Chapter 28
The voices echoed down the hallway, low and rough, but Hunter's was louder than the others. Annie froze in place, dishes still in her hands, listening intently. She caught enough of the conversation to realize that Hunter was planning to kill Jason tomorrow morning.
Her stomach dropped.
She hurried back to the room, shutting the door behind her. Leigh looked up, startled. Annie whispered, "Hunter's going to kill Jason. I overheard him tell Kodiak and Cruz."
"No." Her sister shook her head. "He was probably saying something about wanting to kill him because everyone wants to kill him for what he's done to us."
"No, I heard what he said."
"What did Kodiak and Cruz say to him?"
"I don't know. They were speaking too softly for me to hear. The only reason I heard Hunter was that he talks louder when he's pissed." She set the dirty lunch dishes down and went to her sister.
Her heart raced. She wished it were just talk amongst the men, but she'd heard Hunter.
It made no sense. He wasn't a killer. And while she'd leaned on him and accepted his help, she never once put the responsibility of stopping Jason on him.
Leigh's face went pale, then hardened. "You have to talk to him. Change his mind. He's going to get himself killed. There's no way he can go after someone wearing a police badge."
"How do I do that?" She exhaled harshly. "The whole situation is out of control. We can't even travel away from here. Hunter's only trying to protect us. Maybe he was spouting off his frustration and won't really do it."
"But if he tries, he won't get away with it.
Everyone in the police force is already after him.
They've already pulled him in for questioning; if something happens to Jason, who do you think the first person they'll suspect is the killer?
For all the hate I feel for my husband, I don't want someone else ruining their life for my sake.
" Her sister's voice cracked. "I should never have called you. "
"Don't say that. I'm your sister. I would fight anyone to make sure you're safe."
A tear slid down Leigh's cheek. "We should never have let Hunter help us."
Annie's chest tightened. She wanted to argue, but she couldn't. Leigh was right. Hunter would never get away with...with killing someone.
"I'll talk to him," she whispered.
Leaving her sister in the room, Annie picked up the dishes and headed out. In the kitchen, Baker leaned against the counter, eating a piece of watermelon. He gave her a small nod. "Hunter's outside. By the picnic table, if you're looking for him."
Her pulse quickened. "Thank you."
She went out the back door to the area that was protected from anyone outside the fence. Usually, the fresh air made her feel better, but not today.
Hunter sat on the bench of the picnic table, a cigarette glowing between his lips as he tossed a ball for Alanis. The dog bounded back, wagging his tail, and dropped the ball at Hunter's boots. He bent to throw again, his movements slow and habitual, like he spent every day playing with Alanis.
Annie stood there, watching him, her heart pounding. She didn't know how to start the conversation. She'd overheard him and would have to confess to eavesdropping. She wasn't supposed to know. Would he be mad at her, considering how much was at stake?
Annie stepped away from the building, her heart pounding, and crossed to the picnic table where he sat.
Her arrival distracted the dog from retrieving the ball.
Alanis came up and put her paws on her leg.
She loved on the dog while avoiding Hunter's curious gaze, trying to think of a good way to start a conversation.
Finally, she sat beside him. He rubbed her back. She inhaled deeply. He was asking her what was wrong in his own way.
She swiveled on the bench and faced him. "I overheard you."
He frowned. "What?"
"I over..." She shook her head and used a different word. "You were talking to Kodiak. I heard what you told him."
He raised his brows. "Heard what?"
"That you were going to kill Jason." She closed her mouth.
His hand stilled on her back. She never took her gaze off him as he looked at the dog instead of her. It was out in the open. She wasn't going to take it back. He needed to explain himself.
Hunter turned to her. She couldn't wait for him to make an excuse or try to sugarcoat what was going on.
"You can't go after Jason," she said, making sure he looked at her lips. "He'll either kill you, or you'll spend the rest of your life in prison."
Hunter stayed silent, eyes fixed on her, smoke curling from his lips.
Annie's chest tightened. "I care about you," she whispered.
Still, no reaction from him.
Her throat burned. "I'm falling in love with you, Hunter."
She had no idea if he was following the conversation. He gave her no hints that he'd understood a word that she'd said. But she wasn't going to stop talking until he comprehended the risk he was taking.
"I'd like nothing more than to see you after this is all over." She swallowed hard. "I don't want to lose you."
His eyes remained hard and unreadable. "How the hell do you expect it to end?" he asked.
Annie faltered. She didn't have an answer. Jason would always have control over her, over Leigh, over everything because he had law enforcement on his side. Nothing she said or Leigh reported would be taken seriously. The State Police protected their own. They'd believe whatever Jason told them.
The suffocating hopelessness pressed down on her. By accepting Hunter's help, she'd pulled him into this mess. She wasn't going to be responsible for him going to prison or dying.
The clubhouse door slammed open. Baker rushed outside, wildly looking around until he stopped at the picnic table. "Leigh took off!"
"What?" Annie shot to her feet, her heart dropping into her stomach. "What do you mean, Leigh took off? She's in the bedroom."
But Hunter never answered. He hadn't heard her. He wasn't aware of what Baker had shouted.
She grabbed his hands, forcing him to look at her. "Baker said Leigh's gone."
Hunter stood, dropping the ball for the dog, and grabbed her hand, taking her to Baker.
If Leigh were gone, where would she go?
The despair shattered into panic. Deep in her heart, she knew where her sister would go.
Hearing that Hunter was going after Jason had pushed Leigh to protect him. She had a feeling her sister wouldn't let anyone else become Jason's victim.
Her sister was trying to stop it all so that Annie could have Hunter in her life.