The Hunted (The Killing Hours Book 1)

by Christy Anderson

  He doesn’t care. If anything, his grip tightens as he drags me along despite my pleas.

  We reach his cottage, he opens the door, and he shoves me inside, locking it behind him. He moves over to the sofa, falling onto it more than actually taking a seat.

  “Take that fucking dress off. I paid a lot of money to be the only Hunter tonight. Let me see what my money got me.”

  I guess that is how he was able to catch me in his drunken state.

  I reach for the zipper, and my hand trembles. I slide it down, and I’m barely able to swallow back the bile rising in my throat. My heart beats wildly as I slide the dress to the floor.

  “You look good,” he says as he tries to stand, finally succeeding after great effort, and comes toward me. He reaches around my head, takes a handful of my hair, and presses his lips to mine. His kiss is soft but his breath makes me want to vomit.

  “Open your mouth. You’ll enjoy this, too.”

  Tears stream down my cheeks as I kiss him back. He breaks our kiss long enough to take off my bra. He stares me in the face as he unhooks the eyelets. His whiskey breath blows across my face in hot bursts, and it doesn’t help my queasiness. He leans in and licks the tears from my cheek. I turn my head and grimace at the contact. He grasps my face harshly and turns me back to face him.

  “You remind me of her so fucking much. She’s dead. She’s fucking dead!”

  What the hell is he talking about?

  His distress and my unease rise with every passing moment. He lets my bra fall to the floor and moves his mouth to my breast. I shudder at his touch and my stomach churns as he sucks the peak into his mouth. He bites my nipple harshly, and I yelp. Fuck, that hurt! He rises back up to face me, and my heart stops. His cold eyes give me a terrible feeling this will not end well for me.

  “You’re not her! You’re not fucking her!” he shouts and shoves me. I trip over the dress puddled around my feet and fall back, slamming my head on the hard wood floor. Then, he’s moving. He straddles me, gripping both my wrists in his hand, and pushing them to the floor over my head.

  “I loved her, goddammit! I fucking loved her, and they took her from me!”

  I scream and buck my hips, trying to get him off of me, and finally, he loses his grip.

  I punch him in the nose.

  He grabs at his bleeding face with both hands. “Fuck! You fucking bitch!” He falls to the side.

  I push myself up from the floor and race for the door.

  I pass over the threshold, and a sharp pain sears my scalp as the ends of my hair are pulled, tugging me backward into the cottage. I yank forward as hard as I can, despite the agony of my hair being ripped from my scalp. I scream, but I don’t stop moving.

  Don’t stop. You can’t stop.

  I run. Fast. Hard. I’m utterly exhausted, and my head throbs, but I don’t stop until I make it back to the manor.

  No one seems to care that I’m only in my panties. The few people I see just briefly glance at me as I pass by. I make my way to my suite and lock myself in.

  RAVEN

  (Present)

  Fear is a powerful motivator. I look around for something to defend myself with as Lazzaro advances toward me.

  “I love it when my women put up a fight.”

  I step backward. Oh, God, give me a way out of this. Panic courses through my veins. My back hits the wall, and my breath hitches. I’m trapped.

  Lazzaro reaches out his hand and brushes his finger down my cheek. I turn my head away from him and his alcohol scented breath.

  “You are so fucking pretty, Raven. I’m surprised I was able to avoid this place as long as I did after our special hunt.”

  The burn of tears stings my eyes, and they begin to fall. I press my back as far into the wall as I can, trying to escape. He wipes away my tear before he pulls his hand back.

  “You remind me of her so much. So fucking much. Just like her, too good for the filth that surrounds you.” He inhales a deep breath and exhales it shakily. I don’t know who he’s talking about, but this time, when his eyes meet mine, I see his pain. It’s written all over his face. Something in him is broken, off, just wrong. A sense of sadness clouds his eyes, and he wears his shredded heart like a shadow, it’s there, lurking around him. I don’t know what happened to him to make him into the man he is today, but I can only imagine it was terrible. None of that excuses him from being a decent person though. That choice lies solely with him.

