Page 14 of Seek Me Darling

Too bad for them, that's never worked on me.

Driven by irritation and curiosity, I grab my phone again, quickly scrolling through my contacts until Uncle Max’s name appears. Without hesitation, I hit the video call button, needing his unique expertise to decode whatever cryptic game is being played tonight. Max answers after barely two rings.

His face appears instantly on the screen, illuminated by the harsh glow of multiple monitors behind him, casting stark blue and silver shadows across his features. As always, he looks more at home behind those screens than anywhere else.

“Do you ever sleep?” I ask dryly, lips quirking into a teasing smile. “Or have you just moved permanently into the Batcave and started mainlining caffeine intravenously?”

Max snorts, his mouth twitching into a fleeting, rare smile, though his eyes stay sharp, unreadable. “Sleep is overrated,” he responds flatly, leaning back slightly in his chair. “Besides, the criminals we chase rarely take a night off.”

“True,” I concede, studying him thoughtfully. Max has always been elusive, a mystery even within our tightly-knit organization. The sudden thought occurs to me that I’ve never really known anything about him beyond these walls even with how close he is to our parents. “Don’t you have a family to go home to?” I prod gently, half-curious, half-teasing.

Something flickers briefly in his gaze, a shadow crossing his face for just a second before it’s gone, carefully masked behind professionalism once again. He nods slowly, cryptically. “They understand,” he says quietly. “This work isn’t exactly safe, Seanna. Keeping them hidden ensures their protection.”

His admission surprises me, and I lean forward instinctively, eyes narrowing with intrigue. “You do have a family, huh? You’ve been holding out on me, Max.”

Max gives a subtle shake of his head, amusement fading quickly into seriousness. “There’s a reason I keep them hidden,” he repeats more firmly this time, the message clear: boundaries exist for a reason.

I exhale slowly, realizing no matter how curious I am, I won’t get anything else from him right now. “Fair enough,” I concede quietly, shifting gears to why I called. “I actually have a reason for bothering you this late. Someone left me a… present.”

At his questioning look, I angle my phone toward the table, carefully aiming the camera toward the red flower and note resting on the dark velvet. His expression instantly changes from mild curiosity to intense focus, eyes narrowing sharply as he leans closer to the screen.

He’s silent for a long moment, his eyes darting carefully over the vivid petals, his brows furrowing deeply in concern, adjusting his glasses as he leans closer.. I watch his reaction closely, an disconcerting feeling creeping along my spine at how intently he studies the bloom.

“Uncle Max?” I prompt softly, my voice tight. “Max?”

He blinks abruptly, shaking his head slightly as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Sorry,” he mutters, clearly rattled, though trying hard to mask it. “That caught me off guard.” He clears his throat, his voice dropping to a lower, more cautious tone. “That flower—it’s a rhododendron, Seanna.”

“A rhodo-what?” I raise a eyebrow. “English, please?”

I look again at the flower, its delicate beauty seemingly innocent. But Max’s reaction tells me there’s more to it.

“Rhododendron,” he emphasizes slowly, tension heavy in his voice. “Flowers aren’t chosen randomly. Every bloom has meaning. Someone picked this one deliberately, Seanna. A rhododendron symbolizes danger. Caution. It has a clear meaning and message: beware.”

My jaw tightens, irritation flaring. I glance back at the flower, the vibrant red petals now seeming sinister. “Great,” I drawl sarcastically. “So my secret admirer is a florist with a flair for drama. Should I be worried about touching it?”

His mouth tightens briefly before softening with a reluctant chuckle. “Touching it is fine, but I wouldn’t recommend randomly nibbling on it. Rhododendrons are poisonous when ingested. They can be deadly if consumed in large amounts.”

“Good to know,” I deadpan, rolling my eyes. “I’ll make sure not to toss it in my next salad.”

Max sighs, his expression solemn. “I’m serious, Seanna. Someone is sending you a direct warning. They’re watching you, and they don’t want you looking into whatever it is you’ve found. They chose that flower specifically to communicate that threat.”

A fierce, reckless smile curls at my lips. “Then they clearly don’t know me very well, do they?” I challenge quietly, adrenaline beginning to pump steadily through my veins. Threats have never deterred me—they only heighten my determination, sharpen my resolve.

Max stares at me silently for a moment before shaking his head slightly, resigned. He knows me well enough to understand that arguing caution is pointless. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

A wicked, defiant grin slowly curves my lips. “Careful has never been my style.”

“I've noticed,” Max mutters wryly, shaking his head. “Just promise you'll at least pretend to think before you act.”

“No promises,” I retort smoothly, smirking openly. “Thanks, Max. I owe you.”

“You owe me a lot,” he replies dryly, though affection softens his tone. “Stay alive, Seanna.”

I disconnect and lean back on the couch, eyes fixed defiantly on the flower still mocking me from its velvet coffin. Whoever delivered this clear-cut warning has drastically miscalculated if they think I'll back down from a fight. I've built my entire life around hunting monsters like Javier Reyes. Danger isn't a deterrent—it's my fuel.

Pushing off the couch, I place the flower and note purposefully on my desk, my own symbolic message that I'm far from intimidated.

Javier Reyes just showed his hand.

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