11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The Huntress
Three YouTube tutorials later, the nasty bruise on my face is covered, and it’s more makeup than I think I’ve ever worn. I brush my fingers over the heavily covered area of my face and sigh. Part of me wonders if Jude will actually refrain from telling Henry. I still can’t let go of the way he never looked at me when I was on full display for him, either.
‘He must think you’re ugly.’
My brows furrow in the mirror back at me. If he does find me unattractive, could that mean he might want to be my... friend? Once upon a time, I had friends. I had good friends, and some of them were of the same sex I prefer to be dead now.
‘They didn’t stop anything from happening to you.’
“They didn’t know,” I reason, still staring at myself in the mirror. “That’s an unfair assumption of them...” The voice doesn’t seem to have a response for that, but my buzzing phone seems to stop the ringing in my ears. I sweep up the device from the marbled bathroom counter and stare down at the screen.
Unknown: You’re a very bad girl.
I stare at the message, caught between feeling the need to laugh at how cheesy it reads and cry at what it could mean for me. Does someone know what I did last night? My palms grow clammy as I slide the message open...
And then delete it.
It’s probably just someone sending out random stupid texts.
However, as I slide my phone into my pocket, a sense of dread settles in on my shoulders, similar to the unease I felt last night. And maybe, if I wasn’t so used to feeling like the world is caving in on me, I might be concerned.
‘Let them chase you. Whoever they are.’
I roll my eyes at the voice this time. Even if someone is toying with me, there’s only one person who remotely has an idea of what I’m up to—and if it’s him, well... then let the games begin. I can handle Jude.
‘No, you can’t. He makes you feel weak in the knees. He reminds you of the way Dr. Nile made you feel.’
“Just shut up,” I mutter as I pull on a black turtleneck, my stomach lurching at the name. I focus instead on my shirt as I tug it down. It’s fitted and thin, but it’s enough to cover the bruises. Paired with my black leggings, only a slip of my midriff shows, and I’ll be stuck in this get up around Henry.
‘Unless Jude runs his big fucking mouth.’
“He doesn’t have a big mouth,” I snap as I rip the bedroom door open. Cash jumps up from his bed and darts for the opening, ready to be taken down to the pet park already. The smell of coffee and some kind of food wafts through the apartment, slamming into my lungs. I can’t decide if I like it or not. It means there are people who are not me in this apartment. And while I once found my brother’s presence comforting, it’s now unnerving.
“Morning...” Henry gives me a funny look as I enter the kitchen and grab for the leash. “You look...”
“Trying new things with my makeup. Don’t be an asshole,” I level with him, raising a brow and daring him to make a snide remark about how I look.
“It’s bold.” He smirks and then lifts his coffee cup to his lips. “Whatever floats your boat though.”
“So glad you’re supportive.” I motion for Cash to sit, and I snap the leash onto his collar.
“Is there a reason you dress like it’s winter in the summer?”
He is really testing my patience this morning.
“I guess Oregon never wore off.” My fingers tremble against the leather leash as I hear footsteps entering the kitchen from behind me. He knows what I look like naked.
‘No, he doesn’t,’ the voice scoffs in my head. ‘He didn’t even look at you.’
“Morning, you two,” Jude says, his voice groggy in a way that’s yet again, almost endearing.
‘You’re the one who wants him to see you naked.’
White knuckling the leash, I turn to face Jude. My stomach flips at the sight of him in a pair of light wash jeans and white Rolling Stones T-shirt. “How did you sleep?”
His eyes drop to my jaw, where I’ve carefully concealed the dark marks. “I’ve probably slept better.” He then looks back up, meeting my gaze. “I had a lot on my mind.”
Something crumbles in my chest at the way he unravels me, but I find the much-needed distraction as Cash tugs me toward the front door. “Me, too,” I manage to mutter as I spin around, ignoring the look on Henry’s face. I can’t tell if he’s just intrigued by my dog’s brute strength or the exchange between Jude and me.
“I’ll go with you,” Jude says. “I could use the air.”
