Elena's pov
I step away from him. The last time I saw him, I didn't have a proper look, but now up close I can see him... that scar on his face... his eyes a dark shade of green. It sends a sense of recognition through me. Reminds me of my mom's eyes. I shake the thought away.
"What do you want?" I ask, gripping the edge of the sink.
"To warn you...," he shrugs, looking at himself in the mirror.
I squint my eyes at him. Hunter is one complicated man and he's scaring the shit out of me.
"What the hell are you talking about?... and were you following me?" I ask in disbelief.
"I came to warn you about your aunt..." he says, looking at me serious now, dead in the eyes. I let him finish because he's clearly crazy.
"I know a lot of things, Elena, that you don't even know half of, but you will soon...," his voice deep and raspy drops as he steps closer. I step back.
"I know your aunt told you about the Mariano's, about the past, but she left out a very important piece...," he chuckles.
"But anyway, that's not what I'm here for today... I know you asked to meet her to ask her about me..." he says, and I raise an eyebrow at how accurate this man is.
"Hunter, get to it..." I whisper.
"I'm no prophet, but she's gonna go on and on about what a terrible man I am — which is not all wrong — but I need you to do something for me...," he says, looking at his watch like he's running out of time.
I scoff a laugh.
"In which fucked up world would you think I would trust you over the woman who raised me?" I ask, confident now.
"In our world, Elena, because everyone is a snake...," he shrugs.
"So when she asks you about me, I want you to tell her you've never met me... got it? ... tell her I sent you a threat on your phone..." he says.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because I want her to lie to you so that I can prove something to you...," he adds, a whisper now.
"Prove what?" I ask, my eyes glossing for no reason, my voice shaking.
"That I'm not as bad as them. That I'm on your side... and everyone is just using you as a pawn," he whispers, his tone now gentle, and I look away.
Confused, and I'm convinced of one thing. There's a lot of things I don't know about.
"You can tell her that, or you can tell her what you want — it's up to you...," he says, straightening his jacket. He gives me a weak smile, pats my shoulder, and walks out.
I'm left there, standing, looking at my reflection in the mirror. My hands are shaking and sweaty. I pull myself together and walk out of the bathroom back to the booth with them.
Sam smiles when she sees me.
"You were taking forever...," she says, scooting over to give me space.
"Sorry about that, I was on the phone with Margo...," I lie, seating back down.
I turn to my aunt, my face neutral of any emotion.
"Can you tell me about Hunter now?... I'm really curious...," I say, playing with the napkin on my lap.
My aunt freezes mid bite of her muffin, and she places it down slowly. She sighs, leaning back, and I tense up, waiting for her to speak.
"Yeah... I'll tell you about him...," her voice drops an octave lower and I suck in a breath.
"H-how did you know about him?" she asks first and I lean back.
"You would not believe it... it was crazy, he—" Sam starts but I grip her hand under the table and she shuts up.
"Sorry... go on, El...," she apologizes.
"He sent me a letter... a threat...," I lie. For some reason I do what Hunter wanted me to, and I actually wonder why considering he's a crazy maniac.
"Yeah... that sounds like something Hunter would do alright..." my aunt says, running her hand through her hair.
"I don't know much about the guy, but I know he's dangerous. He's a murderer and he runs his own group of men,and with everyone obsessed with that key , he will torture it out of you when he gets to you ,... he works with Enzo... and possibly Rocco... they might be planning something against you...," she says, worry and concern in her tone as she reaches for my hand.
I flinch, because it's a lie. Whatever she just told me is lies. Sam also tenses up. I mask my tension with a weak smile.
I don't speak for a while because she lied to my face. Hunter cannot be working with Rocco or Enzo because Mariana told us that they were planning to kill Hunter, not work with him. Hunter is a threat to them, not an ally.
And also the fact that Hunter didn't touch a single hair on my head . He could if he wanted to , the guy hasn't even asked about that key .
But my aunt doesn't know that, that I've already met him .
My hands shake under the table and my mind spirals because what Hunter just did was hand me the truth , letting me find out on my own.
"El, you good?" Sam asks and I snap out of my thoughts, smiling weakly at her. She looks confused as to why I lied, but she's smart so she doesn't say anything.
"Pumpkin, you're gonna be okay...," my aunt squeezes my hand again.
"Thanks...," I say dryly, taking my hand from hers.
"I... uhm... we should go. Sam and I have work tomorrow...," I say, voice shaky as I stand. Sam stands too.
"Okay, let's go... I'll head to the hotel...," my aunt says, paying the bill.
We walk out together. Sam offers to drive. I sit in the passenger seat, my aunt in the back seat. We'll drop her off at the hotel.
"Elena...," she calls, and I flinch when her hand rests on my shoulder from behind.
"Mmh?" I ask, turning so I can look at her.
She sighs.
"I was thinking...," she starts, leaning forward.
"If all this gets too much... too unsafe... you could come and stay with me. Texas is safer, you know...," she shrugs.
Normally, I'd have believed the worry in her eyes and tone, but I'm afraid she's nothing but a liar in my eyes now.
"I think I'll be good. Don't stress over it... I'm not a little child anymore...," I say with a smile, looking at her.
"Yeah, you're right... you're all grown up now...," she agrees, leaning back in the seat. I face forward.
"Or...," she suddenly says, and my nails dig into my palms.
"Yeah?" I ask, turning slightly.
"You could give the key to me...," she whispers, leaning forward.
My heart jumps to my throat.
"W... what?" I ask, and the car comes to a stop in front of the hotel.
"I mean... think about it... it will get the target off your back and it will be safe with me... no one will know," she coos, and her hold on my hand is cold.
I go silent for a bit.
"Hey... it's okay, just think about it... I'll drop by your place tomorrow...," she says, kissing my cheek and stepping out, waving goodbye. I wave back.
I turn to look at Sam, who has a look on her face that says, "That was weird."
"What the hell is going on?" I whisper to myself.