15. Wake The Fuck Up
Chapter 15
Wake The Fuck Up
HUNTER
W ork has always been at the center of my consciousness. I live, eat, and breathe it. My need to tame the Los Angeles underworld that once consumed me as a teenager is what motivates me. I never want to be that frightened kid who lost everything and everyone again.
Of course, I’ve allowed myself room for some vulnerability over the years. My longtime friendships with Vaughn and Christian are proof of that. And then there’s Megan.
I’ve never been in love before. Never. It’s not something I ever thought was in the cards for me. It’s not that I was even denying myself a relationship. I just never felt that “thing” you’re supposed to feel for any woman I’ve been involved with, at least not until I met her.
When I fuck her, hold her, or simply think about her, I feel exactly like I did after our first explosive meeting. If I had to explain it, I’d say it was more of a warm feeling in my chest that spreads deliciously to my fingertips, my dick, and my toes. A warmth that I never want to let go of. A warmth I would kill for.
That’s why I’m so lost right now.
How will I get that feeling back if she doesn’t come around? Why won’t she listen? Doesn’t she understand I have her best interest at heart and that I’ll always have the best interest of my child and Megan at the forefront of every decision I make?
“Hunt, wake the fuck up.”
Vaughn snaps his finger in front of me, jarring me out of my daze.
“What the hell were you so deep in thought about?” Christian adds from the back of the truck.
“Nothing,” I mutter.
The three of us are going to dinner at a restaurant that’s over an hour away on Friday night, Los Angeles traffic. Vaughn claims it’s one of his favorite spots, which is why we’re driving so damn far when Christian and I know this is more of a fact-finding mission. Vaughn’s wife is supposedly having an affair with the owner, and we hope to God that she is so that he can finally move on from her toxic ass.
It’s our first dinner together since the two of them decided to let Parker go. We’ve been at odds with each other quite a bit over the last few weeks, and I think we need this time to just eat, drink and talk about shit other than work like we used to.
“How much longer?” I ask.
“About twenty minutes,” Vaughn says. “They’re holding our reservation.”
Out of habit, I check my cell phone. The last text I received was from Vaughn telling me to meet them at the car. The text before that was from Lena. Another was from a work client.
Nothing from Megan.
“So what did you decide about Jack?” Christian asks out of the blue.
Vaughn purses his lips. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about work tonight.”
“I’m not sure I can eat a lobster tail and pretend that the shit isn’t about to hit the fan again ,” Christian says.
“He paid in full and on time, so I will schedule the meeting like I promised,” I tell them both.
“Fuck,” Vaughn curses. “Things were just settling down.”
“It’s a meet, nothing more.”
“If you think that I believe that you’re going to set up a meet between Jack and the man who kidnapped Megan and not a bullet between his eyes, you must think very little of our friendship.”
I anxiously tap my feet on the floor mats of the truck, daydreaming about what it would actually feel like to harm the man who terrorized my Megan.
“He deserves a much more violent death than a bullet in the head.”
“True,” Christian agrees.
“But killing him wouldn’t solve the bigger issue going on. His family is making a power move to make some noise out West, and I think they’d do it with or without Fabre. They’ve been planning this for a long time.”
“And that’s the bigger issue than him kidnapping Megan?” Vaughn asks, confused by my reaction.
“I know you don’t understand it, but yes. Megan is home, and she and the baby are fine. The bigger issue is them coming out here and making things difficult for us. It’s taken me years to reach this level. I can’t have him and his fucked up family coming out here trying to shake things up.”
“We could get some local gangs involved and keep our hands clean.”
“I don’t want another war on my streets, Christian. The city’s only just recovering from the Bloods and Crips thing from twenty years ago.”
“True.”
“Plus, the whole reason why people come to me is to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. He took Megan to get my attention. He wanted me to know that I wasn’t untouchable and that I had stuck my nose in where it didn’t belong.”
“We didn’t know that Naomi was some mafia heiress. Hell, I thought she was from the Bay Area.”
“But I knew.”
“Not the whole time.”
“There’s a protocol to this kind of thing. You both know this. When I found out who she was, I should have sent her home or at the very least, called down there and told them where she was.”
“Are you justifying that psychopath’s actions, Hunt?”
“No, I’m simply saying that I understand them, which is why I’m going to make the meeting happen.”
“You’re a better man than me,” Vaughn mutters under his breath.
“Oh, shut the fuck up,” Christian says to him. “We’re having dinner a thousand miles from the club, so you can spy on a woman who doesn’t give two shits about you. You’re not one to talk about how anyone should handle their relationship.”
“When we get out of this car, I’m going to body slam you to the ground. Be ready,” Vaughn threatens.
“You’ve gained ten pounds since you ran away from home. I don’t even know if you’re capable of body slamming anyone, much less me,” Christian jests, and for a moment, I release the biggest belly laugh.
“You two.” I laugh some more. “Are so full of shit.”
My laughter seems to be contagious as Vaughn begins cackling, and I notice Christian’s chest vibrating with chuckles as well.
Things have been so serious these past few months that I’m sure we haven’t laughed like this for the longest time.
It feels good.
Like old times.
Then my chest tightens because I can’t seem to have a moment of joy without thinking about the one person who has made me the happiest ever in my life.
I used to laugh like this with Megan. Yet lately, all I’ve seemed to make her do is feel anger or sadness. Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen her smile in weeks. The baby isn’t even here yet, and already I’ve proven to be a shitty dad.
“What is it?” Vaughn turns his head, concern etched on his forehead. "What's wrong?"
“I’m an asshole,” I say flatly, and they both know exactly what I mean.
“I’m glad you said it,” Vaughn agrees.
“Yeah, because if she were mine–” Christian starts.
“But she’s not yours,” I growl back.
“No, she's not, but if you keep fucking up, you best believe someone will swoop in and take her, new baby and all.”
The thought of someone else in Megan’s bed or raising my baby makes me sick to my stomach. Never in a million years did I think we'd ever be this far apart from each other, physically or emotionally.
“I don’t know how to fix it,” I say in a defeated tone that I don’t even recognize myself.
“The fuck you don’t know how to fix it!" Vaughn exclaims. "Do what you do best. Make your point. Make it over the top. And then you grovel.”
“She loves you, Hunt, and I bet she’s looking for any excuse to take you back, but you have to give her one," Christian also offers.
Yeah, I ponder to myself.
I have to give her one.