Chapter Twelve
Searching through the kitchen cupboards I find all the ingredients to make steak sandwiches and homemade chips with a salad.
I start to put together all of the ingredients to make the sandwiches, enjoying being able to cook proper food in a clean and well stocked kitchen.
The music coming from the small docking station in the corner instantly has me shaking my hips along to the beat as I work and it takes no time at all before everything is ready.
I'm just finishing plating everything up when I turn around and see all of my guys standing behind the large kitchen island.
It separates the kitchen from the dining area.
All of them with large shit eating grins on their faces.
"How long have you been there?" I ask, desperately hoping they’ve only just walked in and didn’t witness my impromptu kitchen dance party for one.
"Long enough to see you shake your beautiful ass all around our kitchen." Kai smirks.
Hunter reaches behind Levi so he can reach Kai, and lightly smacks him on the back of the head.
"What was that for?” Kai exclaims, glaring at Hunter. “You were thinking it too." Kai grumbles, rubbing his head.
"Fair point, but I didn’t voice it out loud.” Hunter smirks at Kai, who starts grumbling under his breath. Hunter turns his attention back to me and winks, before giving me the first full grin I have ever gotten from him or even seen.
I stare wide eyed at him for a moment, completely lost for words.
"Holy fuck! You have dimples!" I blurt out before rapidly smacking my hand over my mouth, and feel the heat of a blush rush to my cheeks, damn my lack of filter.
It’s silent for a few moments before each of the guys burst out into loud, raucous laughter.
Deciding to own it, since at this point my only other option is to melt into an embarrassed little puddle on the kitchen floor, I walk up to an adorably blushing Hunter and step up onto my tiptoes.
I lightly kiss his cheek right over his dimple, flicking my tongue into it slightly before giggling and dancing out of the reach of his grasping hands.
"I'll get you back for that, Sweetheart!" Hunter calls after me.
I turn around and slowly run my eyes over him from the tips of his well-worn combat boots, up his muscular, jean clad legs, over his tapered waist and up, over his gorgeously wide chest before settling on his intense green eyes that are filled with heat.
"You promise?" I ask cheekily, smirking at his shocked expression.
The simmering heat in his eyes suddenly blazes into an inferno, causing me to swallow thickly and clench my thighs against the heat pooling low in my stomach.
He reaches for me, tugging me towards his strong chest and dipping his mouth towards my ear, lightly brushing his lips along the edge of it before nipping gently.
It sends an electrifying spark filled shiver, down my spine and ignites every single nerve in my body, turning my knees to jelly.
Holy fuck, I did not realise that, that was a real thing, I thought that was something people made up, for books and TV shows.
Wow.
"It's a promise, Sweetheart.” He growls in my ear, my thighs clench and my underwear grow damp.
Before I can do something I might regret with all of them in the room, I grab the large plates of sandwiches on still wobbly legs.
Fuck him very much, he knew exactly what that husky voice would do to me.
I turn and take the plates to the table and resolutely ignore the blush I can feel staining my cheeks.
I’d like to say it’s from embarrassment but in all honesty, I’m so fucking turned on I feel like I’m flushed everywhere.
The guys start chuckling behind me, they may not have heard what Hunter said to me but it’s pretty damn obvious the effect it’s had on me. I should probably be annoyed that they’re chuckling at my expense, but I can’t help but grin, I’ll get them all back.
"Bastard." I mutter aloud with no heat, only amusement lacing my tone.
"I heard that.” Hunter chuckles behind me, which immediately sets the others off again.
"That’s because I wanted you to hear me.” I fire back feeling immature and stick my tongue out at them all over my shoulder.
"Our girls got fire in her." Kai winks at me as they all bring the rest of the food to the table and take their seats.
I blush deeply and the biggest most genuinely happy smile I can remember tugs my lips up.
I love the sound of being their girl.
As everyone digs in Levi gets everyone's attention.
"Did everyone get their tasks done without issues?" He asks.
The guys all make affirmative noises whilst still eating and Levi nods.
"Good, Mr. S is sending the private plane, so we should be there quickly. He's requested an immediate meeting, so we will only have time to drop the bags at the house before we've got to leave to meet him at HQ."
