He closed the window and then positioned himself in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest. I was surprised he could cross those tree trunks at all. He looked like he’d filled out since I’d last seen him. And he was already big back then.
I guess if your hobbies included ripping the heads off dolls, you’d grow some arm muscles.
“I want to go home,” I said, mimicking his angry glare. He would not intimidate me.
“You can’t. Surely, you understand how your dad’s business works. And when he says there’s a threat, you lie low and listen to people who know what they’re doing so you stay alive.”
Still not intimidated, I was now a whole lot of pissed off. “You condescending pig. I understand perfectly well how the business works, despite everyone keeping me as far away as they can. I grew up in that family. Just because you think you know better than me doesn’t mean you actually do.”
He stepped closer, but I stood my ground. My anger had snuffed out all my common sense, which would have told me to get the hell away from the angry giant.
“I definitely know better than you. I remember your antics well. In fact, if I remember correctly, the last time we saw each other, you’d snuck out to a party, and I had to save your ass.”
Of course he’d bring up the most humiliating moment of my life.
A jolt of pain still shot through me at the memory.
“I hate you,” I whisper-hissed and stomped past him.
I went straight to the bathroom I’d spotted earlier and locked the door. I’d had about as much of Gunner as I could handle.
I sat down in the tub, exhausted down to the marrow of my bones and feeling dejected. I’d once thought he was the best thing to ever happen to me. Now I wished we’d never met at all.
I just hoped I would walk away less broken this time.
I drifted off where I was sitting while going over other possible escape plans, discarding them as quickly as I came up with them. I’d have to stay here for at least a day or two until I could figure something out.
Chapter6
Gunner
There wasnobody else in the world who could make my temper flare as much as Freya. I was known for my control. I rarely showed emotions. But the damn woman managed to tease out a response within a few seconds.
I also struggled to fight the constant need to touch her. I wasn’t prepared for what it would be like to be this close to her again. I’d been obsessing over her for so long, the impact of seeing her again caught me unawares.
And she was still as stubborn and irresistible as she’d been when I last saw her. If anything, she’d grown into herself. The gorgeous woman I’d first met had been spoiled and relied on Daddy to get her out of the messes she liked to create.
But I had no business even thinking about Freya as anything other than a client. And I had a job to do. Starting with getting her what she’d asked for. I pulled out my phone and called Carter.
“She okay?” he asked.
“Define ‘okay,’” I answered. She’d made her displeasure about seeing me again crystal clear.
“She wasn’t impressed with her new home?” Amusement filled his voice.
“She locked herself in the bathroom three hours ago, so I think it’s safe to say she’s not taking to it well.”
“You calling because you need advice?” Carter asked, now outright laughing.
“Fuck off. I’m calling because you have to get her bunny from her apartment. And while you’re—”
His laughter turned into howling, cutting me off.
“You’re calling me in the middle of an operation to get a bunny?” he asked in between the laughter.
I sighed. I knew this wasn’t going to go down easy. “Just get the damn thing. And bring her food from her apartment as well. She doesn’t like what’s at the house.”
“I don’t blame her. You’re the only one who’s obsessed with all that health crap you choose to torture your body with.”
