Hunting Her

Chapter 42

I stared. I stared at them both. At Hunter hugging his brother. His brother who is Dominic. The world seemed to slow and it felt like I couldn't catch my breath. It felt like someone had placed a glass box around me, like I was watching but I wasn't there. That the world was somewhere else and I was just watching.

"What the fuck?" Someone shouted from behind me. "What the fuck!" He yelled again, louder, angrier.  

I slowly turned my head, seeing Hercules standing close to me. When had he got there, why was he here. He crept forwards, closer to me. "What the actual fuck." He screamed again, but not loud enough to shatter the glass box. His eyes were glossed over, with tears he was determined to not let fall. He turned to look at me. His face twisted in a question, as though I had an answer. 

A tear then fell down Hercules' face. I watched the tear as it glistened against his dark skin, leading a path down his cheek. I watched carefully as it fell to his jaw before dripping gently onto the ground. And as that small tear hit the ground, the glass shattered. Air rushed back into my lungs and I almost choked. 

My hand snapped out and I grabbed Hercules' arm as his expression hardened into a vicious one, one where punching and yelling followed. His eyes snapped to my hand before he glanced back at my face. "Get Aaron." I whispered, gently but firmly just as my grip was on his arm. 

His eyebrows furrowed in questioning. I sucked in a shaky breath, and held my head up higher, the knife still digging into my skin. "You get Aaron and you leave." 

"What?" Hercules muttered back. It was a broken word, a tiny word. One filled with confusion and guilt and anger and sadness.

"I will deal with this. I will solve this. Aaron cannot walk, get him." I responded as clearly as I could. I knew he could see in my eyes that there was no room for negotiation and so instead of attempting to argue with me, he once again gave me a nod. He placed his hand over mine, that was still griping his arm. He squeezed it tightly before strutting forward. 

Hunter and Dominic were talking. Hunter had his back to us, whilst Dominic's face as always remained inescapable. I watched carefully as Hercules moved forward, no one moving to intervene until eventually he reached Aaron. He scooped Aaron into his arms in one swift movement, he was gently and I knew he would die before he would allow Aaron to be harmed again. 

I could trust Hercules to get Aaron out, to keep him safe. I watched as Hercules moved quickly, carrying Aaron's limp body away. Everyone in the room was silent, eyes glued to Hercules as he passed by. Aaron let out a pained groan, perhaps an attempt at a word, but I could only offer a small smile in return, my silent goodbye.

"Wait!" Dominic's voice rang out sharply before they could leave the room. "Hunter, take the knife from her." His command was cold, final. "Before they leave."

Hunter's eyes snapped to me, his expression unreadable. I refused to look at him, tightening my grip on the knife pressed against my neck. The metal felt cold, a sharp reminder of what I had to do.

"Lexa," Dominic called from across the room, his voice deceptively calm. "Fair is fair."

Hunter took a cautious step forward, his face a mix of hesitation and resolve. "Lexa, put down the knife," he urged, his tone firm but softer than his brother's.

I didn't move. I couldn't. The blade was my only leverage, my last stand against Dominic.

"We made a deal, Lexa," Dominic added, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency. 

My grip tightened on the knife, my fingers numb from the pressure. Hunter moved closer, his eyes locked onto mine. "You know what he'll do to me," I whispered, barely audible, watching Hunter carefully. His jaw tightened, his expression unreadable.

Hunter stopped just out of reach, his gaze flicking to Dominic for a split second before returning to me. "Lexa, this isn't the way," he said, his voice calm but firm. 

"Why are you doing this?" I demanded, my voice raw with emotion. "Why are you taking his side?"

Hunter didn't answer immediately. He shifted his weight, his face tense, and for a moment, I thought I saw something like regret in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "It doesn't matter what I want," he said finally. "We're out of options, Lexa."

"Out of options?" I shot back, my voice trembling with anger and fear. "You're just going to let him win? Let him destroy everything?"

Hunter glanced at Dominic again, his expression hardening. "We have to survive this," he said quietly, almost to himself. "All of us."

Dominic's patience was clearly thinning. "Hunter, do it now," he ordered, stepping forward, his gaze sharp and commanding.

Hunter's hand inched toward me, his movements slow, almost reluctant. "Lexa, please," he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. "Don't make this harder."

"Enough!" Dominic barked, his patience snapping. "If you can't handle it, I will."

Hunter's hand shot forward, and before I could react, he grabbed my wrist, the knife clattering to the floor. His grip was firm, unyielding, and I stared at him in shock. 

"Hunter!" I shouted, struggling against his hold. "Why are you doing this?"

He didn't look at me, his face a mask of concentration as he held my arm down. "Just stop fighting," he muttered under his breath. "It's over."

Dominic's lips curled into a small smile. "Good," he said, satisfied. "Now bring her to me."

Hunter dragged me across the floor towards his brother despite my heels digging into the ground. He was stronger, he always had been stronger. Dominic grew closer until I was almost touching him. My teeth were bared as I glared at the man. 

Dominic grabbed my chin forcing me to look at him and I felt Hunter's grip tighten around my wrist. "You've given me so much trouble, little one. But you are back where you belong, with me. Thanks to my little brother over here." 

I swallowed back the bile I could feel crawling up my throat. 

"Take her to the cells." Dominic shouted gesturing to his men to take me. 

"No." Hunter quickly said, his hold tightening again to an almost bruising grip. "Let me." 

Dominic seemed to eye his brother, glancing up and down before a small smile cracked upon his face. "Alright little brother. But remember we'll be watching you closely." He leaned in closer to Hunter, "so don't be getting any ideas." 

I kept my eyes facing forward and Hunter began to drag me away to the cells we'd just entered through. The cells they were holding Aaron in. My legs began to drag and Hunter whispered in a barely audible way, "I am happy to carry you if you are too tired to walk, English." 

"I can barely stand you holding my wrist." I seethed back. "Don't touch me, you traitor." 

Hunter flinched at my words but gave me a subdued nod before continuing to drag me to the cells.