  “Tell Knox I need to see him.”

  He backs away a few steps before turning and heading toward the door.

  “You should be careful who you let in.”

  The door shuts behind him, and I run to it and throw the lock before sliding to the floor.

  15

  Knox

  Marcia called me this morning, and as much as I didn’t want to leave Raven, I needed to check out this lead on the possible whereabouts of Scarlett.

  I pull into the driveway and shut off the engine, taking in the rich residential neighborhood around me. Sounds of a scuffle inside hit my ears before I even reach the door. I pull my gun from its holster and check the door to see if it will open. I turn the knob and push the door open slowly.

  Crash!

  I ease through the living room toward the back of the house as the noises grow louder. A familiar voice reaches my ears.

  Ace.

  Why the fuck is he here?

  “Tell me where she is, mother fucker!” Ace roars. I turn the corner to see him break a canister from the nearby counter as he yells, unhinged, at a man tied to a chair. Not just any man.

  Stan Miller. Judge Stanley Miller. Ethan’s father.

  Fuck.

  What the fuck is Ace doing? Why is he being so sloppy and careless?

  “I swear to God, you piece of shit, I will fucking kill someone you love for every man that has touched her.”

  The judge heaves with loud cries at Ace’s promise.

  “Ace, got a minute?” I ask, poking my head in the doorway.

  “Fuck, Bane!” Ace whirls around startled then strides over to me. “You scared the shit outta me.”

  Sloppy. Fucking sloppy. This isn’t like him.

  “Mind telling what the fuck you’re doing with Judge Miller tied to a chair?”

  “Well, about that,” he begins. “I did a little digging of my own, put some feelers out, and it seems The Honorable Judge here has some dirty hands where Scarlett is concerned. I did a drive by to scout him out, and was about to call you, when the Judge here walked out, apparently leaving for the day. Needless to say, he was detained. This fucker knew Ethan was in trouble with the Corrado’s. It was his idea to barter Scarlett from what I can gather.”

  Mother fucker. I was really hoping Marcia was wrong this time. I do not want to have to deal with the Corrado’s. They are serious players in the trafficking game. If they can move it for cash, they do. Drugs, guns, flesh, makes no difference to them. A buck is a buck.

  I push past Ace and stand in front of the judge.

  “I am taking this gag off. You scream, I shoot.”

  I pull the silencer out of my back pocket and screw it into place. I yank the gag from his mouth, and he takes a huge gulp of air.

  The muzzle of my gun presses into his forehead. His eyes widen.

  “Scream and I shoot, remember?” I lift a brow as I wait for his compliance.

  Tears trickle down his fat fucking red face as he bobs his head in agreement.

  “Tell me where Scarlett Wyatt is?”

  “I don’t know!” he snivels.

  “Last chance, fucker.” I cock my gun, pushing the barrel against the center of his forehead even harder.

  He sobs.

  “The Corrado’s took her months ago! I don’t know what they did with her! I swear! I swear, I don’t know anything else!”

  “You’ve been protecting them for years. Tell me where Rico Corrado can be found.” My jaw ticks in annoyance. I would love nothing more than to kill t
his man. Today isn’t the time, and this isn't the place, though. I mentally add him to my list. It’s a well-known fact in my circle, that Rico Corrado blackmails judges, congressmen, and senators to maintain his empire. No telling what dirt he has on The Honorable Judge Miller here.

  “He has a woman he stays with when he’s in town. She lives on Morningside.”

  I lower my gun.

  “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” he blubbers.

  “Against my better judgment, I’m going to let you live, but know this, one fucking word about us or any of this, I will let Ace keep his promise.”

  The judge’s eyes bulge, he looks at Ace who just gives his best boy-next-door grin and he says, “It will be my fucking pleasure to end you.”

  I lower myself so I’m face to face with the judge.

