Page 32 of Hunt

So, the wisest option was to play dumb and cover over the camera without making it look like I was doing it deliberately. And how had it been here? I didn’t know who put it there, either Gunner or Bitchtective, but I guess there was only one way to find out.

I walked into the grand entrance of the Science Library, which I had visited several times, and paused to consider where to go next. Behind the desks, there were doors labeled "staff only," but they had digital locks, so I’d need to know the code to gain entry.

As I paused at a desk to ask the librarian, I felt a gentle brush of cool air along the back of my hair, as if someone had touched it. When I swung around, no one was there, and I assumed the air was coming from the nearby air conditioner. Once it was my turn to step up to the counter, I asked the librarian how to get down to the basement, as I was supposed to be meeting someone down there.

She shot me a strange look and pointed to the fire exit, “Through there.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Judging by the look she gave me, I felt like I was doing something illegal by going through there. Perhaps she noticed that it attracted a variety of dubious individuals. On the other side of the exit was a hallway with another fire exit that led outside the back of the building. At the other end, a stairway led down to the basement.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open with a squeak and tread carefully down the stairs, listening for any sounds that might indicate someone was hiding there. Instead, I was greeted with silence as my heart pounded heavily and my breath hastened. The only sound was my footsteps echoing throughout the space, freaking me out.

The door was opened a few inches, and a stale scent of cigarette smoke streamed out. “Hello,” I called out, pushing the door open further and peering inside. My voice was softer than I had intended, only because I felt like I was trespassing on someone’s private space.

I stepped into the space and gazed around the large room, which contained couches and a pool table, and, at first glance, looked more like a frat hangout than a crime gang's headquarters. I had the cameras in the white box in my bag and searched for an appropriate place to plant them. The problem was…I wasn’t convinced it was worth it, as it didn’t seem like much business was conducted there.

With my ears pricked for sounds of footsteps, I stepped slowly to the pool table, spotting a discarded used condom on the floor, and cringed. Yeah, it was definitely a frat hangout.

Treading carefully towards the couches, I froze when I noticed an ashtray with a cigarette still burning and a stream of smoke rising. If someone had just left before I came in and forgotten to lock the door, maybe they…

“What are you doing here?” a stern voice snarled accusingly behind me.

I swung around to find Shaun’s friend, filling the space with his enormous jock body, broad shoulders, thick neck, massive forearms.

“It’s me, Riley,” I reminded him, touching my chest.

“I know who you are, and why are you here?” he snapped. He wasn’t angry, but he was suspicious.

“I thought this was the Kaiser’s basement and I work for them, so I was looking to speak to Gunner or maybe Ronan,” I told him.

He stood there staring at me, his narrowed eyes, and a shudder traveled down my spine.

“Do you know where they are?” I asked him as if I didn’t already know.

He cocked his head at me as sadistic looked cast over him, he stepped toward me, just as a second figure emerged from the hallway and stalled in surprised to find me there.

My hand waved half-heartedly at the second man, who wasn’t happy to see me in the basement. Guilt surged in my stomach as Shaun placed his hand on his chin as if I reminded him of what Gunner Kaiser did to him. I hoped he would heed Gunner’s warning and not touch me again. But at that moment, he looked as if he wanted to do me harm.

I glanced past them to the door and the jock and Shaun exchanged glances and fear scurried down my spine. The loaded expression concerned me; all I wanted to do was leave.

“I’m sorry, I thought this was the Kaiser’s headquarters and I wanted to speak to Gunner, but I’ll talk to him tonight at the club,” I suggested and stepped toward the door, plotting my escape.

The jock knew what I was doing and stepped to the door and slammed it shut and turned the lock, folding his arms across his board chest. An icy-cold sensation clutched the back of my neck as I scanned the room for another exit.

I shouldn’t have walked in when I saw the door open, but this basement was under the Kaiser's governance, not these two fools.

“At the club?” Shaun questioned in a slimy tone. “Their club? Savile. Aren’t you too young to work there?”

Fuck.I swallowed back my irritation. “No, I’m just visiting, as I’d like to speak to him, which is why I came here.” Would you like me to pass on the message that you two stopped me from leaving this place?”

Shaun’s eyes narrowed as a smirk slid across the jock’s face as he swept his hair back with his fingers. I had to think fast, so I discreetly swiped for Ronan’s number using my thumb, knowing Gunner was out of town. Once his name appeared, I pressed call and turned the sound off.

The jock’s smile remained fixed on his face as Shaun tilted his head to the side, raking his eyes over me. It was apparent what they had in mind, and moments like these were when I wished I had a gun. My problem would be solved if I had a gun in my bag and threatened to shoot them with it.

“No,” the jock asserts. “You’re not going anywhere.”

I swallowed over a lump in my throat and noticed a white door at the far end of the basement, but it looked as though it opened into another room. I noticed Ronan had answered my call and was possibly listening in.

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