MARIa POv
I couldn’t believe my ears. Every word Val had spoken felt like a slap across the face. All of it—this entire mess—was so deeply, irreparably screwed up. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to scream, cry, or punch a hole through the wall. Maybe all three at once.
When Hunter arrived, his face was as grim as I’d ever seen it. Henry wasted no time filling him in, his voice cold and clipped as he recounted everything Val had just admitted. Hunter’s expression darkened with each word, and by the time Henry was done, the tension in the room was suffocating.
“So,” Hunter said, folding his arms, “we’re dealing with a fugitive hiding out in your apartment, Val. A fugitive who’s been blackmailing and abusing you, all while posing an active threat to Maria.”
Val flinched, looking smal
