CHAPTER EIGHT
Dimitri drives us to a motel on the outskirts of town. It’s run-down and sketchy, but it’s better than the warehouse.
We get a room and I immediately call Hunter.
“Lorelai?” Hunter’s voice is frantic. “Where are you? I got the video, I was about to—”
“I’m safe,” I say quickly. “I escaped. Well, I had help.”
“Where are you?” he asks. “I’m coming to get you.”
I give him the address of the motel.
“Stay there,” he says. “Don’t move. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
He hangs up and I turn to Dimitri and Alexander.
“Thank you,” I say. “Both of you. I know that wasn’t easy.”
“We’re probably dead now,” Alexander says, sinking onto the bed.
“No you’re not,” I say. “Hunter will protect you. I promise.”
“How can you be sure?” Dimitri asks.
“Because I know him,” I say. “And he’ll do anything for the people I care about.”
“You barely know us,” Dimitri points out.
“You saved my life,” I say. “That’s enough.”
We wait in tense silence until there’s a knock on the door.
I open it and Hunter is there, and behind him is Luke.
Hunter pulls me into his arms immediately.
“Thank God,” he breathes into my hair. “I thought... I thought I’d lost you.”
“I’m okay,” I say. “I’m okay.”
He holds me for a long moment, then pulls back and looks at Dimitri and Alexander.
“These are the men who helped you?” he asks.
I nod. “Dimitri and Alexander. They risked everything to get me out.”
Hunter extends his hand. “Thank you. Both of you. I’m forever in your debt.”
Dimitri shakes his hand cautiously. “We need protection. John will come after us.”
“You’ll have it,” Hunter says immediately. “I have a safe house about two hours from here. You can stay there as long as you need. And I’ll make sure you’re compensated for your help.”
“Alexander’s mother needs money for cancer treatments,” I say. “Fifty thousand.”
“Done,” Hunter says without hesitation. “I’ll wire it tonight.”
Alexander’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“Really,” Hunter says. “And Dimitri, whatever you need—new identity, relocation assistance, money—it’s yours.”
Dimitri looks stunned. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you.”
“You can thank me by staying safe,” Hunter says. “Luke will take you to the safe house. Lorelai and I need to have a conversation.”
Luke nods and gestures for Dimitri and Alexander to follow him.
Once they’re gone, Hunter turns to me.
“We need to talk,” he says.