TRAPPED (Breaking Free Book 2) (8 page)

Oh my god, oh my god, could this man get any more perfect. My stomach has just flipped and I feel like a love sick teenager.

I lick my suddenly dry lips, and watch Hunte
r’
s part as his eyes trace my tongu
e’
s movement.

“
Okay, sorry to break up this love fest, but
I’
m kindahungry and the pair of you look ready to bang on my kitchen counters, and I would kind of prefer it if you kept it to a bedroom please, obviously after I have had lunch with my girl
.
” Lottie butts in, sudden realisation she has heard our conversation causing my cheeks to flame, the burn working its way down my neck.

I totally forgot we had an audience, this man just utterly consumes me.

Hunter leans in and pecks my cheek before giving Lottie his attention
,“
Sh
e’
s all yours. You know the drill, three hours be enough for the pair of you? That then leaves you two hours to get everything set up at mine for when Alex and Lily return
.
”

I go to object. I get what Hunter is saying about not being myself and needing help for the next few days, but i
t’
s far too soon for me and my kids to move in with him, i
t’
s almost cruel if
I’
m being hones
t
… Being a parent, full or even part time takes over your life and I ca
n’
t be sure Hunter is ready for that, i
t’
s just far too soon.

Lottie gives me a sharp look, forcing any objections to stick in my throat. Yeah, that works fine. To be honest Connie, I think the best place for you and the kids to be is with Hunter for the time being, you will always have your rooms here, but I have to get back to work tomorrow and should anything happen there is no one around to help. You have got to remember that you probably have adrenaline coursing through your body at the moment, alleviating most of the aches and pains. Can you guarantee that come tomorrow you will be fine and able to run around after your monsters? It has
n’
t got to be forever, and if it any point you want to come back then you can, but I cannot take any more time off of work, and there is not a chance in hell I would leave all here alone
.
”

Well tha
t’
s that then, looks like Hunte
r’
s apartment is due to be overrun with a pair of noisy, messy three and five year olds.

Connie:

I swear the pair of them planned this, they must spot the resignation on my face, for they both wink at each other and have the biggest shit eating grins on their faces. If there point was
n’
t valid I would turn around and storm out, probably sulk and stuff my face with cake, but it is, so I have no choice but to suck it up and do as they suggest.

“
Le
t’
s just go and get some food, you two definitely have a conspiracy going on and I really do
n’
t think I want to know what it is
.
” I huff out, turning to walk from the kitchen on a slight pout.

“
You might need this
.
”
I’
m halted in my tracks by a shiny new smart phone shoved in my face. I snap my eyes to Hunter questioningly
,“
Yes it is a lovely phone Hunter, but why are you thrusting it at me
?
”

Lottie giggles, abruptly trying to cover it up with a cough when Hunter throws a glare in her direction
.“
I
t’
s yours. Your phone was smashed so I removed the simcard, and placed it in a new handset. I do
n’
t want you going anywhere without a phone, and this has a built in tracker, so should anything happen, keep it on you and we can locate you immediatel
y
… Not that anything is going to happen, Harry just had it fitted as a precaution
.
”

I did
n’
t even think of my phone, another thing that slipped my mind
.“
Hunter I ca
n’
t keep accepting all of this from you and Lottie, tha
t’
s another phone in the space of a few days, i
t’
s not exactly fair
.
” Maybe I can buy a cheap handset and have Harry place the tracker in that. I only need a phone to make and receive calls and text messages, what else would I need it for?

“
Connie
I’
ve told you before, they sit in a cupboard waiting an employee to use. The broken one is insured and will be replaced and this actually costs me nothing for you to take and use, so take the thing and do as I tell you on this. Yo
u’
re safety is my number one priority baby
.
”

Ugh, he does
n’
t get it, since I have left Dan I have
n’
t put my hand in my pocket once, I may not have a lot but that does
n’
t mean the pair of them should be footing the bill for me and my kids,
I’
m a grown woman for godssake and i
t’
s about time I acted like one.

“
Do
n’
t, whatever argument you have just save it, I am not taking the phone back. Do you want to call Harry and have him drive all the way over here just to remove the tracker and place it in a phone of yourchoosing? I
t’
s easier all round to take the phone and carry on as normal. Save the argument and go out with Lottie for a few hours,
I’
ll start getting everything sorted for later while yo
u’
re gone
.
”

Well that point is kind of moot
.“
Err, where did Harry
g
…” My words are cut off by Lotti
e’
s shrill shriek
,“
Ahh, oh my god, le
t’
s just go okay? No need to argue with the man, he is right after all
.
”

She stalks towards me, and if looks could kill
I’
d be six feet under right about now. Picking up my new phone, Lottie places it in my shoulder bag and grips my wrist gently, tugging me in the direction of the door
.“
Say bye to the man Connie
.
” She tells my shell-shocked self.

I follow along obediently, throwing Hunter a half arsed wave as he follows us towards the front door.

The woma
n’
s crazy
,“
why are we rushing out the door, did I miss something
?
”

The look she gives me is one of pure astonishment, as if I am the dumbest female on the face of the planet. I still do
n’
t get why.

She hisses the words at me, so low I almost miss them
.“
Wake the hell up woman. I know your head is a bit banged up at the moment, but really? Did we not have the same conversation when you got here? Hunter does
n’
t know Harry is in my bed, and for the moment I would really like it to stay that way
!
”

Oops, yeah okay, she may have mentioned something about that
.“I’
m sorry, I really did
n’
t think
.
”

I loop my arm through hers, and watch her soften before my eyes
.“
Yeah okay, le
t’
s go and have some girl time okay
.
”

We all step in to the elevator, myself placed between Lottie and Hunter. Anyone would think I had two body guards, although the reason they have situated themselves so close beside me becomes abundantly clear as soon as the doors open to the ground floor. A rush of memories come flooding back, and I freeze, unable to move my legs.