After that lunch is finished quickly, they each thank me for making it and we're soon all piling into the SUV with Hunter driving.
After a heated argument between Kai and Jax about who would get to sit next to me it was decided by Levi that I should sit in the front.
We are currently about twenty minutes away from the airport and have been on the road for around forty minutes and Jax and Kai are still grumbling about having to sit in the back without me.
It was quite entertaining and made heart warm at first but for the last few minutes I have tuned them out. My focus switching to Hunter who keeps checking his mirrors far more often than he needs to, It takes me a couple of minutes to grasp the reason why.
Shit.
"We're being followed?" I ask Hunter, causing Jax and Kai to finally stop arguing and start paying attention.
"For the last few miles, the same SUV has been a couple of cars back.” Hunter replies grimly his permanent scowl deepening even more.
"Take the next exit, it leads to some back roads but you can take them as a longer route to the airport and eventually come back out onto this road. There isn’t anything else on them not even houses, so they have no reason to go that way unless they are following us.
Hopefully, it’s just a coincidence, they’ll carry along the main road and we will just be a bit later to the airport than we hoped.
" Maverick suggests, somewhat more optimistically than I feel.
Hunter nods his head in agreement and takes the following exit. Sure enough, the black SUV takes the same turning as us. The atmosphere in the car has dramatically switched from playful and relaxed, to professional and tense within a few seconds.
My guys continue to impress me.
"Still might be a coincidence, carry on following this route, there's no logical reason for them to come off and re-join the main road like we are going to.
If they don't take any turnings off, then they are definitely following us.
" Levi instructs, although it sounds to me like he's pretty certain they are.
I keep my gaze out the windscreen noting the dense forest that lines either side, we really are taking the road less travelled right now. We’ve been following the road for ten minutes and there hasn’t been a single other car drive past.
After a few more turns following the route suggested by Maverick, it's clear that the SUV is definitely following us. Not that it’s that surprising, like Maverick said there’s fuck all out here.
The car following us also seems to have realised that we’re aware of their presence and drops all pretence as they accelerate rapidly and slam into the back of our own SUV.
"Shit!" Hunter swerves before regaining control of the car.
Once he's gained control of it again his hazel eyes slash over to me, checking to make sure I'm okay. I nod sharply once. I’m not completely honest with him though, physically I’m unhurt but my heart is pounding in my chest and my emotions are wanting to spiral into panic.
I take a deep breath forcing myself to calm down.
I can panic after this is over. Once we are all safe, I can crumble but not now.
It wouldn't do anyone any good if I crumbled now.
I’m shaken from my thoughts when the SUV rams us again. However, I expected it this time and my emotions and panic are firmly locked down.
Hunter presses his foot down further on the accelerator managing to put a little more distance between us and the black SUV. I'm immediately thankful that we’re driving on this deserted stretch of road, it means that no innocent people are likely to get hurt.
I'm studying the SUV intently in the mirrors trying to find any clue that could help identify who is in the car. I’m assuming it's someone to do with Brent and his organisation, the likelihood of it being Brent himself is slim to none.
He wouldn't bother doing his own dirty work, but I know the guys closest to him fairly well, they never spoke to me, but I observed them. You can learn a lot about someone if they treat you like you’re invisible.
If I can figure out who exactly is in the car it could give us an advantage.
The sun glints off something only slightly poking out of the passenger window, something that shouldn't be there. I squint at it trying to make out what it is before it dawns on me and my eyes widen.
"Get down!" I yell suddenly causing the guys to jump slightly at my outburst but my heart warms as they all listen to my warning and duck down.
Hunter, ducking down as much as he can whilst still being able to drive. There's a thud at the back of the car but a shattering sound doesn't follow like I'm expecting.
Keeping as low as I can I glance back between the seats and I'm shocked to see the bullet simply lodged in the back window. A low chuckle causes me to glance over at Jax and he shrugs at me.
"Bullet proof glass, Little Star.” He smirks.
"How many bullets can it take before it does shatter?" I ask glancing around at the guys and noting their slightly shocked expressions.