“What?” Archer’s question comes toward me from the doorway. Even though we’re not friends, I respect how he’s been caring for Sam. He does love her; I can see it now. And he knows, if he ever hurts her, I’ll fucking break him.
I offer him a glance before informing him, “Another one found.”
He shakes his head, knowing what I mean before I have to voice the words. “Do what you need to do,” he tells me. “I won’t mention it to Mara because she’ll want to stop you.”
“Thanks, man.” Slapping him on the shoulder in a show of camaraderie, he nods and leaves me to head to my office.
Once the monster was slain, we thought it would be the end of it, but the moment my contact in Bolivia called, I knew there would be trouble. He saw the shipment coming in, and the moment they opened the doors, over sixty young women were removed from the container.
They came from Thailand, Bali, and some other places within the same region, and none of them were over fifteen. This shit has to stop, and I’ll be the one to do it.
With Sam and Archer trying to help the fallen soldiers and children from Rebekah’s torment, I’ll be flying out to South America to find the asshole who’s on my radar.
“Hunter?” My feet halt at the sweet, gentle voice coming from behind me. The girl who’s spent almost every night in my bed and each morning in my kitchen comes into view. “Where are you going?”
“I need to leave.”
“What?” Her eyes are wide with shock, and I know she’s hurt at my abruptness, but this is the reason I need to leave. I can’t have emotions and feelings getting in the way of what I know I need to do. My job sends me all over the world. Being tied down is not something I can have when I need to focus on assholes who steal girls like her and hurt them before selling them for a profit.
“I told you, baby doll,” I murmur, cupping her face in my hands. “This job . . . I need to do this.”
“Take me with you.”
“Fuck no,” I bite out harsher than I intend. “There’s no way I’m putting you in danger.” My voice is filled with emotion I didn’t think I would ever feel again.
The protectiveness I have for Reagan has turned into something I crave, something I can’t control. And that scares the shit out of me.
“I’m a big girl, Hunter. You can’t lock me in a tower for the rest of my life,” she bites back. One thing about this woman is, she definitely doesn’t take my shit. Mara would love that because she always told me one day, when I find someone who can give me as much as I give her, I’ll find love.
Perhaps Reagan and I aren’t at that point, but deep down, I know she’s different. “If I have to, I’ll fucking lock you up and tie you to my bed,” I threaten, leaning in closer, allowing my hot breath to skitter over her shoulder. “And when I do bind you to that metal headboard, you won’t be going anywhere.”
“You’re insufferable,” she grits out, but the whimper that also escapes her lips turns my blood hot and feral.
“Go to my room and wait on the bed, and I’ll fuck my insufferable dick into you until you’re screaming my name.” My voice is low when I relay the order, but she’s a good girl and obeys me with a pout on those pink lips.
Fucking mine.
Now all I need to do is keep her safe.
From the assholes who steal pretty girls.
And possibly even from me.7