The Hunter's Angel

Ghosts Of The Past

I spared a nervous glance at the clock as I quickly finished getting ready for dinner. 

30 minutes. 

I had 30 minutes until Hunter came over. 30 minutes until I finally told him that I was ready to take things slow. Suddenly, it didn't feel like nearly enough time. 

After adding the last touch to my outfit—a pair of gold dangly earrings that made the green hue of my eyes stand out—I let out a steady breath and gave myself a slow once over in the bedroom mirror.  

Black, knee-high boots, skinny jeans, and a white, silk blouse that contrasted nicely with my olive skin and raven hair. 

On the outside, I didn't look all that bad. 

But on the inside—I was a mess. 

So much of a mess, that I had given up on the idea of cooking dinner, and ordered from our favorite Thai place instead. With my current state of mind, I was certain I would accidentally burn the whole damn building down. 

Although my talk with Kat had slightly soothed my nerves, I couldn't help the churning sensation in my stomach every time I thought about Hunter coming over.  

I wasn't sure if it was the idea of being alone with him, or the thought of confessing how I felt, or just everything combined. The anticipation alone was killing me. 

All I could do was hope that things went smoothly tonight. 

And, after tonight—well, I had not a clue in the world what came next. 

Smoothing back my hair, I paused when my gaze fell on the jewelry display sitting on my dresser, a certain piece catching my eye. 

The Angel necklace. 

The one Hunter had gifted me on my birthday. God, that day felt like it was years ago. Back when everything seemed so damn simple. When everything was perfect. 

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the necklace, glimmering with diamonds and tugging at my heart. I hadn't worn it in months. 

Swallowing the tightness in my throat, I carefully picked up the necklace, and, without giving it another thought, clasped it around my neck. 

My pulse fluttered as I gazed at my reflection. From afar, it looked like a simple piece of jewelry. But to me—it meant so much more. It was a silent way of saying that I was ready. A wordless expression of the love I still held for Hunter. 

A soft smile pulled at my lips as I imagined his reaction when he saw me wearing it. 

Hunter would love it. 

The thought alone caused an entirely different sensation to ripple through me. Because if there was one thing I knew—it was that there was no holding back Hunter when he saw something he wanted. 

My phone pinged with a message, pulling my mind out of the unholy place it had been going. 

Grabbing my phone from my bed, I saw that it was a text from Hunter, letting me know that he was on his way. 

Fuck. 

I was instantly hit with another round of nerves that made me question how exactly I was going to get through the night. 

Shuddering a tight breath, I was about to type out a response when a loud, smashing noise sounded from outside of my room, causing me to jump in fright. 

What the hell? 

Rushing out of the room as my pulse raced, I skidded to a stop in the kitchen when my eyes took in the sight before me. 

I stood there, shock rippling through me as a sharp gasp left my throat. 

The glass door leading to my balcony had been shattered, glass shards scattered across every inch of the floor. But that wasn't what had me frozen in place—my heart dropping to my stomach and my throat growing dry with fear. 

No.

It was the man who stood before me, his footsteps crunching against the broken glass as he slowly made his way inside. As he slowly raised his hands in surrender, as if he hadn't just broken into my home. 

It was like seeing a ghost. 

Hell, it had to be a ghost. 

Because, what I was seeing—it was impossible. 

Standing only inches away from me, his inked neck and burly stature all too familiar, was Bruce.