Hunted (Love like Yours Series Book 3)

by Nicole S. Goodin

  “We’re closed up.” His voice hollered from behind the curtain that led out back.

  “No worries. I’ll come back.” I called out to him. I opened the door again, the bell jingled and I shut it, letting him think I’d left. I walked silently to the corner of the room and sank down in a chair to wait for him.

  Fifteen minutes later a scantily clad young girl emerged from the back, a tiger freshly tattooed on her shoulder.

  Mother fucker.

  One day soon I was going to have to find a way to shut this bastard down for good.

  If she was surprised to see me, she didn’t look it. She looked like a zombie, pumped full of drugs no doubt.

  Mother fucker.

  She left through the door I came in and I braced myself. He wouldn’t be long now.

  The light turned off out back and I saw the curtain move. The room was only dimly lit now from the lampposts out on the street, suited me, the less he saw of me, the better.

  His huge body moved into the room.

  “I’m going to ask you a question Tiger, and I’m expecting you to fucking answer it.” I told him in a menacing tone.

  He froze. “Who the hell are you?” He replied gruffly. I could see his silhouette turning, looking side to side for me.

  “I’m asking the questions.” I replied with my voice full of venom.

  He laughed, as if I was nothing more than a joke to him.

  We’ll see who’s laughing soon.

  “I wouldn’t go getting too cocky Tiger. Your keepers left a long time ago.”

  His laughter died.

  Yeah… I’ve done my research.

  “What do you want?” He demanded.

  “Max Barceló.” I stated. “I want to know where to find him.”

  He snorted. “Ain’t that just the question of the century. No one knows where Maxie disappeared to.”

  “Don’t bullshit me.” I warned.

  “What you gonna do about it?”

  I was on my feet and in front of him faster than he probably would have thought possible, slamming his body back into the counter.

  “You don’t want to find out.” I threatened.

  He sucked in a ragged breath and struggled against my hold. He was huge, but not in a way that was going to be of any use to him.

  I could almost make out his features in the dim light. He was definitely going to crack and we both knew it.

  I put more pressure on this throat.

  “Mill Street.” He choked out.

  Too easy.

  I released my hold slightly so he could give me more information.

  “Big warehouse.”

  I gave him slightly more room to breathe before getting up in his face and sneering at him.

  “You speak a word about this and you’ll regret it.”

  He nodded and I pushed him back, letting him go.

  The bastard swung around and punched me, right in the jaw. It was a pathetic hit, the guy had probably never had to do his dirty work himself, but it would still leave a mark.

  “Fucker.” I snarled. Now I was going to have to lie to Quinn… again.

  I shoved him back hard and he tumbled onto his ass. “I fucking mean it. You don’t want me coming back.” I growled as I turned my back on him and stalked out of the front door.

  I had my first lead. Now I just needed to decide what I was going to do with it.

  ***

  “Shit!” I slammed the door back on its hinges.

  She was gone.

  Dread had instantly filled me when I’d arrived home and her car was missing. I’d run through the house calling her name, but it only confirmed what I already knew, she was gone.

  She must have woken to an empty bed and thought the worst. Not that it wasn’t justified – I was the worst.

  Find her Hunt.

  Throwing myself back into my truck I searched for her everywhere I could think of, Logan’s, Lawson and El’s… even the office. Her car was nowhere to be seen.

  Where the fuck are you Skippy?

  I needed to calm down and think. If I knew Quinn, and I did, she’d be fuming by now, and looking to fuck me off…

  She’ll be out… drinking?

  She wasn’t stupid, or careless… she’d be keeping herself in a safe environment.

  The club.

  I text the only person there I could count on to help me with Quinn, my cousin Angelo.

  “Is she there?” I typed out frantically.

  The ten minutes it took him to reply was pure agony.

  “Yeah she’s here. You’re fucking this up man.”

  I threw my phone onto the passenger seat of my truck.

  “Fuck.” I growled to no one but myself.

  I was most undoubtedly fucking this up.

  35. Quinn

  “Don’t even think about it Quinn.”

  I hated the goose bumps that stood up on my arms and neck at the sound of his voice.

  Dammit… who the hell ratted me out?

  I sat the full shot glass back down on the bar and gave my drinking buddy an apologetic glance.

  “Think about what Harrison?” I asked as I spun around to face him, getting to my feet.

  The side of his face was red and slightly swollen.

  What the hell happened to him now?

  “You… him… this.” He waved his hand at the scene in front of him.

  “You don’t own me.” My chin lifted defiantly.

  He crossed his arms across his chest. “Like fuck I don’t.” He stated arrogantly.

  “You’re so cocky you stupid –”

  He interrupted me with a laugh. “Yeah I know. I’m stupid, I’m a jerk, an asshole, a prick… I’m whatever you wanna throw at me Skippy.”

  He took a step towards me as he spoke and I took one back, leaving me pressed directly against the bar. He stepped closer again, right into my personal space, so he was almost touching me.

  I inhaled his scent involuntarily and sighed. I was so fucked. He smelt like home.

