Page 91 of The Huntress and Her Hound

Chapter 33

The Hound

“Christopher Nile,” I repeat the name aloud as I read it on the screen. “Where the fuck are you?” My eyes scan the screen as my system attempts to locate the phone number that had been texting Cher. I know it’s him but pulling a trace can be difficult.

I lean against my hand, staring at the screen that repeats the little buffering circle over and over again. My head is full of Cher, and my cock is constantly waiting for her to show up at my door. It’s more than just that, of course. I don’t fucking feel safe with her anywhere other than with me—even if she is with her brother. He has no idea of what’s going on around her, which means he could be taken off guard.

It's not like he’s James Bond or something.

However, as if he hears my thoughts, my phone lights up with Henry’s phone number. I blow out a breath and answer it.

“What’s up?”

“Some asshole undercut and bought the house at twenty thousand over asking price,” Henry snaps. “Who the fuck does that? And why the fuck wouldn’t the realtor tell me? She didn’t even have the nerve to show up to the meeting. What a fucking waste.”

Alarms start ringing in my head. “Did she say who the buyer was?”

“No, because like I just said, she didn’t even have the guts to show up to the meeting. I found out through the receptionist.”

“Where is Cher?” I don’t know why the fuck I’m even asking as I pull up her location on my phone. My heart fucking drops as I see the blinking dot at the address of the house we looked at.

“She’s with Lydia?”

“I think you should call Lydia,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm. “Just to make sure. Just patch her in.”

“Are you trying to say that Cher bought the house? Or is this her messing with me?” Henry sounds irritated, but I barely register it as the screen fills with the information I was waiting on.

And it’s bad.

It’s so fucking bad.

“I have to go.”

Chapter 34

The Huntress

I stare, gaping at the dead realtor laying on the couch. Her blonde hair is covering her face, but her once-white blouse is now drenched in crimson stains. I’ve seen plenty of dead people, don’t get me wrong, but this...

I know what this means, though I have no idea how it happened.

“I’ve been waiting for you, little girl,” a deep, wretched fucking voice says from behind me, not even giving me a chance to process what’s happening. I turn slowly, Cash’s growl growing in volume as he faces the man I’m not ready to.

Don’t let him get to you. You’re not broken anymore.

My eyes start at the floor, but with a grasp at courage, I lift them to his face. “How nice of you to invite me over.” Surprisingly, my voice doesn’t shake. It comes out strong and wicked. “I was hoping we could meet up.”

“You ran with your tail between your legs last time.” His dark eyes rake over my body, and then drift to a snarling Cash. “I wish you’d have left your pet at home though. You know how I feel about animals, Cher.”

“I hate to say I’m glad I didn’t,” I reason, white knuckling the leash. I know I could drop it, and Cash would attack but... I want answers. “Why are you stalking me after all these years? I thought you were finished with me once I graduated. I outgrew your attraction, remember?”

Dr. Nile, a tall, six-foot-something man, stands a few feet away from me, his hair now salt and peppered, and his face filled with aged lines. He’s not handsome at all. He never fucking was to me, even though he thought he was. His elongated nose reminds me of a bird, and his lean figure makes him appear breakable.

And that makes me feel better.

“I’ve never been able to replace you,” he replies, his face softening to a sickeningly sad smile. “You’re it for me, Cher. You’ll always be my little girl. Your little cunt is where I belong.”

My stomach clenches with nausea, but I push it away. “Must be nice to have me here again then,” I play into it, knowing that if I don’t want to end up like the lady on the couch, I better just go along. For now.

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