Page 58 of Hunter

“What do you mean?” she whispers.

“What did he fucking do to you?” My voice drops a shade darker, quieter, but it’s full of intent. I need to hear her say it, to know what he did so I can understand the depths of the damage.

She hesitates, her throat tight, as if the words are too much to bear. Then, finally, she speaks.

“He didn’t?—”

I cut her off, my voice low but sharp, like a blade. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence and insult me by lying to my face.”

I take a slow breath, fighting to calm the rage coursing through my veins. “I won’t ask you again, Sophia. What did he do to you?”

Her shoulders sag, the weight of the past crushing her, sadness and anger reflected in her eyes. The raw emotion in her gaze shreds something inside me.

“He helped pull pranks on me. He stood by Jenny’s side, egging her on when she was on one of her rampages, throwing harsher comments my way. He was just as cruel as she was. The only one who believed me was my dad. My mom would just shrug it off, saying it was a ‘kid thing.’” Her voice fades, and she stares down at her hands, her body tense with the weight of everything unsaid.

She falls silent, and the air thickens with pain. I can feel the heaviness in the room, the rawness of what she just shared. And while I know there’s more to this story, I can’t bring myself to push any further.

Guilt gnaws at me for forcing her to relive this, but I know I can’t back down. Not now, not when I’ve learned enough to know there’s more to the story.

I press my lips into a thin line, my jaw clenched tight. Danny’s name is now on my list.

Somehow, someday, Sophia’s sister is going to pay for all the damage she has done to her. And anyone who had a hand in hurting her—every last one of them—will fucking pay.

TWENTY-FOUR

MAXIM

Acouple of hours have passed, and Sophia seems less shaken. I’ve been careful not to press her, especially since she has been chatting and laughing with Steff. The two of them have been swapping stories from their younger days—how Steff was always the troublemaker, how Sophia often had to bail her out of sticky situations. It’s hard not to smile at the animated way Sophia recalls her memories, her gestures alive with nostalgia.

But no matter how much I enjoy seeing this lighter side of her, I can’t shake the unease creeping under my skin. Something about that guy feels off, like there’s more to him than being a “family friend.” The moment I sat down, I quietly messaged my IT guy to dig up information on Danny. It didn’t take him long to reply, but I’ve been hesitant to look at the results, knowing it could disrupt Sophia’s mood. I’m certain it’ll lead to an argument, but curiosity and unease keep gnawing at me.

Sophia stands from her chair, and instinctively, I do the same. She places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“No, stay. I’ll be right back,” she says, her voice light. “Just heading to the bathroom.”

I nod, sitting back down, my eyes following her until she disappears through the glass doors. The moment she’s out ofsight, and with Steff occupied refilling her drink, I finally allow myself to open the email. My finger hovers over the attachment before I download the file, the weight of what I might find heavy in my chest.

Name: Danny Manuel De Soza

DOB: 11/24/1990

SSN: 976-36-1245

Born at: St. Casteel Hospital

Education: Attended St. John’s Elementary and Middle School; St. Peter’s High School (did not finish, dropped out in the eleventh grade).

Mother’s Name: Mary De Soza (Alive)

Father’s Name: Carlos De Soza (Deceased, 2021)

Marital Status: Divorced (1/23/2017)

Ex-Wife: Carla De Soza

Children: Charlie De Soza, Ashley De Soza

Current Address: 143 W Pines St., Floridian Way, FL 33124

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