As we move further inside, I come to an abrupt halt. Lined up in front of the grand double staircase stands an entire row of staff.
Men and women.
Impeccably dressed. The women even wear neat bows at their collars.
It’s so very Hunter that I almost roll my eyes.
“Everyone,” Hunter says as his arm circles my waist and pulls me to his side.
I have no idea why he insisted on bringing me here.
There is no chance I’m going home to America.
The thought of facing my father makes my stomach turn.
But I should be on my way back to the academy.
I want nothing more than to hide beneath the covers in my room, read, cry, and fall apart in private.
I haven’t had time to process any of this, and I can feel the breakdown waiting just around the corner.
“This is Piper Ashthorne,” Hunter says. “From this moment on, you’ll extend her the same courtesy and respect you extend to me. If she needs something, you provide it. If she asks for something, it gets done.”
His arm tightens around my waist.
“And if anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”
Everyone nods in my direction, but I’m too stunned to respond.
Maybe the blows to my head were worse than everyone thought. Perhaps I’ve developed short term amnesia and missed a few important chapters.
Because the last thing I remember is Hunter loathing me.
And fair play.
I was married to his father.
Still am.
It’s a difficult thing to swallow, so I force a smile, or at least something resembling one, but all I want is to burst into tears.
“Nice to meet you all.”
Every member of staff wears a name tag, and I look up at Hunter with a raised brow.
His expression doesn’t change. It’s still that indifferent look he wears so well, but it softens slightly as he looks down at me.
Almost as if that dimple wants to appear.
“Until you learn their names,” he says simply.
As if I’m going to be here long enough for that to happen.
I need to get out.
The sooner, the better.
We were doomed from the start, and nothing has changed.
