Chapter 15
HUNTER
Iget it now.
How the Keep works.
Why the men are so dedicated.
When I first took Fiona, it was out of convenience. She was sitting on a bed. I’d just tortured a repugnant woman and wanted to bask in the glow of my accomplishment.
Little did I know, Fiona would become the glow.
Men like me aren’t supposed to fall in love, but what else could this be? I sacrificed my life for hers, and I don’t regret it.
There’s only one other person I would have done that for, and that was Gabby. And no, I never wanted to bone my sister, but the kinship we experienced as she raised me, cared for me, and kept me safe is something I will forever cherish.
In another life, my mother would have died from an overdose, and my sister and I would have gone to live with foster parents.
We would have graduated high school and led our lives as they should have been led.
She would have been a great mother, with beautiful children.
I’d have been the fun uncle, always getting on her nerves because of how much I spoiled my nieces and nephews.
And who knows, maybe when the time was right, I would have met Fiona.
We’d meet at that gas station she worked at. She’d be frustrated because she couldn’t figure out the change she owed me. I’d be charmed and invite her out to dinner. She’d say yes.
Things would move fast, and it wouldn’t be just me who was taken by her. My sister and her kids would fall in love with her, too.
We’d all live happily ever after.
But that life isn’t possible.
My sister is dead.
The world ended.
And Fiona was shot.
Cole enters the holding and takes a seat in a chair that’s just outside my cell.
I can’t find my words. The fear of finding out that Fiona is dead is just too great.
“She’s out of surgery.”
I swallow, trying to steady my voice. “She survived?”
He nods.
Relief washes over me.
Cole leans forward, pressing his forearms to his thighs and tenting his fingers. “Who is she?”
“Her name is Fiona.”
“How do you know her?”
I don’t know what to tell him, so I say nothing.
“She must be special to you if you risked bringing her to the Keep.”
Still, I say nothing.
“So, Caspian shot your girl? How did that happen?”
Silence.
“Talk to me, Hunter.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“Really?” Cole snickers. “Because I have a lot to say and a whole lot of questions.”
“You might as well do yourself a favor and execute me.”
“Oh, I will. But not until you tell me what I need to know.”
“Then you’re going to end up keeping me down here forever.”
Cole buries his head in his hands. “I didn’t want this.”
“Could you please have your existential crisis elsewhere?”
“I’ll use that girl if I have to,” Cole says, his voice dark.
My brow pinches together in confusion.
“Is Fiona the one you called in all those months back?”
I return to saying nothing because the last thing I need is to get riled and lose my cool. Not that I ever do, but with Fiona injured, I’m in uncharted territory.
“I get that you’ve come to terms with your own death, but are you prepared to deal with what I’m going to do to that girl you brought in?”
My mouth betrays me, and I say, “You wouldn’t.”
“You think I wouldn’t? Maybe a month ago, that’d be true. But, you see, I’m getting awfully desperate, and I’m tired of the shit that’s going on topside. If one fucking girl can solve a large chunk of my problems, don’t think for a second that I won’t gut her like a fish.”
“I’m not stupid enough to think you’d go through with that, but know that if you do, I will fucking kill you.”
“You might be right, but that doesn’t make her safe. I have too many frustrated men. Fiona could solve a lot of problems for me…on her knees. How many do you think she can take?”
The thought of Fiona going through what she had when she was on Salem Street sets my blood on fire.
“Watch what you fucking say,” I warn, clenching my fists so tight my knuckles turn white.
“I knew you were a Keeper.”
“With all due respect, you don’t fucking know me. Not one bit.”
“I’d like to change that.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Fine. Suit yourself.”
He leaves without another glance over his shoulder, and I’m left to wonder what the hell is going to happen next.
And if I’ll get to tell Fiona goodbye.