Anxiety rippled through my stomach as the car rolled to a slow stop outside of a Tudor on the North side of the city. Hunter had told me to wear something short and be outside my place at seven. “Number two thirteen,” the driver nodded to the house, encouraging my hasty exit. “He’s waiting.” My knees nearly went weak at the words.

I walked up the steps, my stomach alive with butterflies, before I knocked once and then twisted the knob and stepped in.

Hunter stood in a doorway to my left looking as handsome as I’d ever seen him in a slim and elegantly cut suit with thin lapels and tailored cuffs.

My heart faltered a bit when I took the first step.

It faltered again on the next.

I loved him. Could I really even love anymore? I didn’t know how much I had to give after all the hurt I’d suffered through the years, but with Hunter, there was no hurt. It was easy. We were easy.

“It’s so great to see you. I’d like you to meet my step-father.” Hunter crooned.

The heel of my right shoe chose that moment to catch on a non-existent knot in the wood and stumble. I stretched an arm to grab the doorjamb before a rough hand caught mine, weather-worn and darkened by sun, dusted with golden hair, polished rings splayed across all fingers, and tattoos up the arms.

“Careful there,” a thick voice, choked with years of hard living, whispered against my neck and brushed the hair across my temples. My eyes fell closed and I steadied myself, embarrassed.

“Thank you.” My eyes opened to land on the oddest shade of golden eyes watching me, a familiar crooked grin on a face that was somehow similar.

“Erin, meet my step-dad, John Ellis Walker.”

My face scrunched as the name rattled through my head. I’d heard it before; I knew I had.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled and tried to shake off the eerie feeling, considering his hand was still clasped around my arm, the fingers a little too tight for my liking.

“It’s been too long, Erin.” He flashed a grin that nearly shattered my bones.

John Ellis Walker.

My eyes widened.

Reported boss of a gang on the North side of the city responsible for a bevy of street violence.

My heart may have stopped beating in that moment as Hunter’s step-dad’s palm tightened around my elbow as he led me through the simply decorated room and down a long hallway. I gulped the lump in my throat down and shot my eyes back at Hunter. He trailed behind us, his eyes watching me like a hawk. A soft nod of his head told me it was okay. And I trusted him — at least I thought I did. “I hope you don’t mind; I asked Clu to bring you by tonight. I’ve heard so much about the lovely Erin that’s captured his attention.” His gaze focused intently on me for far too long, as if waiting for some reaction. “It looks like my boy, Clu, here hasn’t told you much about me. I can see now’s not the time, but I hope that changes soon.” His dark, delving eyes darted to Hunter’s, and I sensed that something brewed unspoken between them.

“Clu?” I squeaked, unsure why even at this moment I was choosing to trust either of these men. “Clu?” I asked again, questions burning in my dark irises as I searched Hunter’s eyes.

“I’ll let you chat, but I hope to see much more of you, Erin Warner.” Hunter’s step-father twisted a curl of my hair through his calloused fingers that made me shudder with fear.

“Follow me,” Hunter whispered before pulling me through the back door and down the wooden stairs into the dark and dampened yard. My knees were quaking and my heart was thumping an irregular heartbeat, but Hunter was the only person I could trust at this moment, I had to follow him.

With hands locked, he sat me next to him on a small bench under the one shade tree in the yard. It was almost romantic, if there weren’t so many questions swimming through my mind. “I don’t know where to start.”

“The beginning would be the best,” I snarked, but snuggled closer into his shoulder, thankful for the only support I had at that moment as the enormity of his secret settled into my bones.

“It’s a long story.” He ran a hand through his short hair.

“It always is,” I retorted, before adding, “Clu.” Anger rolled in my gut at how fucking blind I’d been all along. The nickname, the scars, the phone. I’d seen every sign along the way and had chosen to remain blind to them all. I sucked in a slow breath. You need this job. You can’t walk away now.

“Right.” That impish, sexy smile curved his lips. “‘Clu’ is what the guys call me,” he waved a hand as if it meant nothing. “My real name is Hunter Calum Ellis Walker, Calum was my grandfather’s name, and the guys shortened it to Clu.” He shrugged, as if that was only the beginning of the explaining. I had a feeling it was too.

“So what should I call you? Clu? Or Hunter?” I shot.

He jumped to reply, “Hunter. I like Hunter.”

“Okay…tell me everything else then.” I sighed and leaned back into him then, ready for whatever would unfold.

“John Walker, have you heard of him?” His eyes darted up to mine, something akin to shame simmering in them.

“John Walker? He’s not just any old John Walker,” I spit under my breath. “He’s John Ellis Walker.” I crossed my arms and chewed on my bottom lip, my stomach rolling. I should be running; my feet should be carrying me around the side of that yard and screaming for a taxi.

“What did you bring me into, Hunter?” I whispered as tears sprang to my eyes, feeling a sense of resounding hopelessness. I had my own secrets. I’d been evasive from the start with a few stumbles of guilt along the way, but we all had baggage. Maybe this time, I was strong enough, maybe love was…

The thought trailed off in my mind with a ruthless smile. Hunter and I weren’t even together and here I was making excuses for him, just like I’d promised to never do with any other man again. “Are you…is this your world?” I finally questioned, louder this time.

“No, God, no. I swear. You know my world. My world is the photos, the travel. It’s you and I.” He grabbed my hand and held it tightly. “John isn’t even my step-dad, not technically. He’s the one that looked out for me after my mom died. I even changed my last name because he insisted it would be easier, and I was so determined to leave the past behind, I did it. He’s all I had, so I’m thankful for him, but this life,” he waved a hand to the house, “it isn’t much better.”

“This life? I’m not even sure what we’re talking about.” The agitation in my voice rose another notch.

“I told you I was bullied. It only got worse after my mom died, and I found myself homeless. John saved me.” His hand tightened around mine then, and squeezed as if asking for silent patience, his eyes begging for understanding. He knew I’d seen the news reports, followed the local headlines like any other informed Chicagoan. “John has a lot of powerful friends. A lot of them.” Hunter’s eyes burned through me. “He kept me clothed and fed, a warm bed, but John doesn’t believe in favors, there’s always expectation attached.” His eyes flashed darker. “It took me years to learn that.”

I nodded, eyes downcast and watery. “Does he have power over you?” I said it softly, already knowing the answer.

“He does.” Hunter’s eyes averted, and I knew that’s where his secrets lay.

“Why did you bring me here?” I was suddenly anxious to leave this place that seemed to have a veil of deception disguised behind carefully manicured hedges.

“He’s been wanting to meet you.”

“Me? Why?” I asked, nothing short of shocked.

“He’s always been protective. John has a lot of power, but he would never lay a hand on anything I loved. He made that mistake once.” My breath felt chained in my lungs leaving me unable to swallow enough oxygen for my brain to function.

“Do you believe me?” he asked, his melodic baritone running through my ears and melting my limbs.