CHAPTER 4
New Neighbour
Hunter
Despite the soreness in my muscles from an entire afternoon of moving, a sense of satisfaction roamed through me when I glanced at my new place from the entryway.
After a year of studying at Vesta University, the long commute finally got the best of me and I decided it was time to move out of my parents’ home and find a place closer to campus.
Josh, my best friend and teammate on the football team, helped me set up over the last few hours, hauling boxes and building furniture until we were both exhausted.
“Hunt, come over here!” Josh called out from the kitchen.
I padded over to find him putting his phone back in his pocket and pouring Irish whiskey in two crystal tumblers.
“The whiskey is from me,” he said. “And the glasses are from Layla. A little housewarming gift for you.”
“Thanks.” I slapped him on the back. “I appreciate it.”
He inched a glass my way and we clinked our drinks together. “Cheers.”
The whiskey was smooth, with gentle hints of oak and caramel.
“So what do you think of this place?” Josh asked after his sip.
Though most of my furniture was here, the place would feel more like a home once I started living in it. “It’s great. I can’t thank you enough, man.”
Josh’s family owned the building. If anyone asked, the Remingtons were strait-laced businessmen hailing from South Side, Montardor.
However, those who actually conducted business with them were well aware that Vance Remington—Josh’s dad—was a notorious kingpin and the leader of their criminal empire.
They were the ones who got me the hookup for this apartment.
In fact, Josh insisted I move into this particular complex, on this floor, and in this unit.
“No problem. That’s what friends are for.” His brown eyes sparked with mischief and he grinned wickedly. “Now that you’re settled in, want to tell me what really happened last night between you and Gabby?”
The mahogany cabinets in my kitchen suddenly intrigued me. I pretended to evaluate them as if I hadn’t already done so before signing the lease. All to avoid Josh’s gaze. “What do you mean?” I feigned ignorance. “I told you I bumped into her at the party. That’s it.”
Josh chuckled and ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. “Yeah, right. You’re full of shit. Shaun texted the group chat a minute ago that he actually caught you making out with Gabby last night.”
Guess it was bound to get out eventually. Especially when we kissed in such a public setting. I palmed the nape of my neck and relented, saying, “Fine, that did happen.”
“Hallelujah!” Josh praised. “You finally made a move. I feel like a proud dad!”
I smirked and shook my head. “Don’t get too excited. We only kissed because she was trying to get back at her ex. She was quick to leave once she got her revenge.”
Part of me was still irked about that—that she couldn’t be bothered to stick around long enough for us to share another drink, another conversation, or fuck, even another kiss.
My mind was completely hazy after the feel of her lips against mine.
My obsession fed, all I wanted was more, more, and more.
I was completely smitten with Gabriela and the way she ran away almost cheapened our moment on the dance floor.
Worry coalesced into a lump in my throat. What if she didn’t like the way I kissed?
Or worse, what if she regretted it?
“Who’s her ex?” Josh’s brows furrowed. “Don’t think I recall Layla telling me Gabby was seeing anyone recently.”
Before I could tell him about Tom, a feminine shrill had us flinching and cursing in our spots.
“What the hell was that?” Josh spat, our shocked expressions mirroring each other.
“I think it came from the hallway outside.” We deposited our glasses on the counter and headed towards my door. I peered into the peephole. “There’s no one out there.”
I unlocked my door and cracked it open a fraction. Josh hovered over my shoulder, trying to get a better look. An empty hallway and utter silence welcomed us.
However, the door to the apartment directly in front of mine was agape.
“Oh, fuck,” Josh mumbled strangely. “We should check that out.”
Perplexed by his tone but silently agreeing, I opened my door wider and Josh charged ahead before I could even blink. He knocked loudly on my neighbour’s door. “Gabby? It’s Josh. I’m coming in.”
Every muscle in my body froze, including the breath travelling through my lungs.
Did I hear him right?
Did he actually say Gabby—as in my Gabriela?
When Josh pushed open her door and revealed the scene before us, it felt like a stake was driven through my chest, puncturing my skin and causing my breath to whoosh out of me in one fell swoop.
Distraught, Gabriela sat amongst a flurry of broken glass, with a dark grey cat clutching her. Both of them trembled pitifully.
Josh and I let ourselves inside, and he shut the door with a decisive thud, awarding us privacy from any potential onlookers.
