Page 43 of Hunt for You

15. I Feel Seen

SOUNDTRACK:Running Up that Hillby Placebo

~ BRIDGET ~

Come get me. Come get me. Come get me.

My heart was thumping so hard I felt it against my ribs.

If he was close enough to see where I was in the store, then he must be hunting?

There was only one way to find out. I sent that text telling him where I was going, then hurried to the checkout and paid for my groceries, throwing them in the back of the car and peeling out of the parking lot. My heart hadn’t slowed, and my breathing was quick and shallow. My bodyhummed.

The hair on the back of my neck kept standing up as I drove. Because I could feel him watching? Or just anticipation of what was to come?

When I reached the river park, I grabbed the bag of food, then practically ran from the car, across the parking lot, to the trail that went into the woods.

My phone pinged and I almost dropped it because I was so frantic to get it out of my pocket.

CAIN: I thought running wasn’t good for your heart?

ME: Being alive isn’t good for my heart. But I’ve calculated the cost/benefit risks and decided running from you is worth it.

He didn’t answer immediately, so I kept moving.

There weren’t many places near the city that were truly private in daylight, but this little section of greenbelt had been protected by the town planners. It butted up against the river and in the spring it was the mating ground for a protected breed of water-bird that I couldn’t remember. But this time of year it was little more than a path for joggers and dog walkers.

I’d explored this park countless times, and a couple years earlier, discovered a hidden little clearing deep in the woods. I’d only been able to find it by GPS and had never seen anyone else there. I’d never told anyone about it either.

Cain was either going to follow me and discover it, or lose me.

I smiled.

Come find me. Come find me. Come find me.

Once I was in the trees, I couldn’t see anyone. I knew there’d be people at the park itself, and probably along this path, but I couldn’t see any of them.

Then my phone pinged again.

CAIN: How many men have you lured out here?

ME: You’re the first.

CAIN: I don’t believe you.

ME: I’m not a liar either, Cain.

The little voice in the back of my head nagged that the statement wasn’tentirelytrue. But I didn’t correct myself.

I left information out sometimes, but only when it was important. Not about little things.

When he didn’t answer right away, I reluctantly put my phone back in my pocket and kept jogging, darting between the trees. I’d been out here enough now that I could find it without the map. Which was good. Because Cain’s handiwork on the phone meant it got all my emails, texts, and calls. But I was missing a lot of other stuff.

Which made me pull the phone out and send him another text.

ME: You better have brought my phone. I’m missing my games. And some other stuff.

CAIN: Your collection of ab shots? What’s with that? Not a single dick pic in there. So vanilla. I was disappointed.

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