  “Ethan sends his regards.”

  Judge Miller’s eyes widen again, and I raise my pistol and whack him in the head, knocking him unconscious before he can ask about his son. I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out the syringe. The cap goes in my pocket before I jab the needle in his fat arm and press the plunger.

  “What the fuck was that?”

  “A little cocktail I’ve been experimenting with out in the field.” I stick the cap back on and put the syringe in my pocket.

  “I had planned to come here, ask the judge a few questions. If I found his answers to be lacking, the cocktail was to loosen his tongue. It also contains a little bit of Rohypnol, just enough to make the details of our visit fuzzy. Seems you beat me to it.”

  “You’re a scary mother fucker sometimes.” Ace slides his hand over his face, wiping away the sweat from his tirade.

  “You need to clean this broken shit up and get rid of any prints. You got sloppy on this one. Put his ass at the bottom of the stairs so it looks like he fell. I’m going to Morningside.”

  “What if he remembers or tries to go to the police about what happened?”

  “He dies.”

  I turn toward the door and make my way out, crushing broken glass and porcelain under my shoes.

  I pull up on Morningside Road and immediately spot the house. Three black Escalades sit parked out front, and two goons guard the front door.

  Obvious much, dick head. Jesus, some of these men are all show.

  I pull in behind the SUV’s and get out. The two guys at the front door get twitchy, and I see one of them talking into his wrist, as they both slide a hand to the inside of their coats, pulling out their guns and aiming them in my direction, they start moving toward me.

  I hold my hands up as they approach but I keep walking. We’re in the middle of a residential neighborhood. I’m banking on the fact they don’t want to draw anymore unwanted attention.

  “Don’t take another fucking step.”

  I continue moving toward them. They’re almost on me with their guns in hand. I rush the man closest to me, punch him in the throat, and take his gun. I turn him and shove him at the second guard, then kick the side of his knee. I grab his gun as I pass. They’re both rolling around on the sidewalk while I make my way to the door and knock.

  Another of Corrado’s men opens the door to the mess I’ve made in the yard, gun drawn, and points it at my head.

  “You want to live? Put that shit down. I’m here to see Corrado.”

  I glare at him, daring him to pull that mother fuckin’ trigger. I will end him.

  “Escalara, lower it. Come in, Bane.”

  On Rico’s request, his guard lowers his arm. I side-eye his ass, bumping his shoulder as I walk past him.

  “To what do I owe a visit from the great Knox Bane?”

  “I’m looking for a girl. Scarlett Wyatt. Word is, you know where she can be found.”

  “If I do? What’s she matter to you?”

  I can see in his posture he knows exactly who I’m talking about.

  I need to choose my words carefully because if I seem too interested in her, it will only make it more difficult and costly to get her back.

  “I’m trying to find her for a friend.”

  “I see. And if I know where she can be found, what’s in it for me?”

  I cringe internally because these next words will have me owing the Corrado’s. I don’t fuckin’ like to owe anyone a debt, let alone this damn family. They like smart, beautiful women who will bring them top-dollar overseas. If Scarlett has left the country, it will be even harder to get her back.

  “I owe the family.”

  Rico likes the sound of this. I can see him mulling it over. If he knows, he’ll tell me. What crime family doesn’t want an assassin on call?

  “I tell you what, Bane. I can’t disclose her location to you, but I can reach out to some people to see if I can get her brought in. It will take a few weeks.”

  “That doesn’t work for me.” I stare a hole through his face. “I need hands on her in the next few hours or our deal is off.”

  “I’m afraid that doesn’t work for me, Bane.” Rico smiles, and from behind me, I hear his guard approaching.

  “I wouldn’t, if I were you.” I don’t even bother to turn around when I address this asshole.

  “Stop, Escalara. Go check on Missy. Make sure she’s okay.”

  I hear the guard shuffle off as ordered.

