Page 80 of Hunt for You

“That’s a really generous offer, Valerie, but—”

“You don’t even know what the offer is yet.”

“Yeah, but I know you. I know how generous you can be,” I said carefully, praying she wouldn’t get pissed off with me. “I just have a lot going on right now and I’m not sure I’d have time—”

“Please, it’s two days every three months. Even you can swing that. And I’ll give you a month’s notice.”

“I know you would, I’m just—”

“I’ll call you in a couple weeks and we’ll talk about it then,” Valerie said like I hadn’t even spoken.

I opened my mouth, but my brain was short-circuiting because what she described would befun,but if I was getting hunted I would want to focus… but what if I wasn’t?

“I… okay,” I said helplessly as we reached the door into the back offices. “You give me a call, but I have to go now, okay? I have a date.”

Valerie chuckled, which devolved into a hacking cough. “Sure you do. But I get it. I’m old.”

“No, Val, that’s not—"

“You help me with the recruitment and I’ll forgive you.”

I slumped, shaking my head. “I’m beginning to see why these people never get around you,” I grumbled.

Valerie chuckled again. “Smart girl. So, talk in a couple weeks?”

“Sure.”

I was just relieved to finally be free when she squeezed my shoulder, then let me go. “Then you go have your date. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“That doesn’t narrow my options at all,” I muttered, which made her laugh. But she walked away smiling and pushed through that door, leaving me free.

I heaved a sigh of relief and darted back to the exit and out, through the security room, then onto the street.

I’d had to park three blocks away because there was no parking forVigorí, and no businesses nearby that offered public parking. So, I turned left out the door and started down the street.

My skin was still itching, but it wasn’t as bad as it had been at home. And maybe… maybe it was because of Ronald now? Maybe when I got home I’d feelbetter?Or maybe Cain would finally have sent me a message.

Or maybe he was hunting me now and had only been waiting for me to get out of the club!

That thought made my breath catch, and I instinctively looked up and over my shoulder just in time to catch the very masculine shadow separating from the corner of the alleywaybetweenVigoríand the neighboring building, and launching at me—arms extended and man-hands clawed.

“Holy sh—"

I tried to twist and avoid the grip of those long arms, but only managed to turn enough so he grabbed my hair instead of my shoulder, snapping my head back at the same time he lifted me off my feet and turned me, slamming me backwards into the side of the building in the shadows.

I struggled to break free, heart hammering, spitting curses and trying to kick him, but he had me off my feet, my heels against the wall, and his thighs pinning mine so there was nowhere to move to get a swing on him.

I looked into the shadow of his hood, trying desperately to see his face, but the dim glow from the distant streetlight on the next block only silhouetted the edge of his jaw.

Cain?I sucked in a huge breath.

But then he tossed his head back and the hood slipped off, revealing the smiling face of Ronald, teeth gleaming, eyes ablaze.

“I told you I was in,” he whispered, then smiled in the way that made my stomach go cold. Then he glanced over his shoulder, and his smile got broader. “So… you really did come alone.Good girl,”he purred. “And don’t worry, I won’t tell your boyfriend you came looking for me.”

28. Terms and Conditions

SOUNDTRACK:Stalkerby Stevie Howie

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