That makes sense.
“Julian?” he asks suddenly.
For a second, I’m caught off guard by the change in subject.
“Julian is my father’s right hand man. Personal assistant, bodyguard even. Honestly, I’m not sure where one role ends and the next begins.”
“He made sure my father’s image remained spotless. That’s why he kept coming here. To make sure I didn’t make things worse. To stop whatever was happening between us.”
I swallow.
“He always kept an eye on me. I suppose he simply did a better job of it than I realised.”
My eyes meet Hunter’s.
“And you weren’t exactly subtle. You stomped through my life like a caveman. People were bound to notice eventually.”
“Really, he’s a good man. In his own way,” I add.
“He did it for his own benefit and your father’s,” Hunter snaps.
“True.”
I lower my eyes.
But a small, naive part of me wants to believe he did it for me too.
That perhaps he was trying to protect me from the consequences of what would happen if my husband found out about us.
“Did he ever touch you? The bruises?”
I shake my head.
“No. That was all Frederick.”
Hunter goes still.
The look in his eyes turns cold, and a knot forms in my stomach.
“He’s dead.”
The words are delivered without emotion.
“Wh.. what?”
“Frederick.” His jaw tightens. “He’s dead. I killed him.”
For a second, I can only stare at him.
Relief is the first thing I feel.
I’m finally free.
But then a more frightening thought takes its place.
Hunter.
“What about you?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. “What happens to you?”
