Page 69 of The Huntress and Her Hound

“I can ask if you can go?” I offer, hovering by the door of the master bedroom.

“Yeah, we both know the answer to that.” Jude stands a few feet away, his jeans hanging off his hips and giving me an inviting view of his fit upper body. I’ve seen plenty of men in my life, but I’d take Jude in any shape or form. It’s not the body.

It’s just him.

“I can still try.” I hold his gaze, my stomach churning at the fact I have to leave. “I’d, um...I’d like for you to come.”

Jude runs his fingers through his disheveled hair and does that thing where it feels like he’s looking right into my soul. “What keeps you here, Cher? Is Vegas where you want to stay?” It’s a heavy question, and the weight leaves me struggling to answer.

“I...I have friends here.” Lie.

“You have a friend you work with, meet in back alleys, and then use as a cover.” His voice is sharp, and his eyes give away the betrayal he’s feeling—but it still infuriates me.

“You’re making assumptions.”

“I’m telling the truth, Cher, and I’m starting to think that’s something you’re unfamiliar with.” His eyes are blazing.

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly mad, but I have to go.” Shaking my head, I reach for the door.

“Don’t forget your phone, sweets,” he calls after me.

I freeze, spinning around just in time to catch it as he tosses it in my direction. “Thanks,” I choke out, slipping out of the apartment. I glance down at the screen, and the answer to what happened is right in front of my face.

Liam: Looking forward to lunch today.

My stomach lurches, and I turn to go back to Jude—to attempt to explain, but as I reach out to knock, I hear the deadbolt slide. I have a feeling he was watching the doorbell camera, given the timing. I close my eyes in defeat, and then beat on the door anyway.

I’m so fucking stupid, Jude. I’m fucked up, but I’m not a whore.

My hands shake as I knock again. And again. I wait for him to come to the door, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt... But I know I wouldn’t if I were in his shoes.

‘You were never cut out for something real.’

“No, no, no,” I mumble, my knees trembling as the voice returns. “Jude, please come to the door.” My voice isn’t coherent and hardly audible.

‘Get it together. Don’t be weak.’

‘Who cares if he shuts you out?’

‘Good fucking riddance.’

My face scrunches as my head spins and I stagger down the hallway. I’m just trying to protect him. I smash the elevator button, rocking onto my heels. My phone chimes with the Uber notification, and as the doors glide open, I glance back at Jude’s apartment once more.

I step inside the elevator, still staring at the white door. My chance of freedom from my mental prison feels like it’s slipping through my fingers as the voices ring out in deafening volume.

‘Once a liar, always a liar.’

‘It’s just who you are.’

‘He’d hate you.’

He probably already does.

Chapter 25

The Hound

I stare at the fucking doorbell camera while she loses it outside my apartment. I fucking hate what I just saw on her phone. I hate that she lied to me. I hate that she spews nothing but lies when she speaks, and if I was a lesser man, I’d cut her tongue right out of her mouth for it.

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