The Tattooed Bad Boy

by Shiewanie Kristo

  “Fine, I’ll go with you.” I cave in.

  “What?!” Alyssa protested.

  “I’m sorry, Alyssa. But I don’t really have a choice here. I’ll see you later.” I sighed, looking at Hunter. “Let’s go.”

  “Hunter...” I looked around, feeling his gaze on me as I did. “Why... Why are we in the hospital?”

  “You’ll see,” he said as we got into the lift.

  It fell silent. Feeling rather self-conscious, I hid my hands in my sleeves. I could feel him looking at me and I thought he was going to say something, but the lift stopped and the doors opened. Hunter took my hand in his and in my head, I thanked the universe that he didn’t decide to hold the burned one. I looked at my hand in his. I couldn’t help but wonder how big his hand was. Why couldn’t I have this forever?

  “You’re my property and no one is snatching you away from me!”

  A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled Tony’s words once again. The urge to pet my hand out of Hunter’s was starting to fill my mind, but when Hunter suddenly stopped in front of a room, confusion hit me. Hunter looked at me, his expression unreadable. His hand rested on the door handle before opening the door and leading me inside. In front of me, was a girl lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.

  “Who is she?”

  Chapter Eight

  The girl looked awfully pale and the look on Hunter’s face told me that this actually was pretty serious. Although she looked so pale and sick, she was beautiful. She did have a few bruises on her face here and there and I wondered how she got those, but asking Hunter about it right now would be a punch in the face.

  “She’s my sister...” Hunter breathed out as he stared at her.

  His sister...

  “What happened?” I asked, taking a step closer. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s not,” he breathed out as he sat down on the chair next to her. “She has a bunch of broken bones, serious brain damage, and internal bleeding. She almost went into a coma. She’s in critical condition right now. If she doesn’t get operated on time...”

  I pursed my lips and rested my hand on his shoulder. “She’ll make it, Hunter...”

  “I know...” he held her hand. “I’ll make sure she does.”

  “How old is she?” I asked after a few seconds of silence.

  “She’s about a year younger than me.”

  I smiled. I could see the resemblance clearly. I looked at Hunter again. This was what I meant. That look in his eyes. The care he had for his little sister was something no one else saw. Hunter Adams may be a criminal, but now I could see why and I don’t blame him. Perhaps I would do the same thing too. I would want to save my sister any way possible too. This was the Hunter Adams I had feelings for.

  Badump...

  I removed my hand from his shoulder. “Why did you bring me here?”

  He was silent. His eyes once again flashed some sort of emotion, but before I could figure it out, his gaze turned blank again.

  “I don’t know...” he licked his lips.

  I didn't say anything. Instead, I watched as he just stared at her. I felt as if I was invading their personal bubble. I wasn't supposed to be here, actually. Not when this was going on. Hunter was stressed and depressed, and I had no idea what I should do to make him feel better.

  "Blaze, wake up, cupcake. You've been sleeping for quite a while now." Hunter said in a low voice and I felt myself melting.

  The care in his voice was clearly to be heard and nothing felt better than this. By now I had realized how misunderstood Hunter actually was. Hunter actually deserved the best. He didn't deserve anything happening to him right now. Life was just too cruel. I know that there is just so much more that I don’t know about Hunter, especially the reason why Hunter acts so cold now. Something happened in his past –something only him and his sister know. I watched as the girl opened her eyes and grinned at Hunter.

  "I thought you wouldn't be able to make it today." She said in a low voice.

  Hunter smiled and kissed her forehead. “How can I not visit your pigface?”

  This is not the Hunter I know.

  "You're such a loser, Hunter." she shook her head at him and Hunter raised his eyebrow at her playfully.

  "Is that a way to speak to the best person alive?" Hunter said in a sassy tone and she laughed.

  "You really are a loser, Hunter."

  The genuine smile on Hunter’s face made me smile. I could watch this all day. His smile made me feel all giddy inside. I really loved this side of Hunter. Hunter cleared his throat and took her hand in his again. It was obvious that she hadn't noticed my presence yet. I just played with the necklace around my neck as I watched Hunter talking to his sister. This really was the best thing I had ever seen in my life.

  "So, Blaze..." he licked his lips. "Remember the girl I told you about?"

  She smirked at him and raised an amused eyebrow. "The one you have a thing for?" she teased and Hunter rolled his eyes.

  "Yeah... That one..." he said and turned his head towards me.

  Wait... what?

