Her hand has the slightest tremble as I tell her to leave. I put that tremble there. I’m the cause of the slightly parted lips and the wide eyes I’m sure she’s hiding behind those dark sunglasses.

I can feel Torian watching us. Watching every single thing I do.

I never should’ve brought her here. I should’ve faked a car breakdown or gotten us lost along the way. The only reason I didn’t was because I needed to know who she was looking for. That one clue could’ve saved me. Saved her.

At least that was what I thought, until I found Decker and Torian standing less than a few feet away from her.

I walk toward them, trying to act casual when my insides are wound tight.

“Hunter,” Torian greets. “Fancy seeing you here. Did you know the deceased?”

I ignore his poor excuse for a joke and turn my attention to Decker. “I guess the attendance today is a surprise for all.”

His jaw tightens. He knows he’s fucked up, but there’s anger in that expression, too.

“Have you checked your messages lately?” he grates.

No. My phone has been in the car glove compartment since we returned from Seattle. “You know I rarely have my cell on me.”

“That’s true.” Torian nods, unconcerned by the underlying tension in our conversation. “But it’s a weak excuse for poor communication. I’m still waiting on an update on what happened yesterday.”

I itch to glance over my shoulder and check to make sure Steph has gone. I know better, though. I can feel her attention burning the back of my neck. The good news is that Torian hasn’t latched onto her. Carlos mustn’t have taken any photos, and no photos means no familiarity or cause for concern. Yet.

She’s in the clear. As long as I can figure out a way to keep her safe, while also extracting the information I need.

Once we get out of here, I will sit her down and have the tough conversation. I’ll explain what’s going on, and we’ll clean this mess.

“I assumed you already had an update from Carlos.” I flash Torian a cocky smirk. “How is your little bitch boy doing this morning?”

His left eye twitches the slightest bit. “I’ll let you know once I hear from him.”

“Yeah.” I chuckle. “You do that.”

Decker clears his throat. “Can you two measure your dicks somewhere else? This isn’t the time or place.”

“You’re right.” Torian watches as mourners move around us, walking to their vehicles, while a small group remain around the burial site. “We will discuss this later. I should go and give my condolences to the senator.”

Relief expands in my chest as I wait for him to leave. Then something nudges my arm and the reprieve turns into panic as Steph steps into my periphery—the beautiful blonde hair, the smooth creamy skin.

She stops between me and Decker, and the guy stiffens. I can’t help doing the same as she raises her sunglasses and gives a friendly smile.

“Fancy seeing you here.” She pats us both on the arm. “Small world, right?”

Decker clears his throat and glances to me for guidance.

I have nothing. No direction. No response. Only dread.

“You all know each other.” Her statement is calm and collected, belying the furious warrior I see flash in her eyes.

“Yes, sweetheart, we do.” Torian reaches out a hand. “I’m sorry, I haven’t had the pleasure of an introduction.”

“I’m Steph.” She raises her hand for him to shake and uses the other to lower her glasses into place.

“Steph,” he repeats, letting her name linger between us like a warning. “I’m Cole, but call me Torian. It’s lovely to meet you.” He grasps her hand and looks at me as he brings her knuckles to his lips. “How do you know Decker and my Hunter?”

My Hunter.

He’s digging my hole deeper, burying me.

“Oh, we go way back.” She releases his hand and places it against her bag. “Don’t we, Hunter?”

Torian glances between us, back and forth, putting puzzle pieces together.

“Yeah, I guess we do,” I growl.

“We met when he came into town to look after his sister and nephew.” She looks at me, and I can imagine those eyes glaring from behind her glasses.

She’s pissed. Really pissed. And I could strangle her for it.

“Your sister?” Torian raises a brow. “All this time and I didn’t know you had family in Portland.”

She nods. “Oh, he definitely does. And he’s very protective. Big and macho and mean. But…” She raises a cautionary finger. “He’s not a violent man. Isn’t that right, princess?”

Okay, now she’s being downright derisive.

Torian breaks out in laughter, long and loud, not giving any respect to the people behind him who have just buried a loved one. “I like this woman. I really do.” His gaze snaps to me. “I understand now.”

No, he doesn’t. He can’t. Not when I struggle to understand it myself.

“Understand what?” She leans into me, shoulder to shoulder, all chummy and shit.

Torian continues to chuckle, making me well aware I’ve played right into his hand. “Hunter has been distracted lately. Now I understand the cause. You should’ve told me it was your family.”

“Yep. Nothing but family,” she drawls.

I dig my fingers into my palm, forcing down my anger while I try to determine if she’s truly dim-witted or just has a death wish.

“Well, I better not waste any more of your time.” She places her hand on my back, my gun. The touch is a message. A clear warning. “I’ll leave you boys to your conversation.”

I nod, one quick jerk of fucked up acknowledgement.

I want to grab her, keep her at my side, and never let her go. But she walks away, leaving me with a friend who looks as if he’s having a heart attack and a man I’m beginning to want to see six feet under.

“She’s a spitfire,” Torian muses.

“Stay away from her.” I keep my gaze trained on her until she stops at my car and opens the passenger door. “You’re not going to touch her.”

A dark brow raises over the frame of his sunglasses. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. That’s so. As far as you’re concerned, she’s off-limits. I’m sorting this out.”

His humor finally fades. “We had an agreement, Hunter. One you didn’t fulfil.”

“I still have a few more hours.”

He inclines his head. “You’re right.” He flicks out his arm to check his watch. “But let’s agree that once your time is up, she’ll no longer be yours. She’ll be mine.”

I keep my mouth shut. I have to. I’m smart enough to know more threats won’t work, and I can’t find the composure to say anything else right now.

“I’m off to see the senator.” Torian smirks in farewell. “We’ll speak later.”

I remain silent as he walks toward Dan’s family, between the white outdoor chairs to the other side of the burial site.

“You should have called me,” Decker mutters. “Now you’re fucked.”

“Thanks for the insight, asshole.” I start walking backward, needing to get to Steph. “Why the fuck are you even here?”

“If you checked your phone, you’d know. I called over fifteen times.”

“I left it in the car while—”

“—while you were fucking balls-deep in her snatch.”

I clench my teeth, unable to deny the truth.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” He raises his voice with the building distance between us. “Jesus Christ, Hunt. Fucking call me.”

There he goes again, trying to make my name sound like cunt. “I will. As soon as I’m done with her.”

I turn and stride toward Steph when all I want to do is run to her.

She’s seated in the passenger seat, watching, waiting. She has to know what’s coming isn’t going to be pretty. The next instalment of this shit show is going to be epic, and she has front-row seats.

I reach the car, open the driver’s door, and sink behind the wheel.

I don’t look at her. I don’t mention our fucked up situation. I don’t say a word—not about the men I’m sure she’s curious about, and not about the silenced gun she has in her hand, pointed in my direction.