He must have caught the confused look on my face.
“Reeve came to me back before Christmas; he asked me if I knew anyone that might be able to give us some information. He’s tried talking to Harrison himself, but he just shuts down and won’t talk about any of it.” He explained.
“Okay.” I nodded. “But the part I’m confused about is why he thought you would be able to help.”
Lawson looked at me sheepishly. “Well, shit. I thought the guitar was the only surprise I had left up my sleeve.” He chuckled nervously.
I raised one eyebrow and waited for him to continue.
“Okay, so remember I once told you I’d been a bit of a scrapper?”
I nodded in acknowledgement.
“Well, when I first moved out here, I fought a lot... mainly for money, in an underground fighting ring.” He grimaced, waiting for my reaction.
“Okay,” I replied, shocked.
“That’s where I met Rome. There were some dodgy dealings going on that I knew nothing about, and if it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would have made it out of there alive.”
“Okay,” I repeated.
“We got to know one another, and we kind of watched each other’s backs. It would have only been a matter of time before we had to come up against one another, but thankfully we got out before that happened. The main guys were eventually arrested and put away for a long time. The contacts I still have are pretty decent guys. That’s who I called.”
“Well...that is... that is quite a story.” Images of Lawson beaten and bloody flashed through my mind and I shuddered.
“It was a long time ago.”
I surprised myself with my next question. “Do you miss it?”
Lawson’s face showed that I’d surprised him too. “Do I miss it?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure. I miss the adrenaline rush, the thrill of a win, but I don’t miss the bruises, the pain, the look on the other guy’s face when he knew he was losing consciousness... no.” He shook his head. “I don’t miss it.”
Thank god for that.
“Were you good?” I knew the answer to the question before I even asked it.
He chuckled. “Well, Rome will tell you otherwise, but yeah, I was good.”
I gave him a questioning look.
“Let’s just say, if it came to it, I’m more than capable of keeping you safe,” he finally said.
“You were the best, weren’t you?” I asked, feeling strangely proud.
He didn’t confirm, nor deny, but the way he laughed and tucked me closer into him gave me all the answer I needed.
“Some people cross your path and change your whole direction.”
- Author unknown
19. Quinn
New Years Eve.
It had all happened so quickly, one minute I was thinking about how I was going to end things with Colt the following day, the next I was laughing and dancing with the girls and then... this.
I’d known something was seriously wrong the moment I’d seen Colt and Reeve’s faces. My mind raced, looking for an explanation, but I came up empty. My eyes had scanned the room frantically before finally landing on Ellerslie and Lawson, holding one another tightly, and relief had flooded through me.
“What?” I demanded. “What is it?”
“It’s... my brother,” Colt choked out.
Reeve grabbed me by the arm and led me swiftly off the dance floor, his other hand on Colt’s shoulder, steering him towards the door.
“His brother, Harrison, my business partner, he’s been in some kind of accident. He’s been admitted into the ICU. We need to get over there right now.”
I knew I was being selfish, but I didn’t want to go. That was the role of a girlfriend, and I certainly wasn’t up for that job.
“I don’t think that really includes me, Reeve.” I tried to pull my arm from his grip.
He lowered his voice and leaned in closer to me. “Look, I know that you’re not going to be around for him forever, but please, Q, he needs someone right now.”
His eyes pleaded with me, and I knew I was fighting a losing battle.
“Okay,” I whispered, letting myself be led once again.
I thought long and hard in the cab ride to the hospital, I was sandwiched between Lisa and Colt; Reeve was in the front, making small talk with the driver. I thought about how I’d watched El and Law have their first official dance, and I’d just known – known there was more out there for me, and that I was ready to start looking for it.
It was a niggling thought that had been in my mind ever since they’d brought Stella home and settled her into their lives. They had it all, the house, the dogs, and the baby. The revelation that I wanted that for myself too had come as a huge surprise.
“I called ahead, he’s on the fourth floor and the ICU is family only, so you’ll have to go in and see him Colt, and report back to us when you can. We’re allowed to sit outside the room in the waiting area.”
I looked at Colt out the corner of my eye. He was the palest I’d ever seen him, and I couldn’t recall ever seeing his face without a grin plastered across it. It was unnerving to see him like this.
Turning to me, he reached for my hand, and I let him take it. “Will you come in with me if they’ll let you?”
I froze for a fraction of a second before I realized that there was no way they would let non-family members into that room.
“Sure,” I agreed. “Whatever I can do to help.”
***
It seemed like an eternity that we waited for Colt to come out of the small room. And when he did, he looked worse than when he went in.
Reeve jumped to his feet. “How is he?”
I could see Reeve was barely holding it together, Harrison was his best friend and his business partner, and it was obvious they were very close.
Colt shook his head slowly and sank down into the chair next to Reeve.