  Blaze shifted her gaze from Hunter to me and I suddenly felt a burst of nervousness inside my chest. I felt myself blinking furiously as she smiled at me. Hunter nodded at me, gesturing me to walk over to them. My pace was slow, but when I placed my hand in her extended one, I felt this indescribable happiness. I couldn’t quite understand what this feeling was. For a moment I felt as if I was touching my mother again.

  "Hi, I'm Blaze." she smiled brightly.

  Come on, Zoe. Don't be so fucking nervous. I told myself.

  "I'm Zoe." I smiled as brightly as she did.

  "Yeah, dickhead over here told me." she pointed at Hunter with her thumb, making me laugh.

  "Excuse me! I am right here, you know!" Hunter commented and I rolled my eyes at him.

  "No one cares, Hunter." Blaze and I said at the same time and we looked at each other.

  "Fuck." Hunter swore. "I thought I had one problem and now I realize I have two."

  Blaze laughed sarcastically and held out her hand. "See this on my hand, Hunter? It's the number of fucks we give."

  "Oops." I smiled at Hunter. "It's none!" I said in a sarcastic tone, making Blaze grin at me.

  Hunter shook his head in defeat. “I give up.”

  My heart felt as if it was going to burst. I barely know these people and yet I am showing them a side that not even I knew I had. I’m the silent, always paranoid girl, and now because of Hunter, I’ve discovered that I’m not that person. That person is an aftermath of all of Tony’s torture, while the real me is here right now. Smiling for real.

  “Anyway, I have to go back to school. We can’t have Zoe skipping now, huh.” Hunter said as he stood up.

  Blaze nodded and Hunter kissed her forehead as we said our goodbyes. I promised Blaze that I would return and her response was that she would be waiting. We left her room and while we were in the elevator, Hunter threw his arm over my shoulder, which again, made my heart pound like crazy.

  "Thanks." I heard him say and I frowned at him.

  "For what?" I asked and he ran a hand through his hair.

  "For making Blaze feel this way... I’ve seen that spark in her eyes after a while today.”

  "You don't have to thank me, Hunter. You and your sister are both amazing people and I'm happy I met you guys." I smiled at him and he raised his eyebrows at me.

  "You really aren't scared of me, huh?" he chuckled.

  I grinned. "After what I just saw? I don't think so."

  Hunter didn't say anything. He just stared at me, while I stared back. Hunter was so different. Even I was so different now. Hunter turned me into a whole new person in just the few encounters that we’ve had. Or maybe he just made me discover parts of myself that I didn’t even know existed. The elevator stopped and as we walked towards the exit, I felt a hand firmly grab me by the elbow and pull me into this room. It took a few seconds for my brain to understand that Hunter was the
one doing all of this and not some kidnapper. I heard a door close and my gaze automatically went around the room. The room was small, but stacked with boxes. Before I could ask Hunter what he was doing, he pushed me against the wall. My body was once again squished by this wall and Hunter and even if I tried, I wouldn’t be able to escape this. The tips of his fingers stroked my collarbone, down my shoulders, to my elbow. My jaw clenched. Why did his touch feel so good? His fingers didn’t stop and he went further down my arm until he had my hand in his.

  “Zoe...” he breathed out my name, his face so dangerously close to mine. My eyes automatically went to his soft, luscious-looking lips. I just wanted to kiss him. “Who did this?”

  When I realized his serious expression, I snapped out of my trance. “Huh?” I frowned.

  “This...” he stroked my burned hand. It was red and irritated and it did not look okay. “Last time you did it too! You shouldn’t hurt yourself!”

  “Hunter... I-”

  “Stop hurting yourself, dammit!” he whisper-yelled at me. There was this unreadable expression on his face. I felt a pang in my heart. He lifted his hand and thinking that he was going to hit me, I flinched again, but it turned out that he just wanted to cup my cheeks. “You keep flinching like I’m going to hurt you. Why?”

  Hunter was someone who was really good at hiding his feelings behind this mask of hatred or coldness, but now that I really saw what he looks like when he cares, I felt like telling him everything, just because he looked like he was in pain. But I couldn’t tell him... For the sake of him –for the sake of myself, I couldn’t tell him that it wasn’t me, but my own brother who was hurting me.

  “I can’t tell you, Hunter. We both have things that we can’t tell each other. I know you’re hurting too...” I breathed out, a tear escaping my eye. “The only difference between you and me is that you have scars that cannot be seen... scars that cannot be felt...” I placed my hand on his chest. I don’t know what it was with Hunter, but whenever he was close to me, I just had this need to touch him one way or another. Touching him, feeling his warmth, made me feel so safe in a way. “All of this is just a show, isn’t it? You’re not cold. You’re sweet and you just care too much, don’t you?”