The lobby, thankfully is empty, but I can still picture Hunte
r’
s wife as clear as day arguing with the concierge before turning her attack on me, and the entrance, where just outside Dan found me.

My head is spinning, my breathing become short and shallow, I need to calm myself down before I pass out. And there I was thinking I was ready to move on and forget everything. How can I move on if I ca
n’
t even get out of this lift?

“
I do
n’
t think
I’
m ready for this. I ca
n’
t walk out of those doors, i
t’
s all too fresh
.
” I whisper, with a hint of hysteria creeping in.

Lottie grips my arm tighter, and Hunter places his arm around my lower back, offering me support
.“
Nobody is going to let anything happen to you,
I’
ve told you this baby. I have someone following you at all times, ready to step in if he dares show his face, and Harry has his men looking for Dan as we speak. Yo
u’
re good, you can do this, Iknow you can. Do
n’
t let them beat you, show them that no matter what they throw at you, you will always get back up and fight ten times harder
.
”

I want to, I really do, i
t’
s just standing here and facing the place where it all went tits up is like a punch to the gut,
I’
m expecting Hunte
r’
s wife Ash to appear and verbally attack me, and for Dan to be waiting outside to grab me. I
t’
s all completely irrational, I know she has probably been banned from the building, and the second Da
n’
s face flags up there will be someone there to apprehend him, but my mind is fighting to get control, and
I’
m fighting a losing battle at the moment.

I drop to a crouch on the floor, needing to take several deep breaths and think properly. Hunter drops beside me, and I can absently hear him telling Lottie to keep the doors open.

I count to ten slowly, sucking air in to my lungs as Hunte
r’
s hand rubs my back.
I’
ve got this, I can do it. I was shocked is all, I was
n’
t expecting an array of emotions and memories to hit me like vivid flashbacks.

“
You can do this, show those fuckers that they mean nothing to you and will not keep you down. I love you baby, yo
u’
re stronger than anything they can throw your way
.
” He breathes, placing a small kiss against my neck.

Slowly swinging my head around, I look into Hunte
r’
s worried eyes. Tears are brimming in mine, but I refuse to allow them to fall, I will not cry over either of those bastards ever again. Hunter is mine and Ashley can swivel, and I am totally done with Dan, I need to push him as far as I can to the back of my mind.

I nod, somewhat shakily, showing him I am ready to do this. Hunter pulls me to my feet, and the sharp pain that radiates from my ribs at moving so suddenly is like a wakeup call. The despair and panic fades, and in its place anger is left.

I am angry at Ash, for what she put Hunter through, and coming to attack me as she did, and to Dan, for making my life hell all those years, even when I get away he cannot let me go. Why should they have any control over my life? But most of all
I’
m angry at myself, angry for finally getting to the point where I am ready to start living, and then allowing this to happen. No way, not happening,
I’
ve been down for too long, this is my time.

“I’
m good, I got this
.
” I tell the pair of them, and I truly mean it this time.

The looks they are giving me are full of worry, making me feel bad for dragging them in to all of this. I do
n’
t want to be a burden on their lives anymore, and the fact that Hunter has someone watching me at all times is enough for me to feel safe. Dan ca
n’
t do anything to me so long as
I’
m being watched and protected.

I hookmy arm through Hunte
r’
s and beckon Lottie over to do the same. I may feel ready to face this head on, my legs on the other hand are just a tad shaky from the shock of it all and I need to walk it off.

“
How are we getting there
?
” I inwardly pray i
t’
s in the car, I cannot be dealing with walking all the way on a sprained ankle.

With a sheepish expression on his face, Hunter looks down at me
,“
The man I hired to watch your back, is kind of also your driver
.
”

Oh my god
.“
Really
?
”
I’
m beyond stunned at the lengths this man goes to.

“
Whoa, before you dive off the deep end hear me out. Until Dan is caught I do
n’
t want you or the kids out alone without somebody protecting you, and Tonyis the best man for the job. I know I should have told you first, but you can argue till you are blue in the face with me, I am not backing down on this. You get to go where you want, and I get to know you are safe at all times. I
t’
s a win / win
.
” He arches a brow, daring me to object. All I can muster up in response is a grin, I was
n’
t going to argue, Ithink i
t’
s a brilliant idea, an expensive one, but just what is needed all the same. Maybe
I’
m actually getting used to having money spent on me, kind of.

“
Okay
.
” Is all I say in response.

“
Wai
t
… what? Why are you smiling at me like that? Wher
e’
s the argument I thought we were bound to have, until I took you upstairs and fucked you in to doing as yo
u’
re told
.
” He asks, seeming truly perplexed.

Oh my god, the one time I fully agree with his actions, and h
e’
s ready to fuck me just to get his own way. Why the bloody hell did
n’
t I argue.

“
Well I can argue if you want? Make it slightly more interesting
.
” I bite my lip and watch his eyes smoulder.

“
No you bloody well ca
n’
t. Hunter she agrees, now can we get out of here?
I’
m starving
.
” Lottie argues.

Hunter laughs deeply at Lottie, leaning down to peck me on the lips before leading us down to the underground parking and showing me to the sleek, black BMW I will be using.

“
Holy crap, how hot is your bodyguard
?
” At Lotti
e’
s words I lean around Hunter and take in the man of pure muscle, dressed in a suit, with hints of tattoos peeking out from his shirt up his neck. Crap, he is good looking, all tall dark and handsome. He has the bad boy look down to a tee. If I was
n’
t so caught up in Hunter, I can guarantee
I’
d be swooning at his feet.