“He’s stable, but he’s beat up pretty bad. Two broken arms, fractured ribs... cuts to his head and legs. He’s a mess... they were worried about internal bleeding, but he’s been given the all clear on that front.”
“He’ll be okay?” Lisa asked.
She’d been doing her best to keep us updated, asking favors from the staff members she knew from doing her nursing placement there.
Colt nodded again. “They said he should make a full recovery, they’ve got him in a drug-induced coma. They said his body just needs to rest because his injuries are pretty bad. They’re talking about moving him to the ward some time tomorrow if he comes out of the coma without any problems.”
“That’s good news, right?” I offered by way of encouragement.
He took my hand again. “Yeah, it could be worse I guess. It was just a shock seeing him like that, you know? He’s always been my tough older brother, but the way things have been going lately, I should have guessed we’d end up here.”
What is he talking about?
“Do they know what the hell happened to him this time?” Reeve asked.
“The nurses said the police were due to check in on his progress within the hour, so I guess we’ll find out more when they get here.”
Reeve just nodded, his eyes still fixed on the door to Harrison’s room.
Colt noticed too. “I asked, they won’t let you in. I’m sorry, man.”
“That’s okay; I didn’t expect to be allowed in there anyway.”
“They did let me open the blind in his window though, I’m pretty sure they can’t stop you looking in.” Colt nodded in the direction of the room.
Reeve jumped to his feet and pulled Lisa up with him. He gave Colt’s shoulder a grateful squeeze and with a nod he made his way over to the small window.
“I’m gonna head back in and sit with him. You can take off if you want to.”
I gave him a small smile. “I think I might just do that.” I squeezed his forearm. “I’m really glad he’s going to be okay, Colt.”
“Me too.
I can call you a cab?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “I’m fine, you go back in, I’ll just say bye to Reeve and Lisa.”
He stood quickly, clearly anxious to be back in the room next to his brother. He kissed the top of my head, and I tried to convince myself that it was a gesture made between two friends.
I sat for a moment longer, watching his form retreat into the room. I watched as Lisa comforted Reeve, whilst obviously trying to keep her own emotions contained.
Finally, I stood and made my way over to them. I hugged them both and told them I’d check in with them tomorrow.
It wasn’t until I turned to leave that my naturally curious nature got the better of me, I glanced into the room and my breath caught in my throat, Colt sat next to the bed, his gaze wary and scared.
But that wasn’t what had my heart racing.
It was the man, lying still, clearly unconscious in the bed next to him. He was shirtless and already covered in black and blue bruises. His torso was partially wrapped with a mixture of gauze, bandage and tape. He was a bloodied, broken mess of a man.
His injuries weren’t what had me pressing my hands up against the glass panel and straining to get a closer look... it was his face, a face I’d never seen before this moment, but felt like I’d known my entire life.
I’d never experienced the feeling of déjà vu before, but I knew it was happening to me now. It was as though my body, my brain... my soul, recognized him on some deeper level. I was drawn to him in ways I couldn’t even begin to explain.
I just knew.
I knew right in that moment that the man lying in that hospital bed held my future in his hands.
Harrison Hunt.
I’d never met the man, I couldn’t tell you what his voice sounded like, how he walked, what his sense of humor was like... but I knew him. His soul called to mine and I could feel the point of no return being crossed.
Harrison Hunt.
Harrison Hunt.
My non-boyfriend's older, beaten-half-to-death brother.
Fuck.
I turned and fled.
“Years ago, when I saw you for the first time, you smiled and I asked myself if there is something in this world as beautiful as this smile. Now, when the gold of your hair has turned to silver, and the long road is behind us, I look at you and I think, there is nothing in this world as beautiful as you smiling.”
- Author unknown
Epilogue
Ellerslie
I couldn’t see him, and my hearing had gone to hell, but I still knew he was behind me. My skin still prickled when he was near, even after all these years together.
My love for Lawson Pierce had never wavered. We’d had tough times, everyone did, but the difference was that we came out stronger, we learned from our disagreements, and our relationship blossomed and evolved – we never made the same mistake twice and we listened to one another.
Lawson’s love for me was still more solid than the foundations of the house we lived in. We had lived here for over fifty years. Lawson had asked me every year, for so many years, if I wanted to get a new place, something bigger, something smaller, something newer... I’d answered him the same way every year.
“This is our home. I fell in love with you here, we made love for the first time in these rooms, our children were raised here, as were our grandchildren half of the time, and I intend to grow old with you here, sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch. This is our home.”
He stopped asking once I’d reached sixty-five years old, sensing that I was, and always would be, content where we were.
Lawson sat down quietly in the rocking chair next to me and I saw him smile at the children running in and out of the playhouse he had built with his own hands so many years ago. They chased one another around and around the garden, scaling the giant apple tree in the orchard at the end of the chase.
