of that.

So when Ariana crawled in her reading chair after I made her breakfast, I gave her a kiss and said I needed to catch up on somework. She didn’t ask what exactly I needed to work on, which I was grateful for. I wasn’t sure what to tell her. What Iwantedto tell her. I needed answers first, then I’d figure out where to go from there.

I crossed the room and sat in front of the wall of monitors, some displaying security camera feeds, others live news broadcasts. Then I picked up my phone and dialed Salvatore’s number.

He answered on the first ring. “Henry.”

“What did you find out?” I asked, tension already winding through me.

“You still hate small talk,” he responded. “Good to know some things don’t change. I put out some feelers with my contacts in Miami, like you asked.”

“And?”

“There are a few rumblings that might be of interest to you.”

I straightened, my pulse increasing. “Like what?”

“Word is the Bratva were after a high-ticket item. Sent one of their best to acquire it. But he went dark, even after getting the location of the drop. They can’t even trace the cell because it’s been turned off. Needless to say, the Bratva leaderships in Miami is pissed and will stop at nothing to find out what happened. And where the high-ticket item is.”

“What is this item?” I asked, although I feared I already knew the answer.

There was a long pause before he said, “Ariana Kane.”

The silence that followed wasn’t quiet. It buzzed like static in my ears. I knew whoever attempted to take her was bad news. But to learn it was the Bratva?

“Why? What could they want from her?” I mused, partly to myself. Partly to Salvatore.

“She’s married to Victor Kane, which makes her a target with a hell of a price tag. Maybe Kane fucked over someone in theircircle. Maybe they want to use her as leverage. Or maybe it’s personal. Doesn’t matter why they want her, Fontaine. Just that they do. Based on what you shared during our last conversation, I can only assume you intervened in the abduction and have their merchandise.”

“You assume correctly.”

He pushed out a long breath. “This is bad, Henry. Like really fucking bad.”