“They follow the orders they know won’t get them killed.”
“I have no intention of killing anyone.”
“What is this? I thought you wanted Grant back for a job, not for you to want to kill him in a couple of days’ time.”
“I’m not going to kill him.”
“I know you, Logan. You want to kill him dead. Don’t even pretend otherwise.” Hunter folded his arms. “You push Ava aside. Have me pretty much stalk her every move, and why?”
“Because I want to,” Logan said.
“This is guilt. You’ve got to recognize it and move on.”
“And why, do tell, should I do that?”
“If not, it’s going to kill you. We both know it will.”
“So now you know what will and won’t be good for me?” Logan asked.
“Do you have any idea how childish you sound?”
“I’m doing what is best for her!” Logan slammed the paper down along with his fist. Pain radiated up through his arm, exploding out, but he didn’t give any indication he felt anything.
Hunter didn’t move. “You’re feeling guilty.”
“I laughed at her, Hunter. I thought it was fucking jokes and lies. I was no better than those pricks. They died too easily. I had her naked in front of the guy who raped her. I’m the one who put her in front of him twelve years ago, and I did it now. Do you have any idea what it’s like? She should hate me.”
“I think you hate yourself enough for the two of you. Sending Grant to keep an eye on her, do you really think it’s wise?”
“I’m not going to give him any instruction to sleep with her. She’ll be safe.”
“Ava’s lonely.”
“All the more reason to send Grant.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“We’ll see.”
Hunter got to his feet.
“Tell Grant he’s to keep his hands off Ava and to keep an eye on her. She wants for nothing. He’s her new best friend. Anything to do with the baby, he’s to report back to me.” He looked up. “Got it?”
“Don’t you want to deal with this? To make sure he does it properly?”
“No. You like taking control when it suits you. May as well give you full reins.”
Hunter didn’t argue with him. He got to his feet and left.
The paperwork didn’t mean anything in front of him. It was all a blurred mess with no meaning because there really was no purpose for it.
Throwing it across the room, he didn’t get any satisfaction from the mess. Collapsing back in his chair, he spun around in a circle. This had never happened to him. He was doing everything he could to protect her. Why didn’t anyone see what he was actually doing? It was all for her own good.
He wasn’t father or boyfriend material.
The pains of the past, the revenge driving in his blood, it had taken over, and the last thing he ever wanted to do was to hurt her.
Ava deserved so much more than a man like him. He killed so easily without caring for anyone. Seeing their life drain out of him, it was boring to him.
Luke’s decisions had turned him into this monster, but it was a place he also wanted to be. With this power, no one stood a chance against him.
No one.
It’s why he could never give up his crown, nor would he ever want to.
Rubbing at his temples, he wondered if Ava would fall for Grant or how she would see the new addition to her protection detail.
He didn’t just use Hunter. He had several men to keep an eye on her. She was the only precious thing in his life.
****
Ava hated violence in all forms. She didn’t like watching it on television, but having Grant in her living room, she wanted to slap Logan. She didn’t know what game he was trying to play or even if she wanted to play along.
This was unfair.
She turned to Hunter.
“No.”
“This isn’t your call to make.”
“So Logan doing his whole not caring routine thinks this is what I need? My ex who isn’t really my ex because he was playing at it the entire time. This is what he thinks I want or need?”
“Grant’s here to take care of you. You’ve been intimate together, but neither of you have permission to do so again.”
Ava laughed. “Logan’s not giving us permission to have sex. Isn’t he sweet?” She grabbed a pillow, plopping herself back down on the sofa and picking up a newspaper.
“You don’t need to find a job,” Hunter said. “Anything you want will be provided for you.”
“Really? How about the father of my child standing before me, ready for me to slug him in the face? Will he give me that?”
Hunter didn’t say a word.
“Figures.”
“He’s not going to allow you to get a job. The mother of his child doesn’t need to work.”
“The mother of his child is getting bored. There is nothing here to do, and I know I’m being followed whenever I leave.” She put the paper down. “Can you tell him I need to talk to him? Anything?”