Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Regge on dumplings, heartbreak, and life lessons
After Hunter had stormed out of the flat, I stomped around in such a huff that Archie gave up napping and escaped out the window. Scrubbing my place like a mad man to a loud Nirvana playlist didn’t help my mental state, but my flat sparkled.
Why had I freaked out? The night had been amazing. Hunter—my Hunter was back and wanted me as much as I wanted him.
If we could stick to sex, things would be okay. I could do that. It was seeing Hunter all sleepy and sex drunk the next morning that created the knot in my gut. He was completely adorable and sweet. And I was… me. I scrubbed the shower with vicious strokes that made the tile squeak.
My mind replayed everything over the past few days.
My worry, my guilt, anger, and worst of all, helplessness.
I’d been helpless to rescue Hunter. Only luck and help from our friends had brought him back.
When Hunter said friends with benefits, I’d been on the edge of an emotional high and physical need.
I would have said anything to keep him. Promised him anything.
Later, I felt flayed open in front of him—all my insecurities, all my stupid habits and quirks on display. It was only a matter of time before he realized what a mess I was and left.
I did what I always did. No eye contact, no emotional tones or words.
All business. Like Hunter was a mark in a con.
As though our intimacy was a transaction instead of what it was.
We’d connected. Not only last night but in the woods under the stars.
I’d talked about things I’d never talked about to anyone.
I’d let Bruce Hunter see me. My ugly truth, my sordid past, my worthlessness.
Maybe that’s why I held back. Hunter was clearly looking for more than I could give. If I told him the whole story of how I’d failed him, he’d leave me. And rightly so.
I’d let it happen, convincing him we should help Nigel. And I’d lost him, standing by as Anu talked through his vocal cords, walked with his legs, saw me through his eyes.
“Coward.” I sat back on my haunches, the wet denim stretching over my knees as I rinsed the shower again. “You are a spectacular coward. Hunter deserves the truth.”
Archie had returned to sit in judgment in the bathroom doorway.
“Sure, Arch. I’ll just find him and tell him everything. That will solve it. Right?” I let out a frustrated breath.
He mewled in disgust, turning away, tail high.
“Yeah, thanks. Just what I need.”
I left for work early, and the shift was busy enough to distract me for a few hours. I walked home from the bus stop at a slower pace than usual, not wanting to face an empty flat.
Putting on the smile I’d worn all day, I bought fresh dumplings at the Asian grocery store on my corner.
I should have called—checked on him. Of course I was worried. It was a natural thing to do—worry about your friends. And Hunter was still my friend, right? Silently I scoffed at the word. Friends didn’t kiss you breathless or make you see stars when you came. Bloody fucking stars.
I should call him. And in the same breath, I knew I wouldn’t. It was likely he’d gone to Pinkie’s where Abraham would fill him in. I stopped short. Abraham stood at my building, his finger on the buzzer.
“Abraham.” I jogged the rest of the way. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Where’s Hunter?”
The usual smile was there but subdued. Abraham cocked one eyebrow. “You don’t answer your phone is what’s wrong.”
I blinked and grabbed my phone. “Damn, I was at work so I, oh… it’s out of battery.” I looked up, meeting his eyes. “Sorry.”
“I was in the neighborhood. You gonna let me in.”
“Ah, sure.” I punched in the code and opened the door. We didn’t speak again until we entered my flat.
Abraham sniffed. “Clean. Someone’s been keeping busy.”
“I had time on my hands, I guess. You’ve seen Hunter?”
“Yes. He’s at Pinkie’s. Back to normal. Pissed at you for some reason.” He sank down onto the folded futon, his long arms stretching fully across the back. “Wouldn’t tell me why. I figured I’d come to the source.”
I didn’t look at him. “You want a drink?” I pulled out a bottle of Maker’s Mark and poured two glasses.
Abraham sipped his whiskey and looked at me. “Julian’s awake. I found him at the diner near the hotel. Took him to Pinkie’s. He says we only have a little time before the Jersey guys come down and find their boss gone. Cobb will keep it under wraps for as long as he can.”
“He’s alive? Wow.” I pressed my lips together. I wasn’t sure why he was telling me about the gangster who’d put everyone in danger.
