Chapter 10 Angelise
Chapter Ten
ANGELISE
Hunter dragged Henry into the garage next to his trailer, then dumped an entire bucket of water over his brother’s head.
“Wake up, fucker.”
Henry jerked awake, sputtering and cursing.
“What would you like to do with him?” he asked.
And I knew, with a sudden chill, why Henry hadn’t tied him up again.
He wanted his brother to run.
He wanted his brother to fight back.
Because Hunter wanted him dead.
I tasted violence, blood & death in the air.
Now here was a unique opportunity. A wronged wife backed up by a dangerous man who was willing to use violence whenever I wanted.
I shivered at the thought, at the way Hunter’s fists tightened, the veins in his arms standing out.
Shouldn’t I be the bigger person?
But in fact I had liked seeing Hunter smash Henry’s face into the dashboard. I had liked having someone be a little. . .unhinged about me.
OK, more than a little.
“Why are you doing this?” Henry yowled.
“At one point I might have cared why you cheated on me,” I said. “Why you blew up your safe, comfortable life. But I don’t really give a fuck anymore.”
“I have an addiction to sex,” Henry said. “I could go to therapy—Get treatment—”
“Save it for Dr. Willoughby-Horton,” I said. “That bullshit isn’t going to work on me. What I want to know is, did you hire a hitman to kill me?”
“No, of course not, I love—”
Hunter punched him in the face, my husband’s nose pulverizing under his fist.
“Don’t lie to her.”
“I know you did,” I said coldly. “I remember that intruder now. I saw him coming out of your office once. Still want to tell me you don’t know why he was in our house trying to suffocate me?”
“Please—please,” Henry burbled, his eyes looking wildly around as blood poured down his face. “I—can’t lose you. Without you my whole company goes under.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m deep in debt. . .I’ve been putting my creditors off on the promise that your grandfather is going to die soon, and I’ll get an influx of cash.”
“You fucker,” I said coldly. This explained his cringeworthy attempts to get me to stay married to him.
“Want me to kill him?” Hunter asked.
His fists were clenched tightly, his flat belly heaving in and out.
I said nothing, watching as Henry’s beady little eyes darted this way and that, trying to figure out what there was between us.
But even smelling like piss and covered in blood, he was still dangerous, suddenly grabbing a heavy wrench from the garage and backing to the door.
Having a weapon while Hunter had none seemed to embolden him, and Henry dropped the fake groveling act with a snarl, spitting blood onto the floor.
“You can have my sloppy seconds,” he snapped, waving the wrench in front of him. “I don’t care. As long as I get my money.”
“You’ll never see a dime of my grandfather’s money,” I hissed angrily. “I hope he spends it all on travels to Europe and Peru and Antarctica. And if he does leave any to me, I think I’ll shower it all on your brother instead. Hang some diamonds around that big cock.”
Hunter laughed, low and gritty, slipping an arm around my waist with tempting warmth and affection.
It would be so easy to let myself go. . .to let myself fall. . .
But what if everyone would agree with Henry? What if everyone pitied Hunter for taking on damaged goods, me?
“She’s no one’s second choice,” Hunter said flatly. “You weren’t man enough to keep up with her. I saw those damn videos, you limp dick, two pump chump.”
“I’m going to get even with you!” Henry spat, blood dribbling down his face, and then he shot out the door.
To my surprise, Hunter didn’t go after him immediately, turning to me and cupping my chin firmly, forcing me to look him in the eyes.
“The moment I saw you, I knew there was no one else for me. Never felt a gut punch like that before. Couldn’t think about anyone else. Then after that, no one else even existed for me. I’m sorry for my goddamn face. Because I swear if I had you, I would cherish the fuck out of you.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“I can’t—I can’t—-,” I choked out. “It’s just—sex between us.”
It has to be.
Hunter’s expression was unreadable, but he only grinned that twisted smile at me.
“Don’t think you can scare me off,” he said cockily. “I’ll take anything you give me. Until I can convince you I’m nothing like my brother.”
My heart was pounding and I was desperate to believe it was just sex. Nothing more. No emotion beyond not wanting him to go to jail over his brother.
“What if he tries to take your truck?” I asked.
Hunter handed me a hammer and grabbed one himself.
“Don’t worry, he can’t drive a stick. Now, stay behind me.”
He motioned me to a back exit and sure enough, the light from the door illuminated Henry in the driver’s seat, trying desperately to get the car to work.
He jerked around like a hunted animal, with a cornered snarl, and Hunter extinguished the light.
“Come out, brother,” he said as the light suddenly dimmed in the truck too. “Usually you’re so eager to get right in my face. What’s changed?”
He motioned me to stay against the motorcycle, then moved forward.
I knew what had changed as I watched this big man stalk silently toward the truck. He had been suppressing every inch of his power out of love for me.
And now it was unleashed.
There was a clattering noise from the other end of the yard, and Hunter walked silently, so silently with those massive boots.
“I’m here,” he said, spreading his arms wide. “You seemed upset. Come tell me all about it.”
Hunter was being too cocky, way too cocky, because Henry wasn’t beaten yet. . .
I clutched the hammer tighter in my slick hands, and my heart was in my throat when I saw Hunter bend over and peer in the window of his truck, like he thought Henry was in the back seat or something.
But Henry wasn’t there.
He was sneaking up behind his brother, massive pit stains shining in the moonlight, the wrench raised high.
“Hunter!” I shrieked, darting forward and flinging myself desperately in front of Henry and that heavy wrench he was aiming directly at his brother’s head, because apparently it was absolutely necessary to me that Hunter not die. . .
I jerked wildly at Henry’s arms and he shook me off with a snarl as I swung my hammer. But I was too late and the wrench was heading directly for the back of Hunter’s skull!
Then Hunter twisted around and blocked Henry with one big tattooed forearm, knocking the wrench away as I connected the hammer with my husband’s ribs.
“I could see him in the car window, baby girl,” Hunter said exultingly as Henry staggered away, moaning in pain.
He pulled me into his arms, kissing me thoroughly and well, tasting like sin and me. “I just wanted to see what you’d do.”
“Asshole!” I cried, throwing my arms around his neck and burying my face in his shirt.
“I’m very flattered you want me alive,” he said, “even though I look like Henry.”
Tears began to fill my eyes.
“I could never confuse the two of you ever again! I’ve been in love with you without even knowing it,” I murmured.
“All the moments that made me cling to my marriage with Henry—you. All the moments that made the rest of the time worth it—you. My heart bursting with love when he sat with me for hours in the hospital playing games while my grandma recovered—you. It was you all along. I love you, Hunter.”
He crowed with triumphant laughter and kissed me again, pulling me into his arms so my breasts and belly and hips were squashed tightly against his hard, powerful length, and I felt breathless with hope.
This man loved me.
“Look at this sorry asshole,” Hunter said thoughtfully, pulling his twin up by the scruff of his neck. “I don’t know if I have enough self-control to not kill him.”
“No!” I cried. “Take his balls if you want. But I don’t want you going to jail. Besides, after what we did last night, I’m going to need to take a pregnancy test soon, and I’ll be damned if you’re an absent dad.”
Henry yowled unhappily, but Hunter’s grin was triumphant, as he kissed me again.
“I love you,” he murmured against my mouth. “My Angel.”
“I love you too,” I gasped back. “I love you, Hunter.”
And then, hand-in-hand, we dragged my husband over to the workbench, then Hunter held him down by the throat and separated his balls from his body with a neat, elegant chop.