Page 5 of The Huntress and Her Hound

I don’t blame her for that.

“We operate covertly, and you know that,” Henry says, kicking his feet up on the desk. “Lydia and Emma are going on a trip, so I figured it’s the perfect time to catch up.”

“Well, and work,” she points out. “That’s why you’re coming here. It’s not just to see me. But it’s fine. When will you be here?”

Henry rolls his lips. “Mm... Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” I echo Henry, furrowing my brow. “I haven’t even gotten any preliminary intel yet.”

“You can do that there.” Henry gives me an annoyed look and then turns his attention back to the phone. “We’ll be there tomorrow—if that works for you, of course.”

“Sure.” Cher’s voice is flat. “And I take it you’re bringing company with you.”

My business partner smiles. “Just Jude.”

“I’ll make a note of Just Jude.”

I chuckle, a wave of nerves fluttering in my stomach at the attention. “It’ll be nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise,” she says. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’ll be nice to put a face to the name of the great hacker. Henry, just send me a text when you know what time your flight will be arriving.”

“You got it. I’ll let you know. See ya.”

“Bye.” She hangs up then, disconnecting the line before Henry can.

Henry shakes his head, shoving the phone into his jeans and turning to me. “Guess we should start packing then.”

I grimace. “Guess so.”

***

Twenty-four hours later, we’re in Sin City. I pile my gear into the back of the rented Mercedes and toss Henry’s single duffle bag and backpack beside it. My reddish blond hair is sticking to my forehead already, and I’ve only been out in the trepid air for less than thirty minutes. The breeze breaks the matted locks free, but it’s hardly a relief.

It’s like being stuck in a fucking hairdryer in hell.

“You coming?” Henry calls from the front seat. “She’s waiting for us.”

“Yeah, I don’t know why she picked this shithole in the big relocation,” I mutter, as I shut the back hatch and walk around to the passenger seat. I slide in and immediately reach for the vent, redirecting the cold air to my face.

“She says she likes the desert.”

“Vastly different climate than Oregon.” I glance out the window as Harry drives toward the main road. “Where’s she live in the city?”

“Right now she’s staying at a high-rise apartment, but she said it’s a pain with Cash. I told her to go house hunting, and we’d try and move her while we’re here.”

“Does she have a job?” I ask, unable to help myself. I know their arrangement is strange... Especially considering the fact Cher has a law degree. She could easily be making her own money, and yet, she’s relying on her dear old brother for everything. It’s giving me weird gold digger vibes, but whatever. To each their own.

“Nah, she’s not working right now. I didn’t want her putting her face out there during... Well, you know.” Henry avoids my gaze as he shakes his head. The period he was away from Lydia, living off grid and under funny aliases, was a strange time for everyone.

And quite frankly, I’m so fucking glad it’s over.

“She could get a job now though,” I reason. “And buy her own house.”

“I want her to live the life she wants,” he snaps back at me. “She’ll get a job when she’s ready. She’s been through a lot in her life, and she’s still figuring out what she wants to do.”

“Right, okay,” I mumble, fighting the urge to argue that we all have been through shit. I’ve never understood why his sister is such a touchy subject. I mean, I know the history of Henry. I know he killed his stepfather and went on the run with a young Cher. I know he worked his ass off to put her in private schools and pay the difference of her scholarships. But the details of all that? I don’t know them. And I don’t pry.

We spend the next forty-five minutes navigating through thick evening traffic in silence, and I close my eyes, running through the list of shit I need to get done the moment I’m set up in a spare room of Cher’s. I know that being this close to the target, Henry will want to put eyes on him ASAP. I’m fine with that, but I need to get the basics before he goes poking around.

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