“We need your skill set to get into Julian’s apartment. He’s lying low. The cartel will kill him if they learn he killed Cesar.”
“And why should we help that wanker?”
“Because the deed to the hotel is at his place. And I don’t need the mob snooping around, okay? I’d like to get a pack of wolves out of my warehouse space.”
“He has the deed to the hotel?”
“Westridge Unlimited is Julian’s company. It seems he was getting out of the crime business.”
“Or bringing the hotel into it.” I scoffed. I drank my whiskey, wincing as it burned its way down.
“Maybe.” Abraham shrugged. “About Hunter. You really did a number on him. You want to tell me what happened?”
I rose to reheat the Asian dumplings in the microwave, evading his gaze. “The corner store has these amazing dumplings. I’ll share.”
He chuckled. “You go ahead and avoid the subject, kid. I’ll be right here sipping my drink. Tell Cobb he owes you a bottle.”
I dumped the steaming dumplings on a plate. “I’m not about to ask Detective Cobb anything like that.”
“Probably a good idea.” He waited until I sat down. “Talk to me, Regge.”
I ate three dumplings before I spoke. “I was so worried about him. About Hunter. Everything seemed to happen at once—fighting, magic, and Hunter went down. I thought he was lost, that—” My voice threatened to break, so I popped another dumpling in my mouth.
It was a solid few minutes before I could speak again.
“But we fixed things. Hunter is safe. He seems okay.”
“But he didn’t know what happened to him. Why didn’t you just tell the guy?” His words landed like velvet hammers on my chest.
I sucked in a breath, sliding the last dumpling around on my plate.
“I was afraid of losing him. But that’s not all.
” I finished my drink. “When he woke up last night, he was HB again. Really him. I was so happy, you know? And well, we had, ah, a moment or two. It was fine.” I chuffed out a laugh.
“Who am I kidding, it was great. But then he woke up this morning and I…. Hunter is so good. And I am a mess. I can’t… I am so bloody fucked up.”
Abraham made a scoffing noise in his throat. “Who isn’t? We live in a fucked-up world. Portals and travelers, ghosts and necromancers, Elon Musk and social media. It’s a batshit crazy place.”
“Then I fit right in, don’t I? A pickpocket who whored on the streets of London.”
“That’s what you did, not who you are. You forget how old I am. I was on those same streets. Back then, London was a desperate and dangerous town for a lot of people. You survived when many didn’t.”
“Don’t forget I’m a murderer. And not just monsters, but men.” I thought of the man in my past, the one who’d killed Charlie. The satisfaction of his death still rippled through me.
“I ripped through two Mafia guys just yesterday. I took exception to their intent to kill me. Some of the worst monsters I’ve seen are people. Every day, run-of-the-mill humans who are absolutely evil. I don’t relish it, but sometimes it’s necessary. Hunter would understand that.”
Unable to sit still, I jumped up to pace the small space. “I’m being stupid. Hunter knows my past. At least some of it.”
“Some of it? I don’t think confessions are a one and done kind of deal.
When I met Arial, I thought she was too good for me too.
” He spoke of his girlfriend who sometimes worked at the bar.
His lips pressed into a quick smile. “Hell, I still do. But that female is crazier than I am. She wanted everything—the real, ugly, bitter truth of me, all five hundred years of my long and sordid history. So I told her. Damn if she didn’t still love me.
” The glass made a clink as he set it on the coffee table and stood.
“I gotta go. So we’ll see you later at the bar, yeah? ”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
“Bring your lockpick set.” He gave me a two-fingered salute and opened the door. “And plug in your damned phone.” He closed the door behind him.
I sat back on the futon, scarfing the last dumpling. Archie lounged in his feline form on top of the bookcase. I stared at my sparse furnishings in the one room. It felt even emptier now that Hunter was gone.
“Did you hear that, Archie? I’m apparently breaking into a Mafia flat with my best friend who’s not speaking to me.” Archie yawned, got up, and stretched before lightly jumping to the floor and strutting to his bowl. “Thanks for the concern. Yes, I’ll feed you before I go.”