Mounting Danger

Chapter 4- First Impressions

"I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it's big," I said as we approached the immense house that sat on the sprawling land. Its grandeur was undeniable. "It's a work of art, really."

"It better be. It cost us a pretty penny," Damon remarked, his attention fixed on his phone while the driver navigated us down the lengthy driveway. Their mansion was the sole structure for acres, framed by imposing mountains, creating a picturesque scene even in the night's darkness.

As the Range Rover came to a halt at the end of the driveway, two stern-faced security guards opened the front doors to welcome The Hunters home. I observed their interactions with the men, each displaying a distinct demeanor. Damon strode through the door without a second glance, Ryder exchanged fist bumps, Kayle gave a subtle nod, and the last man stood with folded arms.

Following the Hunters through a vast hallway that seemed to stretch on endlessly, we eventually arrived at two imposing double doors. Constructed from solid oak, they stood tall and broad, their polished surface gleaming with a rich, deep mahogany finish. Running down the center of each door was a pair of colossal wrought-iron handles. Damon, with his over-muscular physique,  easily pushed them open and entered.

 The room inside was an open space with a single table set and a wall full of alcohol. Damon assumed the seat at the head of the table and the rest of us gravitated toward him, taking positions as close to him as possible. I was already seeing the power dynamics within the group. Damon's posture and demeanor left no doubt that he was the undisputed leader, his presence casting a subtle but noticeable shadow over the others.

Damon sat upright in his chair, his earlier warmth dissipating into an eerie, commanding presence. His piercing eyes surveyed the room, making every word weigh heavy with authority. "This is our meeting room. We all understand its significance."

None of the men said a word but shared a solemn look. Ryder, who took the liberty of pouring drinks for everyone, was now gesturing to the wall and looking in my direction.  "What's your poison?"

"I don't drink alcohol,"  I said. Ryder's eyebrows shot up for a split second.

"You're full of surprises." He grabbed a bottle of water, slid it to me, and took his seat.

"Though I'm sure you caught some of our names already, let's start with introductions." Damon swallowed a huge gulp of the amber liquid in his cup. Whatever it was looked like it burned going down.

"She knows my name," Kayle smirked. Damon slammed his glass onto the table so hard I thought it would shatter into a million pieces. Kayle gave Damon a skeptical look but decided to comply. "Kayle Hunter."

Ryder grabbed the edges of his mask and pulled it off. "Ryder Hunter." 

I gasped. What the hell? Why were all these men so attractive? Ryder's features were so beautiful they nearly looked otherworldly. Why he covered his face with a mask was beyond me. He quickly slipped the mask back on his face but the image of him was already engrained in my brain.

"Eli," the man with long, dark hair stated tersely, his tone sharp and no-nonsense as if he preferred efficiency over pleasantries.

"Is Eli short for something?" I questioned.

"Does it matter? I only answer to Eli. Three letters, not hard." he replied curtly.

I winced at the sharpness of his tone. "Sorry. I was just curious."

"You know what they say about that."

Damon took a deep breath, drawing everyone's attention. "Good, we're acquainted. Now, here's what we need from you." He finished his drink. "We have someone who needs to be taken care of. The problem is, he's an elusive little bitch. Always running around and never staying in one place too long. Unpredictable. This is where you come in."