Chapter Eighty

Chapter Eighty
By the time the call ended, her mood had lifted and she felt relieved all over her body. She handed the phone back to Hunter.

He gave her the look that said — ‘I told you’ and she could only shrug.

“So,” she said, adjusting on the counter. "Why has your mood changed all of a sudden?"

Hunter didn’t answer right away. He just looked at her, then stepped closer. He opened her legs and stood between her thighs, resting his hands gently on the edge of the counter on either side of her. “It's nothing you should worry your head about," he said quietly.

“But I want to know,” she insisted, her voice low and gentle. Her fingers reached up instinctively, brushing the back of his neck. “Tell me,” she coaxed, massaging lightly at his nape.

Hunter closed his eyes for a moment. That small touch — the feel of her hand on his skin… melted some of the tension from his shoulders. He exhaled slowly before speaking.

“Victor called last night,” he said. “While we were asleep. I didn’t answer then, so I called him back this morning.”

Her brow furrowed. “And…?”

“And he told me something,” Hunter continued, his voice dropping. “Something that sounded like a threat.”

Mirabella’s heart skipped. “What did he say?”

Hunter opened his eyes. The calm in them was gone, replaced by something dark. “He said Geret knows about your existence,” he said slowly. “And that he knows I have a child.”

Mirabella's heart beat skipped for a moment. Her hand slipped from his neck. She has no idea who Geret was, but the fact that the man knows about her and her baby sure sounds like a really big threat.

“Who is Geret?” she whispered. “And what does he want with you, me or Rena?”

Hunter placed his hands gently on her waist, his thumb caressing and moving in slow circles as if trying to calm her. “He’s someone I had history with,” he said darkly.

She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

Hunter’s jaw tightened. “Complicated history,” he said after a pause. “We were… allies once. We did business together, money, so many other things. But things went bad between us. Very bad.”

Mirabella frowned, searching his face. “What did you do?”

“I slept with his woman some years back, and since then, he hasn’t been able to let it go,” Hunter said, his voice low and rough, like he was tired of repeating the same thing over and over again.

Mirabella looked at him shocked. Her mouth went dry, and her hand tightened around the edge of the counter she was sitting on. “Let it go?” she echoed, her brows knitting together in disbelief. “Wait… you knew she was his woman, and you still slept with her?”

Her tone rose at the end of her question, with disbelief and a trace of anger she couldn’t his back. It wasn’t even about the woman or the past that made her heart tighten ... .it was the thought of him being with someone else, touching someone else the way he touches, that made her stomach twist.

“No, babe. No!” Hunter’s voice was quick and defensive. His eyes widened a little. “I never knew she was his. Seriously.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a small, tired breath. It felt new to him — having to explain himself like this and trying to clear up a misunderstanding with a woman. It was something he had never done. Normally, he wouldn’t care what anyone thought of his choices. But now… now it was coming so naturally and he cared too much what she thinks of him.

It was funny and he would have laughed at himself if there wasn't so much hurt in his woman's eyes right now.

“I never knew she was his,” he continued softly. “In fact, she came to the club all by herself, and she threw herself at me. I didn’t ask for it.”

Mirabella stared at him, her lips pressed together, her eyes glinting with so much emotion. But instead of the hurt easing away, it deepened. She looked like someone trying not to cry, and that made Hunter’s chest tighten.

He moved to touch her face, but before he could touch her, she slapped his hand away and pushed against his chest. The force made him step back slightly, and she slipped down from the counter top and started towards the door.

“Bella…” he started, but she wasn't listening.

Hunter’s jaw clenched. In two long strides, he caught her by the waist, pulling her back into him. His arms wrapped around her lightly from behind, his chin brushing her shoulder.

“Heyyy,” he murmured close to her ear. “You don’t walk out on me like that. Ever.”

She struggled a little, trying to pry his arms away. “Let me go…”

“Tell me what’s getting you angry,” he said softly, tightening his hold around her waist. “I told you I didn’t know about their relationship when it happened. Why do you keep getting angrier, huh?”

Her voice came out pained and bitter. “So you just sleep with anyone who throws themselves at you? Are you some kind of man-whore?”

Hunter’s head jerked back a little, then he let out a low laugh. He couldn’t help it.

“Is that what this is all about?” he teased, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You’re jealous.”

“Yes,” she snapped, glaring at him over her shoulder. “Make fun of me.”

He turned her around gently until she was facing him again. She had her lips pouted slightly, her eyes narrowed, her cheeks flushed pink. God, she looked adorable… too adorable and sensual for her own good. She was pouting at him? He loves the fact that she was showing him the childish side of her.

Hunter’s smile softened. He raised one hand and caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I would never make fun of you, baby,” he said quietly. “And I’m all yours now. You’ll never have to share me with anyone else.”

Her eyes flickered with both disbelief and hope. “Really?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, her lashes fluttering.

He had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop a smile. “Really babe,” he whispered. “Really, really.”

She huffed softly, but the corners of her lips curved upward with a smile. Slowly, she stepped closer, pressing herself flush against him. His arms came around her instinctively, holding her in a tight embrace.

“So what now?” she asked quietly against his chest. “Is this Geret guy trying to threaten you? Using me and Rena?”

Hunter’s body went very still for just a moment. Then he sighed, brushing her hair away from her face. “I think that’s exactly what he wants to do,” he said. “We’ve fought in the ring before, but I won against him. He just couldn't let go. He wanted to dominate me and win, but I took that opportunity from him also. And till today, he still couldn’t accept it. That is how dominant men are. They find it difficult to accept defeat. They could also use any method to get even with anyone who had done something unforgettable to them .”