Page 76 of Hunted
“I’ll be right back.” I run upstairs and grab my bag from the floor in Weston’s room. I debate strapping McStabby on my hip, but decide it’s safest if I keep it in the bag and have both my knife and my rock with me.
When I get back downstairs, they all notice it slung over my shoulder, but nobody comments. Bower pats the seat beside him, and I quickly jump on the couch and snuggle into his side while he browses the movies.
Reece sits on the coffee table in front of me and passes me an iPad. I take it automatically and stare down at it in confusion.
“You don’t have to do it now, but you’re going to need to order yourself some new clothes. I’m assuming you’d rather order online than go to the store?” I nod my head quickly, not wanting to go anywhere near people yet, and he points at the iPad.
“Order anything you want; my credit card is saved on there. If you don’t know your sizes, there is a tape measure in the second drawer of the downstairs bathroom.”
I stare at the iPad, not even knowing where to start. “You don't have to do it now, of course. And we need to get you a bed and other furniture,too.” I nod, feeling overwhelmed. He seems to notice as he takes the iPad back and sets it on the table beside him. “When you’re ready, of course.”
I nod, already feeling lighter without that burden in my lap. How the hell did I know what type of clothes I should buy or what kind of bed to get? I don’t even know what kinds there are.
King sits down heavily on my other side, making me knock into Bower, and the remote falls from his hand into my lap. When I pick it up to pass back to him, I must touch a button because the TV flips inputs from Netflix to cable.
“Crab sucker!” I curse when I see what’s playing on the TV. It’s the local news, and once again, the footage is of us arriving in San Francisco. Only this time, we can understand what they’re saying.
Bower turns the volume up, and Reece moves out of the way as we all stare at the screen.
“Eyewitness footage shows Maurice Benson, Kingsley Voss, and Bower Riggs, the billionaire trio behind Titan Tech, arriving at the San Francisco International Airport earlier this afternoon, accompanied by an unidentified woman and their pilot, Weston Callahan.
“Voss and Riggs have been missing for the last two and a half months. The two were last seen boarding a private plane out of Perth, Australia, but they never arrived at their scheduled destination. Until today, they were presumed lost, or dead.
“But that’s not all. The mystery deepens with the woman by their side. Social media sleuths and online forums are lighting up with speculation that she bears a striking resemblance to Darla Danvers, the future heiress to the Danver’s Group who vanished with her father, Donald Danvers, without a trace over fifteen years ago when she was only thirteen and was long assumed to be dead.
"In the video, the woman can be seen holding hands with both Voss and Riggs as they’re escorted through a private terminal. Benson walks just ahead, shielding them from the crowd and what appears to be a flurry of paparazzi.
“Security detail surrounded the group, and no one gave a statement, but body language experts are already analyzing the footage, noting the intimate familiarity between the three men and the mystery woman.
“For those unfamiliar, the Danvers family and the Benson family were very close, and it was said Maurice and Darla were dating when she disappeared. Maurice has never been seen with a woman on his arm, and it’s been speculated that he’s only attracted to men.
“Of course, we don’t know for sure who this mystery woman is, or her connection to the owners of Titan Tech. We’ve reached out to Titan Tech’s PR office for comment, but as of this broadcast, there’s been no official statement. Stick with Channel Seven News for live updates as we continue to follow this developing story. One thing’s for sure, this is one reunion no one saw coming.”
Bower flicks the TV back to Netflix as everyone absorbs the news report. I’m not sure what it means for us that they were already speculating that I’m back. They were going to find out sooner or later, so I’m not sure it really matters. It annoys me that they barely mentioned Weston, who was also missing.
I glance around and see the tense expressions on everyone’s faces as they think about what we just saw. Hoping to lighten the mood, I turn to my oldest friend and try to get his attention. “Reece?”
His head turns to me in question, and I tilt my head asking, “I didn’t know you were into guys.” His eyes widen in shock and a little fear before Bower burstsout laughing.
I can’t stop the smile from covering my face as Reece’s worried eyes move to Bower, then back to me. I see the moment he realizes I’m joking and his hands clench into fists at his sides as he slowly prowls towards me.
I press my back into the couch, trying to stop my laughter as he leans over me slowly. Bower tries to break the intensity of his stare as he whispers into my ear, “You’ve done it now, Tink.”
I swallow heavily and Reece’s hands slowly move forward to land on the back of the couch, caging my head between his arms.
He doesn't break eye contact with me as he leans closer, only stopping when his face is a few inches from mine. My heart hammers in my chest at his proximity. If I just moved forward two inches, his lips would be on mine.
Everything else in the room melts away as he stares at me in silence, like he’s waiting for me to speak first. But my mind has drained of all rational thought, and the only thing I can seem to think about is if his lips are as soft as I remember.
Finally, he speaks, his voice coming out huskier and deeper than usual. “If you think I’m attracted to men, then I must be doing something wrong.”
My breath hitches and his eyes dart down to my lips before moving back up to my eyes. I don’t reply, afraid anything I say will come out as gibberish. Is he going to leave me hanging here? Does he even know what sort of effect he’s having on me right now?
“There’s only one person in this entire world that I’m attracted to, that I want. And I think you know who that is, don’t you, darling?”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I let his words sink deep into my skin. I knew he wanted us to be together, and every time I talk to him,I find another layer of his obsession for me. I should be scared. I should see his wall of photos and run far away from him.
But I don’t. I can’t. Iknowhim. Even if he is a crazy, obsessive, possessive man. He’s mine, and my disappearance made him that way. I knew him for the first thirteen years of my life, and I know he’s a good man. Someone who will do anything for those he loves.
