Page 4 of Hunted Innocence
“How?” I finally ask.
He shrugs a shoulder. “Time to move back home, honey.”
Home.
The thought of returning to my apartment makes me instantly want to beg to stay here. It doesn’t feel like a home. It’s a place I’ve been living for the past few years, but I don’t think I know what a home feels like. I’ve never had one.
I wish I could keep my boredom, because being back there, at that apartment, means Landon is coming for me. Bait or not, I’m not sure that when he does catch me, Securus can protect me.
I open my mouth to protest, but he holds up his hand, his palm facing me, effectively shutting me up. Snapping my lips together, I tilt my head to the side, impatiently waiting for him to finish, even though I want to ask a million questions.
“Grayson is there getting your security system up and running. We wouldn’t leave you completely exposed. Someone will be with you always, but in the shadows. You’re going toappear alone. There is no way this guy is going to come out and show himself if he doesn’t think he can get to you.”
“And you want him gone,” I whisper.
Vaughn hums. “For your sake, yeah, we want him gone.”
Those words cause my chest to warm.For my sake. They don’t just want him gone. They want him gone for my sake. That’s a beautiful sentiment. You know, if it were true. I’m under no impression that it is, though.
They don’t want the government on their backs, and I don’t blame them. Landon is a loose cannon. He is willing to plant something, create something, or lie about something in order to get his way.
And what he wants as his way is me—he wants me back. If he finds the opportunity, he is bound to seize it, and he won’t care about anyone else as collateral damage.
“You won’t be able to stop him from getting what he wants,” I say.
Vaughn snorts. “Bet. That man is getting nothing that he wants. In fact, by the time we’re done with him, he’ll be begging us to leave him alone.Begging.”
“Vaughn. I’m not worth any of this,” I murmur. “I promise you I’m not.”
He doesn’t move any closer to me, but his gaze is transfixed on mine as he holds me hostage. I can’t even breathe as I stare at him, watching him and waiting for him to say something—anything.
“I don’t know what happened between you and that asshole, but you’re worth a hell of a lot more than this, Nadine. Because what this is, is easy. This is fun compared to other shit we have to shovel. Especially to some people.”
I really hope that those people include Grayson, but I don’t ask him. Instead, my cheeks heat, and I lift my hands to them,trying to cool them off, because I have no doubt that they’re turning red.
“You’re part of the family now, Nadine. Before Lucille and Colette, you were the only woman in our lives. It’s our duty to protect you, and had you told us earlier what the fuck was going on, we would have started all of this a hell of a lot sooner. Now pack your shit up, you’re going home.”
Without another word, he turns from me and stomps away. I’m not sure if he’s angry with me or not. Instead of asking, I watch as he closes the balcony door behind him. I don’t go and pack my shit, though, at least not immediately. Instead, I turn back around to face the street and look around the city of Nights, NC.
I chose this place because it was close to my brother, but I stayed because of the men of Securus. They needed me, maybe even more than I needed them at the time. I can’t let anything happen to them.
Maybe becoming bait is the best thing I can do. Whatever is going to happen, it needs to just go ahead and happen so that all these men can get back to their lives. They don’t need to worry about me and my problems with Landon. They need to move forward and find their happiness, because they all deserve it.
My mistakes and bad decisions keep coming back to bite me in the ass—to haunt me.
Honestly, I should just try to disappear again. It would make everything much easier and safer for everyone involved, including Securus and my brother at the Night Devils.
GRAYSON
Nadine’s apartmentis fully monitored by me. Theron reluctantly allowed me to take over this part of the plan. He’s incharge of the rest. As much as I hate the fact that Nadine is about to become bait to her husband, I don’t have a choice.
It’s out of my control.
I hate to admit that anything is out of my control.
Control is something that none of us gives up easily, especially now that we are all men who are capable of directing our own lives. Still, I’m going to focus on Nadine and keeping her safe, which is the only thing I can control in this situation.
So, control, I will.