I lowered myself to my haunches in front of her, glass crunching beneath my shoes. I didn’t touch her, afraid to spook her further, but coaxed her with my gentle tone, “Gabby?”
Blue eyes with specks of grey that reminded me of a stormy sea rose to mine, glistening with unshed tears and so much despair. “Hunter?” Her voice was weak and her face surprised as if she just noticed our presence.
“You okay?” I whispered.
I think I actually felt my heart breaking for her when she returned a thick and watery, “No.”
It took everything within me to stop myself from gathering her into my arms.
“What happened over here?” Josh asked the million-dollar question, lowering himself beside us. “We heard you scream.”
The cat in Gabriela’s arms hissed and pawed at Josh as if to scratch him for getting too close to its beloved owner.
“Shh.” Gabriela tried to calm it down before turning to us.
“I…I don’t know. I just got back home less than a minute ago.
My door was open, and I found my vase broken and my wall vandalized.
Then my cat jumped at me and I got scared.
” She sniffled. “I’m so sorry for screaming. I didn’t mean to disturb anyone.”
She had nothing to apologize for when she’d just experienced something traumatic.
Gabriela’s mention of her vandalized wall had me giving a quick glance towards the culprit.
Hell is empty and all the devils are here…
including you, bitch.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my face screwing with anger. Josh noticed the quote at the same time, dropping a low, “Fuck,” under his breath.
Who would break into her place and write something like that?
“Do you know who did this?” I urged.
She teared up some more, utterly miserable. “No.”
I furiously searched my pockets for my phone. “I’m calling the cops so we can file a report. Maybe we can also talk to the building’s security to help identify the intruder.”
Because this wasn’t just a regular break-in. Those horrendous words were personal. Someone clearly had a vendetta against Gabriela.
Right as I was about to dial 911, Josh and Gabriela protested. “No, don’t!”
“Why not?” I demanded, their vehement reactions catching me off guard.
They exchanged grim expressions. Josh rubbed his forehead as he stood up. “With families like ours, we handle our business discreetly. We don’t involve the authorities unless necessary.”
Though I knew my best friend’s family conducted their dealings in the underworld, Gabriela’s family also participating was news to me. But I didn’t argue, choosing to ask instead, “What do you propose?”
Josh crossed his arms over his chest, surveying the state of her apartment.
“I’m going to have a crew come over within the hour.
They’ll try to find fingerprints and then clean up.
I’ll also take a look at the security tapes to see who entered and left the building in the timeframe that you were gone, Gabby.
” Josh pulled out his phone, took a picture of the quote painted on the wall, and typed a text on his phone.
Afterwards, he glanced at Gabriela. “Do you have a gun or knife I can use?”
His question didn’t faze her. “Knives are in the kitchen. My gun is in the console table’s top drawer.”
Gabriela wasn’t kidding when she said her daddy was a ranger—which was a half truth if he was in the same circle as the Remingtons—or that she knew how to wield a gun. I supposed it was a given for a mob princess.
“I’m going to give your place a quick search, though I suspect whoever is responsible for this mess is already gone.
But I just want to verify that there are no other surprises left for you.
” Josh opened the drawer and yanked out the gun, checking the chamber for bullets.
“We’ll figure out who did this. Don’t worry, Gabby. ”
“Thank you,” she said in a small, resigned voice, a far cry from the sassy, confident girl I conversed with last night.
“Why don’t you come with me while Josh does his thing?” I offered, getting up and extending a hand towards her. “I’m right across from you.”
Gabriela’s throat worked with a swallow. “Really?”
“Yeah, I just moved in today.”
My best friend conveniently managed to disappear down the hallway as soon as I said that. Josh knew I had a crush on her, knew she lived here, and knew this was the opening I needed. I wasn’t even annoyed that he orchestrated this entire thing and kept me in the dark so I’d be taken by surprise.
“Oh.” She attempted a weak smile as her slender fingers slid over mine and grasped firmly. Her soft skin against my slightly callused one felt perfect. “This isn’t how I usually welcome my neighbours.”
I lifted her off the ground. “How do you usually welcome your neighbours?”
“With my charming personality, a baked good, or a house plant.”
“I’d say you’ve nailed the charming part,” I teased. “Though I wouldn’t be opposed to a baked good or a house plant.”
I wouldn’t be opposed to anything from you, baby.