Hunter wanted to reach out, but she flew out of the seat, pacing the room with the phone pressed to her ear. He could faintly hear Shane’s voice on the other end, but not what was said.
“Is Leo okay?” she asked, sounding distraught. “What am I supposed to do? I’m not leaving Hunter—” She went quiet mid-sentence, stopping by the foot of the hospital bed. Her body tightened, the hand around the phone quaking as she said, “I’ve got men at the door, Shane, and I haven’t left the room once.”
Skye sounded spooked.
Something was very wrong.
Hunter tried to sit up, groaning as spasms of pain radiated all over his back and chest. He fell back in a heap, breathing raggedly as he watched Skye intently. Her back was to him, and she was quiet for some time before she whispered, “Okay, Shane.”
She had hardly been off the phone for a beat when Hunter growled, “What did he say?”
Skye turned around. “It’s Leo’s dad. He found out what he’s doing, and he’s going crazy. He’s making all kinds of threats. Shane says he’s going to retaliate against the club—”
“He wants you to leave the hospital because he’ll be coming for me,” Hunter finished quietly.
Skye’s silence was answer enough.
Suddenly, Hunter surveyed the room, realizing very quickly that if someone was intent enough to come through, Skye would not have anywhere to hide.
Itani was powerful.
He could easily have staff operating under his payroll right here in this hospital, and they would turn the other cheek and leave a complete opening for a hit.
“You need to go,” Hunter demanded tightly. “Leave.”
Skye shook her head. “Absolutely not!”
“Skye—”
“It’s going to be a no—”
“I can’t have anything happen to you, too, Skye!”
“Leo has two of his men guarding me—”
“Two men against the High Table isn’t enough—”
“I’m not leaving you—”
“Goddammit, woman, would you do as you’re fucking told?!”
Her eyes narrowed as she stood her ground. “No.”
Hunter’s nostrils flared as he glared at her, but the fleeting bolt of anger passed almost immediately when his eyes turned pleading. “Please, flower.”
But Skye ignored him, turning her back to him to cross her arms. “You think you can’t live without me? I can’t live withoutyou, Hunter. You’re fuckingitfor me, okay? If you go, I fucking go, too.”
Hunter’s back hit the bed in a heap as the silence in the room filled up.
When she spoke like that, when she splayed her vulnerabilities open and showed him what he meant to her, didn’t she see that it washimshe needed? That it washimthat completed her?
For a few minutes, the tension was thick as he stared at the back of her, pining for her—God, he had pined for her so much these last few months.
He could not part from her.
Not for a minute.
Not ever again.