  He leaned into my ear and I could feel his breath on my skin. “But make no mistake… you are mine. You were mine the moment I opened my eyes and looked into yours.”

  I opened my mouth to argue but he clamped his hand firmly over my lips.

  “Mmet your mand offa my mouf.”

  His eyes scorched into mine, darker than I’d ever seen them.

  “You are mine now. Like it or not. And even if you leave me… you’ll still be mine.” He growled possessively.

  He pointed at the guy I’d been taking shots with for the last half hour. “You can go home with this guy if that’s what you want.”

  He dropped his hand from my mouth and turned to the man whose name I couldn’t even remember. “But just know, the entire time you’re fucking her, she’ll be thinking about me.”

  I felt bad for getting the guy involved; he held his hands up in surrender, his face a mask of shock.

  Poor man.

  I didn’t know whether to smack him for being such a crass, arrogant prick, or to drag him out back and throw myself at him for the sexy possessiveness he was displaying.

  His little scene was embarrassing, but the fact that he wanted me badly enough to come all the way down here and fight for me gave him the edge.

  I grabbed his hand and dragged him away from the bar.

  “Where are we going?” He barked at me, once we were halfway across the room.

  “Follow me.” I yelled over my shoulder.

  Almost at the exit.

  “Quinn.” He pulled hard on my arm, jarring me back. “Where are we going?”

  “Just shut up and follow me.” I demanded.

  He stood still, unwilling to move, waiting for his answer.

  “You are so stubborn.” I grumbled.

  He didn’t budge an inch.

  I glanced around the crowd of people and smirked. “Fine then.” I raised my voice, the alcohol flowing through my system giving me courage. “We’re going to t
he closest private location I can find, so that I can screw your brains out. How does that work for you?”

  He gave me his crooked smile, the one that touches his eyes, and dragged me out of the club, the bystanders whooping and cheering at us.

  “You sure know how to make a scene woman.” He growled as he towed me through the cool night air to his truck.

  36. Harrison

  “So now that’s out of my system, are you gonna tell me why the hell your face looks like that? Or where the fuck you disappeared to… again?” She hissed, the moment she got her breath back.

  I groaned. “I’ve told you. I like to run at night.”

  I felt like the biggest bastard in the universe for lying to her like this, but I had a score to settle and people to protect. I couldn’t give it up now.

  She stared into my eyes and I nearly caved at the hurt I saw staring back at me.

  “Right.” She rolled over, her naked back towards me. “Running.”

  “I fell.” I insisted.

  “You’re a bullshit liar Harrison.” She slid from the bed and stood in front of me in all her naked glory, her hands on her hips.

  The sight of her had me hard again, even though the vibe I was getting from her was anything but inviting.

  “I’m not lying.”

  It even sounded like bullshit to me.

  She sees right through it.

  She threw her hands up, infuriated with my lies and started looking for her clothes.

  “Quinn please.” I begged. “Just come back to bed.”

  She pulled my shirt over her head and stared down at me. “I’m too drunk to drive… hell; I don’t even have my car.” She fumed. “So I’ll go to the spare room. I can’t even look at you right now.”

  I saw a tear forming in her eye and I reached for her.

  “Quinn…”

  She stormed from the room without so much as a backwards glance.

  Shit.

  ***

  I tapped lightly on the door to my spare room. I hadn’t slept a wink without her last night.

  I wanted so badly to tell her what was going on with me, and I very nearly had. I even made it as far as this door, but when I’d heard her light snores I’d convinced myself not to wake her.

  “Quinn… you up?”

  I pushed on the door gently and it swung inwards with a groan.

  “That depends.” She replied quietly as I stepped into the room.

  I locked my eyes on hers, she looked exhausted.

  “You didn’t sleep much did you?” I scolded.

  She looked back at me. “And you did?” She challenged.

  “Not a wink.” I admitted with a shake of my head.

  She didn’t say a word, just stared at me with her green eyes wide.

  I sat down on the end of the bed. She was still wearing my shirt and the sight knocked the breath out of me. Even pissed off as hell, sleep deprived and hung-over, she was still a knockout.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Cut the shit Harrison.” She snapped. “What the hell is going on?”

  “It’s not what you think.”

  “It’s not what I think?” She spat the words at me. “Not what I think…” She threw the covers off and jumped out of the bed. “And what would that be?” She strode backwards and forwards across the room.

  “Calm down Skippy.”

  She stopped in her tracks and swung around to face me.

  “Calm down?” She yelled. “Don’t tell me to calm down Harrison.” She sneered. “You’re lying to me.”

  “I’m –”

  “I dare you to look me in the eye and tell me you aren’t keeping something from me.” She cut me off.

  I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t look into her eyes and tell her a blatant lie like that. I dropped my head down.

  “It’s not what you think.” I repeated.

  “Jesus Christ! I can’t do this anymore Harrison. I can’t sit back and be lied to.”

  “I’m asking you to trust me.” I pleaded.

