Page 22 of The Hunt

Rhett snorted. “Oh, yeah. That’s definitely what it’s about,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’swhy Jake is the way he is. Because he hates women, right?”

“Yes,” I said through gritted teeth. “He does.”

“This conversation is over.” Rhett jerked a thumb toward the path that led up to the house. “You need to get the fuck out of here.”

“You’re really going to defend him without even listening to what he did first?” I asked, glowering at him. His inability to let me get more than a few words in at a time was frustrating as hell. Typical chauvinistic rich-boy shit.

“First of all, I shouldn’t even need to defend him, because I know he’s done nothing wrong,” Rhett said. “And secondly, he’s like a brother to me, so if I have to, I’ll defend him with my fucking life.”

I shook my head, eyes narrowing. “So you don’t even want to know if your friend is a sick pervert who goes around—”

Much to my annoyance, Rhett cut me off yet again. “I knowexactlywho Jake is, okay?” he said, voice icy-cold. “I’ve heardall this ‘sick pervert’ shit before, from people just like you, and I really don’t give a fuck.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. “You know what he does? And you don’t even care?”

“Not one bit. And none of the others do either,” he said with a malicious sneer. “I guess this really isn’t the place for a girl like you, huh?”

“Wow. So much for liking and caring about women,” I snapped. “A few minutes ago, you were all about it. But the second I bring up one of your friends being a sick freak, suddenly it’s a different story. Suddenly anything goes.”

Rhett’s eyes narrowed again. “People like you make me fucking sick.”

“People likeme?” I shook my head, flabbergasted, and held up a palm. “Okay, seriously, I think we need to start again. This has to be a misunderstanding. Just let me tell you the whole story.”

“Nah. No misunderstanding here.” He rose to his full height, staring down at me with dark, hate-filled eyes. “You’ve made it very clear what sort of girl you are, and you need to get the fuck out of here.Now.And just so you know, you’re barred from all future Wilder parties too. Got it?”

“You’re actually serious?”

He stepped closer again, lowering his voice to a deep, intimidating mutter that sent a chill down my spine. “Don’t make me grab you by the neck and drag you out of here, Ev.”

I blinked. “W-what?”

“You fucking heard me,” he growled. “You’ve got five seconds to start running. I suggest you do it.”

I shrank back, shock and anger colliding inside me. How dare Rhett speak to me like that? How dare he treat me this way? He hadn’t even let me get a damn word in edgewise before heblew up on me, all because I insulted one of his elite boys-club buddies. What a colossal prick.

Despite all that blinding rage and hurt, a tingling heat surged through me again as I pictured him grabbing my neck as he’d promised, awakening things inside me that I’d long tried to keep buried. Desire, curiosity, and a thrill that teetered right on the edge of danger.

I had to get out of here. Right now.

“Fuck you, Rhett,” I muttered, pushing past him.

He didn’t say a word. Just turned and strode away.

I hurried up the path, fumbling in my purse for my phone. With shaking hands, I tapped out a text to the group chat I shared with the girls.Sorry, not feeling so good. Calling the escort shuttle now. Have fun!

After I hit send, I turned and looked over my shoulder, spying the distant flames of the Wilder fire. My head was still spinning, barely able to process what had happened back there. It was so unexpected. So jarring.

Rhett had briefly redeemed himself in my eyes with the Lila/Ryan story, but then he’d turned into a total asshole only seconds later when I tried to bring up Jake’s beyond-shady history. It honestly made me feel like I had whiplash, and I regretted ever agreeing to come to this damn party.

I was glad about one thing, though. When I first met Rhett, everything about him had warned me to run. Warned me that he was a bad guy. I’d started to doubt myself after he laid on all the disarming charm tonight, but now I knew my initial instincts were spot-on.

I was right to be afraid of him.

4

Rhett

Jaw clenching,I tore through the woods, barely noticing the branches snapping back at me. My chest felt tight, rage burning through me like the fire I could see flickering ahead.

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