Chapter 4I’m Just Their Freak

He raised his hand, wanting to touch my face.

I didn't know what he was going to do. I was so scared that I quickly closed my eyes, shrank into the corner of the bed, and curled up defensively.

Hunter's hand froze in mid-air. I shivered, too afraid to move.

After a very long time, I finally heard this usually arrogant Don ask a hoarse, extremely strained question.

"Piper, are you... afraid of me?"

Looking at his expression, I instinctively apologized. "I'm sorry."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Hunter's expression looked even worse. He spoke in a raspy voice.

"Piper, don't say you are sorry to me."

"I told you I don't allow you to just apologize so casually."

I bit my pale lips, staying silent and not daring to make a sound.

Hunter stared at me intently. He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing, "Piper, I'm sorry. I lost control of my emotions last night and hurt you."

"I have already... taken my punishment according to syndicate laws."

"So please, don't be afraid of me, okay?"

As he spoke, he took off his shirt, revealing his well-built back.

There, crisscrossing his back, were hideous knife wounds left by the mafia discipline. They were still bleeding.

I widened my eyes in horror and sat up straight from the corner of the bed, tears falling uncontrollably.

"You're bleeding, it will hurt. Don't punish yourself, don't hurt yourself."

But Hunter smiled lightly. He reached out to hold my hand, his eyes glowing.

"I knew it. You hate seeing me in pain the most."

"Then forgive me, okay?"

My mind was full of those wounds on his back. Hearing his words, I quickly nodded and wanted to pull him to put medicine on them.

But before I could speak, Hunter's hand suddenly tightened.

When he spoke again, it was about something else.

"Piper, Sadie and I grew up together in the slums."

"We roamed the streets since we were kids, fought for the same piece of bread, and hid from the same gang shootouts."

"We were together for many years. She used to be my only family in that gutter."

"Later, I crossed a Capo. I thought Sadie sold me out, causing me to nearly die in prison while she skipped town."

"I hated her to the core, but when she escaped back here covered in blood and tortured by others, I finally learned the truth."

"She was forced by her family back then. Her years in hiding were just as brutal as mine."

Hunter was so engrossed in his story that he didn't give me a chance to interrupt. So I stayed silent, listening to him talk about a past I had never known.

When talking about his bond with Sadie while fleeing on the streets, an unconcealed warmth would show in his eyes.

When mentioning the years Sadie was forced to endure humiliation, his brows would furrow tightly.

In the end, his seven years of hatred dissolved into deep guilt and pity.

Thus, Hunter concluded at the end.

"Piper, I can't let Sadie down anymore. Her life was ruined because of me."

I looked at him quietly. I didn't throw a fit, but merely nodded and asked him.

"So, what do you need me to do?"

Hunter froze. He didn't seem to expect me to answer like that.