29. Hunter
Hunter
T here’s silence after Maddie leaves. I want to go after her, but it’s not going to help matters.
She’s not going to hurt less if I tell her how fucking painful this is for me too, how it feels like someone’s taken a knife and spilled my guts onto the floor.
I glare at Ash as if he’s still holding the blade.
“Satisfied?”
My brother rests his elbows on the table. “I hated every minute of it,” he says, and I’m shocked to hear the pain in his voice. “I’m sorry, but…”
“It had to be done,” I finish for him.
“Do you want me to send all the paperwork through to Maddie’s lawyer?” Reid asks.
“For fuck’s sake, Reid,” I snarl. “For once, stop being so goddamn efficient.”
“He’s only trying to help you clear up your shit, Hunter. We all are,” Mace says, coming to his brother’s defense. “And maybe we should all get back to work. We can’t leave Maddie to deal with the road issue on her own. ”
I round on him too. “I’m not fucking leaving her alone. This isn’t a paper mill issue. It’s a Barrett issue.”
“Hunter…” Ash warns. “This isn’t their fault.”
There’s a loud clatter as an office chair is overturned.
Reid is on his feet. “Damn right it isn’t our fault!
It’s his!” My little brother points an accusing finger.
“You knew how this was going to end, but you did it anyway. Maddie was vulnerable and fragile, but you just had to be the big hero, didn’t you?
You let her fall for you, Hunter,” he says, his eyes dark pits of fury.
“You can claim it was just business all you fucking like, but we all know it wasn’t like that for Maddie.
She loves you, man! And you just broke her fucking heart. ”
“Thank you, Reid, but I’m good,” Maddie says evenly from the door. The papers she had left with only minutes ago are still in her hand.
Her eyes are clear and sharp, and I should be relieved that she hasn’t been sobbing, but I’m unnerved by her calm as she re-enters the room. If she’s nursing a broken heart, she’s hiding it well. It can be done. I’m doing it.
“I might have a solution,” she says to Reid. She glances at me before adding, “To the road problem.”
“Which is?” I ask nervously.
“If Barrett’s intending to block or destroy the road, he’s going to need heavy plant and machinery. John Cooper can just about maintain his truck,” Maddie says as she returns to her seat and waits until we’re all around the table again.
Maddie sets down the papers she was holding. The brown envelope I’d given her has been opened and resealed, and the transfer agreement to return her shares shows the page she’s just signed. She slides the stack over to me without a second glance.
“For any past works on the road, we’ve always hired what we need from Theo,” she continues as if our marriage hasn’t just ended. “That’s how Theo would have known of John’s plans to clear woodland. He’ll be supplying the plant. There aren’t any other nearby alternatives.”
“And how does that help us?” I ask, keeping emotion out of my voice.
Maddie takes her phone from her pocket. “I can call in a favor.”
I sit with my arms folded and watch Maddie take control. I don’t allow myself to wonder why she isn’t broken. I’m in awe of her. Walking away is the right thing to do. She can handle anything.
“Hey, Maddie,” comes a man’s voice over speakerphone. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
It’s Theo. The nearest thing Maddie has to an ex. His voice grates on every one of my nerves.
“Theo, I need you,” she replies, her smile making her voice soft and her tone suggestive. She wants a favor and she’s seducing the bastard in front of me.
Maddie spends the next few minutes giving Theo an adapted explanation of her current plight. She spins the story of Barrett being the rejected groom, and how he’s scheming to seek revenge by closing the road. I get barely a mention.
“Is any of the plant on site yet?” she asks.
“No, I’ve been waiting for John to confirm,” Theo replies. “Which he did about an hour ago.”
Maddie looks to Mace when she says, “That makes sense. I think the sale of land only went through today. It’s Barrett you’ll be doing business with now.”
“Will I?” Theo asks playfully.
“You know it’s not only the mill that’s going to suffer if we lose the road. There are a lot of other independents that won’t be able to absorb the additional travel costs,” Maddie says. She bites her lip. “Please, Theo.”
And now she’s fucking begging him? My wife shouldn’t need to… I exhale loud enough for Ash to give me a warning glare. Yes, I know she’s deliberately pressing my buttons, but still…
“I don’t know, Maddie,” the jerk says. “What’s in it for me?”
“You avoid having your name dragged through the dirt, and starting a hundred-year feud between our two towns,” she threatens, her eyes narrowing at her cell. She’s waiting for him to cave. I’m hoping he doesn’t. It would give me an excuse to go over there and smash his smug face into submission.
“Sorry, Maddie,” Theo begins, making Maddie freeze for just a second before he laughs. “I shouldn’t be teasing you. This is serious. Of course I’ll help. I’ll even keep one of my guys on standby in case any fallen trees start to appear. You know I’d do anything for you.”
Maddie’s body sags briefly in relief, and then she moves closer to the microphone. It’s a husky whisper when she speaks. “I knew there was a reason you were top of my shortlist.”
Theo chuckles. “Don’t let your husband hear you say that.”
Maddie tilts her head and looks me dead in the eye when she says, “I think you mean, my soon-to-be ex-husband.”
Ash, Mace and Reid all lean back in their chairs as if expecting me to spontaneously combust. They’re not wrong.
Anger pulses in my veins, and I am ready to explode.
Except I don’t know where to direct my ire.
Maddie might be making a point, but it’s no less than I deserve.
This is the stark reality of my future, and hers.
She’ll find someone more deserving, and I’ll want to kill them.
Theo has gone quiet. I’m waiting for him to dial up the charm, but Maddie’s ex-suitor isn’t as stupid as I’ve been giving him credit for.
“It sounds like you have a lot to deal with right now,” he says.
“But call on me whenever you need more help. And Maddie, say hello to Hunter for me.” He chuckles when he adds, “Assuming he’s not already listening in. ”
“Thank you, Theo. You’re a good friend,” Maddie says, her tone more business-like as she ends the call. She ignores me, and turns to Ash. “I know Barrett is bull-headed enough to have diggers shipped from halfway across the country, but could it give us enough time to find a permanent solution?”
Ash nods. “We have a fighting chance,” he says. “You’ve outmaneuvered Barrett. Something I don’t see nearly often enough.”
“And not just Barrett,” Reid mumbles under his breath.
Maddie pretends not to hear. “Good. Then if you don’t mind, gentlemen. I have packing to do.”
“You’re leaving now?” Ash asks as Maddie gets up from the table.
I have to bite the side of my cheek to stop myself from telling her that she doesn’t have to leave yet. Ash gave her to the end of the week to make her decision. But then I look down at the brown envelope. It’s over.
“Will you go back home?” Reid asks.
Maddie purses her lips. “The house is still Griffin property, not mine.”
“It’s your fucking house, Maddie,” I bite out. “Fuck the paperwork. ”
She ignores me and focuses on Ash. “If it isn’t too much trouble, can I also borrow the Audi. I never had my own car, but I’ll be able to–”
I jump up out of my seat. “You can take whatever the fuck you want!” I yell at her.
Maddie’s head snaps in my direction. “No, I can’t!” she shouts back, a flash of pain creasing her brow before she recovers enough to add, “Goodbye, Hunter. It was good while it lasted.”
I snatch up the envelope that’s been taunting me, and go to follow Maddie. Ash grabs my arm as I pass him.
“Let her go, Hunter.”
I smash the envelope into his chest. “I am letting her go, but not before I tell her why.”