Page 72 of Hunter

I took a deep breath when I got to my front door before opening it.

My head peeked out as I took in the empty, well-lit hallway, and when no one seemed to be jumping out at me, I cautiously walked out.

I turned to lock my door and pulled up short when I found a black Baccara rose taped to the door.

No note, no nothing.

It wasn’t like my parents to just send in a delivery like this, and even if they had, wouldn’t there have been a delivery person to hand it over?

I reached my hand out and took it from the door, pulling my hand back when one of the thorns pricked my pointer finger.

“Ouch,” I muttered, sucking on the finger until the bleeding stopped.

I looked around.

Who else would know these were my favorite flowers beside my parents?

Unless this was from my dad, in a bid to scare me into moving back home with them.

It sounded twisted, but I wouldn’t put it past them to do something like this.

I carried the flower with me to the elevators and threw it away in the trash bin nearby.

It never even crossed my mind to move back home after my attack from last night. I doubted anything would now.

I was enjoying my independence way too much, and I enjoyed making decisions for myself without my mom hovering nearby.

The elevator doors opened, and I walked in, but just as it was about to close, a thin figure passed through the doors, and I realized, with some disappointment, that it was Trinity.

I turned away and tried to keep my eyes ahead, only they managed to stray right back to her.

She was beautiful and confident. She was everything I thought Xavier would want, but he rejected her… for me.

It still didn’t feel real.

She caught me looking at her the fourth time and straightened, clinging onto her purse a little tighter.

I narrowed my eyes at the move.

Did she really think I would try to rob her?

We both lived in the same building. Why the hell would I do that?

I looked up and checked the number, silently urging it to hurry up and reach the lobby floor.

She turned to me suddenly, and I had to stop my body from flinching.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” she asked.

I nodded.

“A bit of advice? Stay away from the man in the apartment next to yours. He’s trouble, plus I’m not even sure he’s interested in women.”

I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing, though I didn’t answer her.

Was she trying to warn me off of Xavier?

How laughable.

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