Page 134 of Hunger
But he’s right.
I should have seen her myself instead of getting updates from Gideon through Fran who I force him to maintain contact with, or from the security guards I pay to watch her place despite her ordering them to go away before apologizing later and bringing them croissants, only to repeat it all the next day.
I don’t blame her for being angry, for feeling invaded by me, a man who left her the way I did, forcing her to be tailed by a security guard at all times. I know I have no right to do that, but the thought of her navigating the world without help right now sickens me to my stomach, leaving me unable to sleep. As soon as her ex signs that deal, I’ll call them off. Leave her alone.
Or try to…
“She’s still here, you know?” he says and my eyes close as I think of her sitting in some small room somewhere.
“She came alone?”
“Alone. She looked… kind of lost.”
“Stop.”
“I’m sure she could do with some comforting right now.”
All I’d have to do is get up and wander to the other side of the building… and hold her, watch her, listen… as I've hungered to do for weeks.
“I’ll hurt her, Hunter. Badly. You know that as well as I do.”
“Yeah. I know. But… she did ask about you.”
I can’t help but hear her voice speak my name, just as she did over and over again that night we spent together in her bed.
“She’ll forget me now that she can finally breathe for a while,” I decide. “I’ll be there to help if she needs me.”
“There are different types of help,” he suggests.
“I know. This is the only type I can give her. You understand why?”
He nods slowly.
“I want him signing that deal this week.”
“We’re working on it,” Hunter replies. “He’s already agreed. He just needs to sign. If he had a brain, he’d realize how lucky he is to get five years for what he did to that man.”
“He’d better,” I exhale, the breath a rasp.
I've spent several weeks considering going to visit KorhonanSeniorat his home in South Kensington, a very wealthy neighborhood, not that far from my parents’ house, incidentally. I have no doubt they’ll be mortified at the shame of their son being sent to prison, but they’ll be even more mortified if he spends a decade behind bars for the abuse and harassment of multiple women.
And I’ll make sure that happens if he doesn’t leave her alone.
“Don’t do anything funny, Grey,” warns the ever-perceptive Hunter, clearly picking up something in my face or body language. “I can’t protect you fromeverything.”
“I won’t,” I reply. “Just make sure he signs, Hunter. Today if possible. I’ll owe you one.”
“You’ll owe me several. And we’re on it. He’ll sign.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Grey.”
Realizing he’s going to need to get back to the never-ending pile of cases he’s juggling, I get to my feet as his phone beeps.
“She’s left,” he says. “I asked my assistant to tell me so you wouldn’t bump into each other… against my better instincts. If you hurry, you might be able to catch her.”
I manage a joyless smile before thanking my friend again and leaving.