Page 79 of The Huntress and Her Hound

“I don’t think me saying sorry would fix anything, but I’m sorry.” I fold my arms across my chest. “Happy now?”

He chuckles as he puts out his cigarette. “Not even close. I better see you before you head home to your dearest big brother.”

My jaw sets hard. “Fuck you.”

“You’ll crawl to me before you get that privilege.” He winks at me, and then just like that, walks away.

Why is it so easy for him to leave me alone?

I take a deep breath, and then enter the downstairs bar. It’s still early, but in Vegas, people party at all hours of the fucking day, so it’s almost always crowded. I make my way to the elevator and take the ride up to the rooftop. I’m not picking up an extra shift. I just need to tell Sarah my phone is broken.

And one more thing.

I step out of the elevator, and head straight for the bar, slipping through the already sweaty bodies. My eyes land on my blue-haired friend, and I breathe out a sigh as she greets me with a smile...

That quickly fades.

“It’s your night off,” she says, her brow furrowed. “I don’t think you should be here.” I do not like the tone of her voice.

“Why?”

She scans the faces behind me. “Someone is here looking for you, and I don’t like his aura.”

“Redhead?” I offer up, hoping like hell Jude somehow ended up here before me, even if it’s physically impossible. “You know, the guy that was here when I worked that night.”

She shakes her head. “No, not at all. This guy, he’s,” she pauses, frowning. “Old? Maybe fifties? Salt and pepper hair with dark, menacing eyes. He’s off, I swear, he’s off—and I think...”

“Think what?” I demand, leaning against the counter.

“I think he knows.”

“Knows what?” My heart picks up, reading through the lines.

“He knows what you do,” she says quietly. “There’s things floating around the web, Cher. The world is closing in. I’ve held your secret since we started our book exchanges.”

I nod, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I have to quit.”

She holds my gaze. “I know. Just one more thing.”

“Yeah?”

She smiles, reaching out and squeezing my hand. “I’m fucking proud of you for doing what we all wish we could. But seriously, get the fuck out of here—and fast. Let me grab a bouncer.”

I nod, but as I do, the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I shift my gaze, my heart pumping, and through the crowd, I come face to face with him.

Ten years.

It’s been ten fucking years, and there he is. My knees feel the need to buckle, fear pulses through my veins, and all the times I cried before class come rushing back—all the times I prayed for my period to come, lied to my brother, closed my eyes and wished I was fucking dead.

My gut clenches at the smile creeping across his face. My chest begins to physically hurt. My head spins.

‘Go to him like a good little girl.’

I shake my head, and rip my eyes away, pure terror replacing any amount of courage I ever had. I need safety.

“Cher,” Sarah calls out, but it’s distant as I take off to the elevator, smashing the button over and over. I’m going to lose it. I know I’m going to lose it.

The doors slide open. I glance over my shoulder. He’s not there. Did he take the stairwell? Is he going to follow me? I step on, but not before a hand catches the sliding door.

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