  “Trust has to be earned.” She retorted.

  “Have I given you any reason not to trust me?” I demanded, looking her in the eye again.

  She groaned and rubbed her temples in frustration. “You want me to make a list?”

  I sat there, like a pathetic little puppy, begging her with my eyes to let this go and come back to me.

  She sat down next to me and grabbed my hands in hers. “Just tell me. Please… tell me. I just need to know what I’m dealing with. Gambling? Drugs? Are you in trouble? Is it a woman? Or –”

  “A woman?” I interrupted, my heart racing. “You think I’m cheating on you?”

  Her eyes filled with hurt. “Well if it looks like a duck and quacks like duck…”

  “What if it does?” I challenged.

  “Then it’s probably a fucking duck!” She yelled climbing to her feet again.

  Jesus Christ. This is way out of hand.

  “You’re a nutcase.” I mumbled.

  “I’m a what?” She hissed.

  Fuck it.

  She had my blood boiling in a way only she could.

  “You’re crazy.” I replied, getting to my feet too.

  “I’ll leave then.” She stormed out of the room and back into my room, throwing her clothes together in a pile on the bed, before stripping off my t-shirt and dressing herself.

  I knew I was being a dick, I knew my anger had gotten the better of me, but I was too stubborn to back down now. We were both too stubborn for our own good.

  I stood back at the door and watched her dress, a cocky expression firmly on my face.

  “Urgh.” She spat when she realized I was staring. “You’re such an asshole.”

  “You bet that sweet little ass I am.”

  God. I am an asshole.

  “I’m done.”

  “So what if you are?”

  “Fuck you Harrison.”

  “You already did sweetheart.”

  Hurt flashed in her eyes as she pushed past me and headed down the stairs.

  Shit.

  “Baby I'm thinking it over, what if the way we started made it something cursed from the start, what if it only gets colder. Would you still wrap me up and tell me that you think this was smart.”

  - Banks, Waiting Game.

  37. Quinn

  “You already did sweetheart.”

  Fucking bastard.

  I was fuming. I’d never experienced all consuming hurt and rage like this before.

  He followed me down the stairs and I swung back around, making our faces only inches apart.

  “Leave me alone.” I hissed.

  He raised an eyebrow in a cocky way that screamed ‘make me’.

  “I should have just stuck it out with your brother.” I snarled, regretting the words the instant they left my mouth.

  “My brother?” He bellowed. “You want to go back to my fucking brother?” His eyes were dark and empty looking. He wasn’t my Harrison in that moment.

  I shrank back. This was one time I definitely should have kept my mouth shut.

  He growled, deep and menacing. “By all means… go back to him. Because you sure as fuck aren’t welcome here right now.”

  “I’m sorry.” I whispered. I was suddenly afraid. I knew he’d never physically hurt me, that wasn’t what I was afraid of. I was afraid that this time I might have pushed him too far.

  “You’re what?” He yelled.

  “I’m fucking sorry okay?” I yelled, finding my voice. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Don’t hold back on me now Skippy, I’ve already heard what you really think.”

  He was furious.

  That was the problem with the two of us together. We were fire and fire. When one of us was burning, all the other did was light another match.

  “Don’t hold back?” I spat defiantly. “When do I ever hold back?”

  “Never.” He threw his hands in the air in frustration. “That’s th
e fucking problem isn’t it? You say whatever the fuck you want, and to hell with the consequences.”

  “You’re a hypocrite!” I yelled back. “I’m leaving.” I stormed towards the front door. Half of me wanted him to call me back; the other half wanted him to fuck off forever.

  “Fucking perfect.” He called after me.

  I stopped in my tracks “If I leave now, I’m not coming back Harrison.” I told him calmly.

  “Suits me.” He retorted, still full of rage.

  I swung open the door and slammed it behind me. I’d only taken one step before I heard him growl and the sound of smashing glass.

  What the fuck have we done…?

  Fire and fire didn’t cover it. We were fire and gasoline.

  ***

  “You’re kidding me? You two are fighting again?”

  “We’re not fighting, we broke up.”

  El rolled her eyes, and I had to admit, Harrison and I and our drama was becoming a reoccurring feature.

  “Riiiight.” She drawled. “Sure you did.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “I told him it was over when I walked out.”

  She pulled her hair up into a loose pony tail and secured it with a hair tie.

  “So you haven’t thought about going back?” She gave me a look that screamed ‘go on, just try and lie to me’.

  “It was only two days ago.” I skirted around the question.

  “And?” She prompted. “I bet you wanted to turn around the minute that door shut behind you.”

  Bitch.

  “Nope.” I lied through my teeth.

  I hated it when Ellerslie was right.

  I’d had to stop myself from going over there at least half a dozen times already.

  “Just give it up already Q, we all know it’s not over.”

  There’s no way it’s over.

  38. Harrison

  I fucking miss her.

  I managed thirty years just fine before she came along, and now I couldn’t even seem to survive three days.

  39. Quinn

  I took a deep breath and knocked on the door – three short raps.