Chapter 2

His long, knuckled hand came to rest on my head.

He looked me straight in the eye. "Don't worry. I'll find you the best doctor. You're going to be fine."

I lost the strength to argue.

That memory came rushing back. Two years earlier, when his rivals sent men to kill me, he had come to save me alone. He had looked at me the same way then.

They had cut him eighteen times, each wound deep enough to expose bone. Even then, he had gently wiped the tears from my face.

"Don't cry. You're worth it. Anyone who wants to hurt you will have to kill me first."

At least we would be even.

"Okay."

I pulled the trigger and shot myself in the left arm.

The pain hit so hard it knocked the breath out of me. My vision went black.

Evangeline looked at me with smugness in her eyes.

My whole body shuddered as I struggled to speak. "Happy now?"

Hunter looked torn. Before he could react, I collapsed to the floor from the blood loss.

Just before I lost consciousness, I saw him rush to my side with concern on his face.

When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at the white ceiling of a ward.

My injuries were so severe I could barely move.

Through the door, I heard Hunter talking to Gareth.

"I told you to get rid of Juniper, and you let her hurt Evangeline? If I hadn't stepped in, Evangeline would be the one lying unconscious in a hospital bed right now. I say we arrange another hit and finish Juniper off.

"Last time, you played the hero and saved her. This time, let her die. I can't stand by and watch Evangeline get hurt again!"

After a long silence, Hunter said, "It was my mistake. It won't happen again. I'll take care of Juniper for good."

An ache spread through my chest.

I had suspected his kindness was an act, but I had never imagined that even the time he risked his life to save me had been just part of the plan.

The door opened.

Dressed in a black jacket, Hunter came to my bedside. His eyes lit up when he saw me awake.

"You're awake. Does your arm still hurt? Are you hungry? I could get you pierogi from that little place on the south side, or strawberry cake from North & South Bakery."

I could barely recognize the man I had loved for six years.

Six years. That was more than two thousand days together. I had never once doubted his love for me.

I had spent the points I had saved for years on him, dreaming that we could spend the rest of our lives together when the mission was over.

He nearly died saving me. He also offered to give up everything he had so I could feel safe again after what Gareth had put me through.

What had I got in return? A promise to get rid of me and a wall of photographs that showed just how little my love had meant to him.

"I'm not hungry," I said flatly.

He paused, then pulled a booklet from inside his jacket.

"I know you're still angry. But I meant what I said. We're moving the wedding up to the day after tomorrow. I've had everything arranged the way you wanted, right down to the shimmering mermaid gown you love.

"Once we're married, I'll take you back to the Sable Isles. We'll never see Evangeline again."

He studied me for a long moment. Perhaps he felt guilty, because he reached out and stroked my hair.

"Then, we can leave all this behind and build a life together. I'll love you and no one else."

It sounded like a declaration of love, though he seemed to be trying to convince himself as much as me.

Once, those words would have meant everything to me. I would already have been picking names for our children.

At that moment, I could not even bring myself to play along.

I only wondered how Hunter would react when he learned that I was the one who had saved his life, not Evangeline.