  He just stared at me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  I scoffed. “You’re saying that to someone who just saw you with your sister. To someone who you just scolded because of some scars!” I took a firm stand and he backed away. “Why, Hunter? Why? Why are you doing all of this for me? Why do you help me when you don’t even know me? Why show me your sister? Why tell me something so important?” I questioned and when I saw the veins in his neck pop, I knew he was holding back. His hands turned into fists and it only urged me to continue questioning. “I’m just a plain girl. Why all the trust huh, Hunter?!”

  “Do you really want to know?” he snapped, once again pushing me to the wall, but this time it was a little harsher. “Then here’s your answer!” he said before his lips connected with mine.

  It took me a second to realize what was actually happening. Hunter was kissing me! My mind shut down and I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck and kiss him back. He sure did know how to kiss. At first it was gentle and sensational, but that soon escalated as his arms wrapped around my waist tightly and his kiss got rougher. A weird sound escaped my lips when he took me by surprise and bit my bottom lip. That made a shiver run down my spine. The kiss broke off and I felt Hunter pull away. His arms were still wrapped around my waist and mine were still around his neck. My eyes were still closed and my breathing was still rather hectic.

  So, this is what being cared for feels like again...

  “That’s why...” he breathed out, stroking my hair.

  My eyes opened and I looked up at him. Just when I thought I couldn’t like Hunter Adams more...

  Chapter Nine

  “You really like my brother, don’t you?” Blaze asked as Hunter walked out of the room.

  I doubt that he heard what she just asked me. I just looked at her as she raised an amused eyebrow at me. I cleared my throat and looked at the door again, then back at Blaze.

  “I probably do...” I admitted, making her grin.

  I tried getting away from Hunter, but he just wouldn’t get off my tail. We followed me almost everywhere. He always asked me to visit Blaze with him or would just come up with some sort of excuse to stay with me at school. Usually during lunch break he would just be around us, since he wanted to stay away from Alyssa. I didn’t know what to do now. My heart wanted more Hunter, but my mind knew that that would only endanger his life.

  “I’m glad he finally has someone who cares and understands him...”

  I smiled and place my hand on hers. “I do care and I’ll always try to be there for him.”

  “He likes you too, you know.” she shot me a knowing smile.

  My mind automatically thought back to that kiss and I felt myself blush. “Yeah... I know...”

  She giggled. “Look, Zoe. You’re the first person I’ve met in a while and because of certain reasons, Hunter doesn’t really allow me to meet new people, so the fact that he trusts you enough to bring you here says a lot. Please teach my brother how to love again. Please save his life...”

  I gave her hand a squeeze. “I know events change people, but you guys made it. You’ll be better.” I smiled and she smiled back.

  “You’ll make it too, Zoe...” she swallowed harshly. “I know you will.”

  The light turned red and Hunter stopped. “Blaze is amazing...” I smiled to myself.

  “Yeah, I know. I’m shocked she likes you.” he said making me gasp.

  “How mean.”

  We finally reached the school and Hunter parked his car. It was lunch break and I immediately noticed Alyssa sitting under the tree along with some classmates. We hopped out of the car. Hunter took out cigarette as he leaned against his car. Placing it between his lips and lighting it afterwards without a care in the world. I just stared at him and shook my head.

  “Stop smoking.” I said and the moment I realized that I once again spoke without realizing it, my hand covered my mouth.

  Shut up, Zoe!

  Hunter raised an eyebrow at me before throwing the cigarette to the ground and stepping on it. “There, I stopped.”

  I smiled. “Alright then. I’m going over to Alyssa now.” I took my bag out of the car.

  He nodded and I turned around to walk away, but he grabbed me by my wrist and pulled me towards him. I stared at him in pure and utter shock as my hands rested on his chest with his arms wrapped around me. The burns on my body stung, but the moment his forehead rested against mine, it was as if I had forgotten everything. I felt people staring at us as they passed us and I could even hear them whisper certain things, but the pounding of my heart muffled all the sound. An image of Tony’s angry face flashed through my head, but before I could push Hunter away, he planted a kiss on my forehead before letting go of me.

  My fingertips automatically touched the spot he kissed and I frowned with an amused look on my face. “What was that?”

  “Do you want one on your lips?” both of his eyebrows raised and I noticed this almost mocking expression dancing on his face.

  I felt my face burning up. “No, thanks. I’ll pass.” I said almost immediately before running off.

  Stupid, Hunter.