  “I’m coming to you, Corrado, to keep the peace. I don’t want to work around you. This is a formality, though. I’ll do whatever I need to. I take it whomever you sold her to will be none too pleased to see me show up to take her. Likely a bullet in your customer’s head and a missing girl will be bad for business.”

  “Always the hard-ass, Bane. Give me forty-eight hours before you pursue other means.”

  “Two days and I expect to hear from you.”

  I turn and head for the front door. As I open it, I can’t help myself.

  “You got two guys down out here who need a doctor.”

  Escalara looks over my shoulder to his boys still on the ground and I hear Corrado mumble cuss words under his breath as I shut the door.

  When I return to my quarters, I find Raven sitting on the floor with her head in her hands, sobbing.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” I lean down and pull her hands from her face. She throws herself at me and almost topples us both over before I gain my balance. I lift her up into my arms and carry her to the couch where she settles onto my lap. Sobs wrack her small frame. I stroke her hair and just hold her while she calms down. Once her sobs die and her body is no longer trembling, I decide to try again to see what’s happened while I was gone.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Lazz came by to see you,” she manages to say around sniffles.

  “What the fuck did he do?” Anger pulses through my veins. My grip on Raven tightens before I realize it. Lazzaro Mondragon has been unhinged for years. Not that he doesn’t have ample reason, but I’ve barely been able to keep him reigned in. When I got back to the manor from my last assignment, Ace told me he got out of hand on a hunt, that he told him to stay away for a while.

  “I’m okay,” she assures me as she moves in, pressing herself closer to my chest and clinging to my neck even tighter.

  “What did he do?” I half growl, and she flinches at my tone. I exhale a calming breath as I brush my fingers through her hair, laying a soft kiss on her head. Her reluctance to tell me what happened puts me on edge. I stand and carry her with me to my security room. This place is under constant surveillance. My quarters are no exception, but I have many hidden cameras no one but I alone have access to.

  I nestle her in my lap and rewind through the recordings until I see that mother fucker push his way into my goddamn home, backing Raven against a wall. My jaw clenches, and I flex and curl my fingers, trying to stay calm for the woman cowering in my lap. A white-hot rage spreads through my body. I grip Raven tighter as I feel her begin to cry again.

  “Shhh. It’s okay, baby. I’ll take care of it.” My shirt is soaked from Little Bird’s tears.

  I will end this mothe
r fucker.

  16

  Raven

  Knox watches the video from earlier, and I’m paralyzed with fear. What must he think of me now? What will he do? His muscles tense under me. I can feel the anger consuming him as I sit in his lap. He swipes items from his desk, they crash into the wall, and clatter to the floor. I tense in his one-armed embrace and bury my face into the crook of his neck.

  “Sorry, baby,” he says as he strokes my back.

  I can hear the weakness in my voice on the video. I hate it. Just hearing it again takes me back. My heart beat rattles my ribs. I didn’t even know he had so many cameras, everywhere. I realize now I should have anticipated that. Of course he has cameras everywhere. I think back on all the nights I left my suite, wandering the grounds and the manor. Maybe my sneaking around didn’t go as unnoticed as I thought. I should feel violated, but I can’t bring myself to even care at this point. He has all of my secrets now.

  He rises from the chair and carries me from the room. I burrow my head deeper into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent, spicy and all man. I try to relax.

  A few moments later, I feel the mattress under my back and loosen my death grip around Knox’s neck. He toes off his boots and scoots in beside me, cocooning me in his embrace. He makes me feel so safe. As if he can fix all my problems. How do you feel safe in the arms of a killer? I just want my sister back, and I want to be out of this nightmare.

  I inhale a breath as I lie with my head on his chest. I listen to the steady rhythm of his heart as he combs his fingers through my hair.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to stop him. He will never have the chance to get close to you again.”

  “How will you stop him? You can’t be with me all the time.”

  “No, but I will handle him.”

  “What does that mean?” I ask as I raise up on my arm to stare into his amber eyes.

  Brushing the hair from my face, he tucks it behind my ear.