His almost black hair now hung loose to his shoulders.Brown eyes studied her, watching her intently.
"You're too kind, letting me stay here, but I need to go," she said, forcing the words out slowly, carefully, so he could read her lips."I.Need.To go."
He shook his head.
"You don't understand.There's someone important waiting for me.She's all I have.My sis—" Annie bit the words off before she said too much.
Hunter tilted his head, studying her.He didn't push her to talk.Didn't demand reasons for why she was here.
His patience made the situation worse because he failed to see the urgency.
Annie stood, the blanket slipping from her shoulders."You can't keep me here."
He stayed in the doorway.A wall of muscle and silence.
Her heart pounded.She wanted to scream, to shake him, to make him understand that she wasn't running away to save herself.She was running back into the hell she'd escaped to save her sister.
She wasn't afraid of dying if it meant succeeding at getting Leigh out of the hellhole she was in.
Until she had her sister away from Jason, she would do everything possible to save her.She'd already made a massive mistake by not getting clear away from Jason.He'd spotted her running and chased her with his car.And now Hunter was involved.Her brother-in-law wouldn't let that slide.He'd be after them both because he wouldn't let his secret escape.
Poor Leigh was the one who would pay for her leaving.She couldn't lose her sister.She had to save her.
Annie sank back onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.She hated the secrets, the lies, the way her chest ached with every breath.The last two weeks seemed like they'd lasted a lifetime.By now, she'd lost her job.But she'd do it all over again in a heartbeat to help her sister.
Unbeknownst to her, Leigh had lived like a prisoner for two years.Abused, ashamed, and lost, Leigh did the only thing she could do.She survived.
Her sister had finally dug deep and found the strength to call her one night, using the cell phone Jason left on the nightstand.Leigh had enough time to go into the bathroom, call her, and whisper over the phone that she needed help, and not to call the police.
She swallowed hard.The ever-present lump in her throat never left.
The saying was true.You never know what goes on behind closed doors.But she learned fast the moment Jason forced her into the house and locked her inside.
When she lifted her head again, Hunter still watched her with the same steady, unreadable gaze.Protective.Yet, unyielding.
Somehow, she would have to convince him to let her go.
He pointed at the bed.She shook her head.Normally, she'd be scared shitless inside a motorcycle club, put into a room, and told to stay.Now he wanted her on the bed.
She'd faced a lot worse.Nothing scared her anymore.
"I won't fuck you."She stayed on the couch."Let me go."
His gaze narrowed, and he stepped inside, shutting the door.Dread filled her.He could easily toss her on the floor and have his way with her, and she wouldn't be able to fight back.Her ribs hurt to breathe.There was no way she was strong enough to protect herself.
"Sleep in the bed."He pointed to the couch."I'll stay here."
She stood."I can't stay.I need to leave—"
He put his finger on her lips."Slow down."
"I want to leave," she said softly."Please.
"Tomorrow, you can leave."He pointed."Sleep.Be safe tonight."
Giving up, she walked through the doorway that he pointed to and flipped on the light.It was a bedroom.She looked over her shoulder.Hunter sat on the couch, untying his boots, and not paying any attention to her.
She quietly shut the door.Though she could've slammed it, and he wouldn't have noticed.If he planned to sleep on the couch, she'd outwait him.As soon as he fell asleep, she'd sneak out of the room and leave the clubhouse.
