Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Shaun nods slowly. He sits back, contemplating my words.
The silence stretches on. The only sound is the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Finally, he speaks. “If it is Gordon, he knows everything about me and Harley. He knows things about the organisation not even my daughter does,” he says, his voice measured.
“Let me prove to you that you can trust me to do this,” I respond, keeping my tone confident while meeting his intense stare. “Give me a second chance to fix this, and to make up for walking out on you when you needed me and Hades the most.”
“I believe in second chances. And I know you needed to leave South Shields to find yourself. When you arrived here as a young man, you were tormented by your past. I wanted to help you heal and show you that you have the potential to do anything you set your mind to, but I soon realised you needed to do it in your own way.” My chest tightens at his words. My father never wanted to help my brother and me in the way Shaun Hunt did. “You say you want to make things right, so I’ll give you my blessing to investigate. However, I want you to bring me all the information you uncover, and you must not act on your findings until I give my say so. Am I understood?”
I nod, feeling a glimmer of hope. “I understand. Once we have more intel, I’ll bring it to you. I promise. And I’ll make sure Harley comes to no harm.”
Mr Hunt leans forward and pins me with a stare that makes every nerve in my body twist and spark with tension. “I didn’t want to see you back here after you broke her heart.”
My stomach drops. “I didn’t mean to break her heart. All I wanted—”
“I understand why you did it,” he interrupts, holding a hand up to silence me. “I’m proud of you for that. I knew she fancied you, but she was too young. You did right by her, and that means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
“I’ll always do right by her,” I say, nodding.
“Then it’s settled,” he says, his eyes locking on mine, “You talk it all over with Harley, make your plans, and both of you will come to me with the information before you make a move. Gordon is a slippery fucker, which is why he’s been my right-hand man for so long. Don’t underestimate him, Hadrian.”
The warning is clear. Even Shaun is wary of Gordon.
“I won’t,” I promise, my voice resolute. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Mr Hunt nods. “I’ll wait for your update. In the meantime, I’ll continue to work with Gordon as if there’s nothing out of the ordinary. I don’t want him to know we suspect him. I’m a firm believer in keeping my enemies close. But, Hadrian, remember I’m putting my faith in you. Don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t,” I say, my voice filled with determination. “Thank you, Mr Hunt. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
He nods, a hint of a smile on his lips. “We’ll see. Now go. Stay out of sight and don’t let Gordon, or any of the men who work for me, find out what you’re doing. I know you said that you’ve looked into all of them, but trust no one until we know who the rats are.”
I stand, preparing to leave, but as I turn to go, Shaun’s voice stops me.
“And, Hadrian,” he says, his tone softer. “Please take care of yourself. And protect my daughter.”
I look back at him, my eyes meeting his. “I will, sir. Thank you.”
With that, I leave the room, closing the door behind me. The weight of the conversation still hangs heavy on my shoulders, but there’s a sense of relief too. I have a plan, a way forward. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can see a future beyond the shadows of my past.
As I walk through the quiet house, memories from the past flood back to me—working for Mr Hunt, getting to know Harley, and the happy times we shared. It all feels like a lifetime ago. Now I have a chance to make things right and make up for leaving Shaun’s organisation when he needed me.
By the time I step out into the garden, the sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape. I take a deep breath, and as the cool evening air fills my lungs, I feel a renewed sense of hope and determination. This is my chance to make things right, to prove I’m the man Harley believes I can be.
My mind is racing with thoughts of the future. If we can get Gordon, we can finish this shite that’s been going on, and I can finally talk to Harley about how I feel. My emotions have been all over the place since I laid eyes on her again a few days ago.