19. MADDOX #2
Hunter disappears into my home, tossing his bag into the spare room and as Smooch follows him, softly growling, Lyra starts setting up her new phone, becoming consumed by the task.
I drop down on the couch opposite her and scroll through the endless takeout options when my phone chimes with a new notification on our group chat.
I open it immediately only to have dread sink heavily into my stomach.
Lyra has changed your nickname to Lemony Snicket.
I glance up at her across the living room. “Do I even want to know what that’s supposed to mean?”
She silently huffs, rolling her eyes and dropping her gaze back to the phone, choosing to respond with a text, rather than just telling me face to face.
Lyra: You’re a series of unfortunate events.
Hunter scoffs a laugh from the spare room that’s quickly concealed by a cough, and I just stare at her. “I destroyed one apartment complex.”
“You destroyed my apartment, so as the judge and jury presiding over this case, my judgment stands. Nickname is non-refundable.”
“Fuck.”
She smirks to herself, pride shining in her eyes as she pretends to get lost in her phone, and for just a moment, I can’t help but feel as though just a little piece of the heaviness resting on her shoulders has begun to chip away.
Hunter reemerges from his new living quarters and collapses on Smooch’s other side, his hand automatically falling onto the dog’s waist, only to almost get taken off with one quick snap of his sharp jaw.
As we wait for our food to arrive, Hunter and I talk shit until the sound of Lyra’s breathing evens out, and I realize she’s fallen asleep on the couch with Smooch snuggled against her lap.
“Shit. Should we move her to the bed?” I ask, not wanting her to get cold or uncomfortable.
Hunter just stares at me. “After the day she’s had?
Are you insane? In what world do you think taking the risk of waking her is a good idea?
She’d sooner maul you than let that happen.
If she’s on the couch, then that’s where she wants to be.
Though you should probably move the dog and give her a blanket. A pillow wouldn’t go astray either.”
Shit. He’s right.
Lyra doesn’t need a knight in shining armor that’s going to swoop in and save her. She’s too independent for that. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t help her out on a hard day.
I get her fixed up, and as I gently lift her head and slide a pillow under her face, she sinks right into it, her body relaxing deeper into the cushions as she falls into a more peaceful sleep.
I’m just starting to consider bailing on food and crashing myself when Hunter’s phone chimes, and the second his expression shifts, I know exactly what kind of notification that is.
He’s got a new contract. And suddenly the room doesn’t seem so peaceful anymore.
Hunter scoops up his phone, scanning over the notification, and as his brow arches, my curiosity is piqued. Nothing ever gets his attention like that . . . nothing except for Lyra.
My gaze shifts back to her fast asleep on the couch, and a wave of unsettling guilt washes through me. She thinks she knows all of our secrets. Thinks she knows who Hunter really is, and while she might know Hunter’s side of things, she hasn’t even begun to know mine. I doubt she even suspects.
When Hunter was exposed, I had every opportunity to step forward, to tell her I wasn’t exactly innocent either, but I didn’t.
I allowed her to keep believing that I was the safer option.
That I was the man she should be running to while seeking comfort and safety.
But truth be told, I’m just as vile as Hunter. If not worse.
Hunter tosses me his phone, and I glance over the contract, my brows arching the same way his had, and I meet his stare across the living room. “The last time we went after this guy, we almost died.”
Hunter nods, and I toss the phone back to him.
“It’s a bad idea.”
“Terrible idea,” he agrees.
I glance toward Lyra, fast asleep and completely oblivious to the fact that she’s very quickly falling for the two men she absolutely shouldn’t want.
“Fuck.”
Hunter sucks in a breath, and I stand, determination rocking through me. Since the moment this bastard almost got the best of us last time, we’ve done nothing but fantasize about the day we would meet again, and that day has finally come.
I grin because, let’s be honest, there was never even a question about it. The moment that contract came through, right along with a pinned location of the target, it was as good as done. No matter how risky it might be.
At my movement, Smooch stands, looking at me for a command, and I point toward Lyra. “Protect her,” I tell him, knowing he understands exactly what’s expected of him.
His ears perk up, and Smooch immediately moves, settling directly in front of Lyra and watching out the window for any kind of threat.
“Good boy,” I murmur, pleased that between us, at least the dog is capable of making responsible decisions.
And with that, Hunter reaches for the keys of his Challenger, and we stride out the door with purpose, knowing that tonight, we will finally even the scoreboard, and this time, we won’t be coming back empty-handed.