“You be careful up there,” Lawson called out, as I knew he would – he always did.
The years had made me predictable to him too. As I reached out for his hand, he turned his over, almost at the same moment, waiting for mine to nestle in his.
“Ouch, shit!” A little voice rang out from in the tree.
I stifled a laugh.
“That’s on you, Ellerslie.”
“Me?” I hissed. “Now that’s bullshit.”
Lawson chuckled deeply. His laugh hadn’t changed a bit. “See what I mean?”
I laughed with him and held onto his hand.
“You know, pretty girl...”
I smiled; he’d called me that for as long as I could remember.
“... I think we’ve done about all we could with this life. I have the most amazing memories.”
I looked into his eyes, now surrounded by creases, but still as green as the day I met him.
He ran his thumb lightly over the back of my hand.
“You know what, Lawson; I think you just might be right.”
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all my friends, family and readers for your support and inspiration. Every message, post and comment I’ve received fuels my fire even more and I have you guys to credit for getting this novella out.
Thank you!
Pierced Playlist
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Count On Me – Bruno Mars
Golden Love – Midnight Youth
Good Life – OneRepublic
I Run to You – Lady Antebellum
I Won’t Let You Go – James Morrison
Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
Like I Can – Sam Smith
Love Like This – Natasha Bedingfield & Sean Kingston
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Mothers Eyes – Six60
Never Be Like You – Flume & Kai
Nothin’ On You – B.o.B (feat. Bruno Mars)
Photograph – Ed Sheeran
Show Me What I’m Looking For – Carolina Liar
Story of My Life – One Direction
Two is Better Than One – Boys Like Girls & Taylor Swift
This Love – Julia Stone
Unbreakable – Evermore
Cherry Wine – Hozier
Heartlines - Broods
You Got Me – J. Williams (feat. Scribe)
You’ve Got The Love – Florence + The Machine
You And Me – Lifehouse
This Year’s Love – David Gray
Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
Wasn’t Expecting That – Jamie Lawson
The Book of Love – Gavin James
Stand By You – Rachel Platten
Work Song - Hozier
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all my New Zealand friends, family and readers. Your support means so much to me.
Thank you for being you.
Author’s note
Hunted is book three in the Love like Yours Series.
Quinn has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning, and I couldn’t wait to get started on her story. I certainly wasn’t expecting the direction it ended up going in.
This one was challenging for me to write. It came erratically and all mixed up in an unpredictable order, which perhaps is a reflection of the characters of the story.
I hope you like Quinn as much as I do and enjoy reading about her and the Hunt brothers.
Nicole x
“Everyone you meet has a part to play in your story. And while some may take a chapter, others a paragraph, and most will be no more than scribbled notes in the margins, someday, you’ll meet someone who will become so integral to your life, you’ll put their name in the title.”
- Beau Taplin
Prologue
Harrison
Something’s not right.
I can see myself. Like I’m floating above the dark street rather than running blindly down it.
Something is definitely not right.
I
watch myself running full speed down the alleyway, and it’s not until I look back that I notice the men chasing me... six or seven of them.
“Faster!” I try to yell... but nothing comes out.
All I can do is watch. Watch them gain ground, watch another man step out further down the alley, closing off my exit.
Blackness seeps in around the edges as I watch myself getting beaten half to death.
Blackness...
More blackness...
It’s taking over.
But I can hear something now... a voice. It sounds like music, it’s so beautiful. It pulls me away from the alleyway and I feel like I’m flying.
“His voice, even now, follows me everywhere on this longest of rides, this thing called life.” The female voice tells me.
It follows me everywhere.
Her voice... it calls to me. I suddenly feel alive again.
I open my eyes.
“Your soulmate will be the stranger you recognize.”
- R. H. Sin
1. Quinn
New Year’s Eve.
It had all happened so quickly, one minute I was thinking about how I was going to end things with Colt the following day, the next I was laughing and dancing with the girls and then... this.
I’d known something was seriously wrong the moment I’d seen Colt and Reeve’s faces. My mind raced, looking for an explanation, but I came up empty. My eyes had scanned the room frantically before finally landing on Ellerslie and Lawson, holding one another tightly, and relief had flooded through me.
“What?” I demanded. “What is it?”
“It’s... my brother,” Colt choked out.
***
I glanced into the room, and my breath caught in my throat. Colt sat next to the bed, his gaze wary and scared.
But that wasn’t what had my heart racing.
It was the man, lying still, clearly unconscious in the bed next to him. He was shirtless and already covered in black and blue bruises. His torso was partially wrapped with a mixture of gauze, bandage and tape.
Love like Yours Series Box Set: Books 1 - 4 Page 46
