Page 56 of Hunt for You

J, calm the fuck down. I don’t have your email on my phone because it’s not secure.

Remember I told you about Dick, the old chaplain from high school? Well, he’s shown up again and now he’s actually an old man. I’m going to see him today. Then I’ve got my weekly flaying from Gerald tomorrow. You know that takes it out of me. I’ll be in touch on the weekend when things have settled down. But stop panicking. Nothing has changed. I’m just working on stuff, that’s all.

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After I pressed send, I opened Richard’s email, wincing because it was days old, and didn’t even bother to read it since I knew why he was messaging—he’d thought I wouldn’t show.

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FROM: Bridget

TO: The Dick (Richard Fitch)

SUBJECT: RE: Don’t forget that coffee!

Hey Dick, I haven’t forgotten you. I’ll see you after lunch today. Promise.

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I sent that one then shut my email down immediately so even if Jeremy responded right away, he’d know I hadn’t opened it. Then I jiggled my foot the whole time I was quitting the masking and VPN and getting the computer secure and shut down.

The hours of the day stretched ahead of me, and I felt like my skin was so tight it was threatening blood flow. Options kept flooding my mind—but I had to discard them because they were only going to get me in trouble. But even that thought pissed me off, because why did Cain and Gerald get to decide what was good for me?

I recognized the anger as a panic response and shook my head as I dove out of the office chair and out of the room.

I was going to be agood girl—I shivered, goosebumps rising on the back of my neck as those words echoed in my head in Cain’s deep, approving growl. But only until tonight. If Cain didn’t show up tonight when I was on my way back from seeing Richard, I was going to head into the city.

That meant I needed to wash my hair, which meant a real shower. And I’d have to bring a change of clothes since no one but the richest and most powerful got intoVigoríunless they dressed the part. Valerie was unwavering on that. It added to the risk for those who wanted to remain anonymous—and I was pretty sure she used it for marketing.

There was no signage on the old industrial complex that housed that den of iniquity. But anyone who was paying attention wouldn’t miss that wealthy and freakish looking people wearing a lot of leather, silk, masks, and cloaks showed up in the area at all times of day and night. Though most of the truly wealthy just had drivers drop them off at the doors, then speed away.

Still. I didn’t have a driver, which meant I had to walk on the sidewalk like a normal person. I needed to be prepared.

At least when I saw Gerald tomorrow I’d be able to tell him thevery realstory of going to talk to my old high school chaplain.

Twice.

Hopefully, that would get him so excited, his ancient brain wouldn’t register that I hadn’t relayed any stories of my evening escapades.

God,I hoped Cain would show up tonight.

I had one fleeting glance back towards the computer, my finger twitching to send him a message.

Then I remembered… I could text him! He hadn’t said I couldn’t contact him, only that I couldn’t try to entice him.

But then I couldn’t think of anything I could send him that wouldn’t be either a temptation, or a straight-up plea. So I growled another curse and went to make myself a late breakfast.

20. Seize the Day

SOUNDTRACK:Atlanticby Sleep Token

~ BRIDGET ~

Look at me, eating breakfast, seeing old men,listeningto advice. God, if I wasn’t careful, I was going to turn into a pearl-clutcher.

Maybe that’s the costume I needed to prepare for tonight.

I snorted at the mental visual of turning up toVigoríin a cashmere sweater, pearls, and with a little dog clutched under my arm.

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