Page 23 of The Hunt

“You need to report this, Aubrey. It was assault. And that asshole had no right to put his hands on either of you. We’ll help you keep it under control at the hospital. I promise.” He didn’t think she believed him at all.

19

Genny wished Aubrey would,but she doubted it would happen. Aubrey was afraid. Seriously afraid. She didn’t think Chad and Guthrie understood how much. They definitely didn’t understandwhy. “It’s her decision, guys. Leave her alone.”

They couldn’t understand Aubrey’s pain. Her utter fear.

Not of Justin Michaels specifically, but of doing something to destroy the life she was building for herself and her sister here. Aubrey expected everything good in her life to just be yanked away at any moment. Like it had in foster care as a child.

She’d mentioned once how it had felt when she and Ayla had first been separated. How it had devastated her.

Genny couldn’t imagine it. Her brothers got on her nerves all the time, they were all super-dominant personalities, and she most definitely wasn’t, but to be taken away from them and be put with strangers? Or to have Greer taken away, almost dead, and needing her more than she ever had before?

Genny would never forget how it had felt when Greer had been in a coma after being thrown from a car that day. She understood exactly how Aubrey would have felt that day. Exactly.

They never should have separated Ayla and Aubrey after Ayla had been hurt like that. But they had. Aubrey had told her once that there had been a social worker who had enjoyed using Ayla as a weapon against Aubrey for years. To control her.

And he was still out there.

It would have destroyed Genny. Hands down destroyed.

She stepped back from her friend and Guthrie to give him room to work. And to not crowd Aubrey. Aubrey got antsy when someone was boxing her in like Guthrie was. No way to escape like that.

Genny put too much weight on her ankle and immediately regretted it. She hissed and hopped to the side. Someone’s hands were there to catch her. Then Genny found herself up in the air, in Chad’s arms.

As the man just carried her away, right through her living room, to the couch. People scattered.

“I’m okay. I promise. I even have the elastic bandage to wrap it in right here.” She’d shoved it into her pocket, actually.

“Perfect. Let me see.”

Then he had her foot in his big, warm hands—and he was poking impersonally. In spite of the bandage on one hand.

Grady, Gunn, and Gene were leaning around the couch—watching him like he was a snake in their midst for daring to get too close to her…foot.

Her brothers were insane.

This wasChad.Their best friend. Crazy.

What did they think he was going to do—seduce her, right there?

Of course, if they knew the things Chad had already said to her…well, her brothers could be exceptionally overprotective. She’d hate to see them clobber Chantal’s brother.

Especially since Gene was trying to seduce Chad’s own sister right now. That would be seriously awkward, after all.

In fact—she looked around…

Gene had Chantal practically cornered there next to the couch, his hand on her waist while they watched what was happening. Chantal almost rested against Genny’s brother’s chest.

They did look very pretty together, those two.

Hmmm.

Then again, so did Aubrey and Guthrie, over there, with Guthrie practically sheltering Aubrey as he stitched. Genny studied those two for a moment, as well.

Interesting.

Genny was getting ideas here. Those two would be absolutely sweet to watch. If Aubrey would ever…no. Probably never going to happen.