“Not much air out there, just suffocating heat,” Henry chuckles from behind me. I tear at the door handle, halfway tempted to try and outrun Jude. However, by the time I make it to the elevator, he’s already there, smashing the button for us.
“Why are you coming with me?” I snap up at him, finding his eyes once again on my face.
“I’m not done talking about last night, Cher.”
I shake my head, wanting to reach out and bite him for acting like he gets to drive the conversation. “That’s not even my real fucking name.”
“Wow, okay,” he replies flatly. “You want me to call you Layla Murphy then? Would that make you happy?”
My heart stumbles. Of course, he knows my birth name. “Just go away.”
He looms over me as we start downward. “You’re not getting rid of me, Layla. ”
“I said , don’t call me that.” I burn into his gaze with my own, swallowing the shakiness that washes over me. “ Layla is dead.”
“I think Cher is, too,” he shoots back at me, his tone borderline threatening. “I’m starting to wonder who is actually in there. You’re not who your brother thinks you are.”
“And you’re a nosy bastard, aren’t you?” I snort back at him, ripping my gaze away and folding my arms across my chest.
“How long did it take you to cover that up?” His fingers brush over the makeup covered spot on my jaw. It’s such a gentle touch, I could cry—but instead, I freeze, stiffening against him.
“Why do you even care?”
“Why do you go home with men who rough you up?”
I’m nearing the point of explosion, and as the doors slide open, I barrel forward, startling Cash. He picks up into an excited jog, bouncing along beside me as I race for the pet park.
I hate you, Jude. I’ve changed my mind. We cannot be friends.
He falls in step beside me. “So just tell me who did this, and I’ll leave you alone.”
I ignore him until I’m out in the desert air and unclipping the leash from Cash’s collar. Only then do I turn to him. “Why do you want to know this now? You all but ran out of the bathroom last night.” The accusation in my tone is bitter and sharp, but I don’t hold back. I want Jude to know I dislike his existence.
Jude’s Adam’s apple bobs. “You were taking a shower, and your mouth needed to heal.” The mention reminds me of the ache on the inside of my cheek—and the fact Jude offered aid without any questions asked... Well, until now, that is. “Just tell me who did it. What was his name?”
“I don’t want you exacting some kind of stupid revenge with my brother.” I turn my attention to Cash, bounding across the play yard with a Border Collie mix. For a protection dog, he makes friends fast.
“I don’t want to involve your brother,” Jude’s voice is low, almost too low to actually hear—and it intrigues me more than I want to admit. “I’ll fuck up this guy’s life for you. I don’t even have to touch him. I don’t have to tell your brother. I’ll take care of it . ”
Except he’s already dead.
I continue to watch Cash, like his offer means nothing to me. “I don’t need a man looking out for me.”
“The state you were in last night has me begging to differ.”
I grit my teeth at the way he toys with degradation. I can’t tell if he’s doing it to get a rise out of me—or if he means it.
‘He means it,’ the voice pops in.
Oh shut up, I hiss back internally.
“You know, if you don’t tell me, I’ll still figure it out.” Jude’s nonchalant tone is suddenly very unsettling, creeping up my spine like a spider beneath my clothes.
“Do you have my number?” I turn to him, my mind drawn back to the message on my phone earlier. I could see Jude playing games with me. It would make sense for a hacker.
His face contorts in confusion. “Well, yeah. Henry gave it to me as a just-in-case.”
“Did you text me this morning?” My moment of borderline friendly conversation has him narrowing his gaze at me.
“No,” he snorts. “If I wanted to talk to you, I’d just knock on your door.”
“Unless you didn’t want my brother to know what you were saying.” I don’t know why I let that slip in a sultry tone, but Jude’s face flashes with an emotion that lights up my... pussy.
I nearly panic at the arousal. I never grow aroused under the male gaze—or any gaze at that. It has my stomach suddenly churning and my mind flashing with images of stripping Jude down to nothing.
And then giving him what I wish he wanted from me.
“You good?” Jude gives me a weird look.
I clear my throat and look away, my fingers brushing my cheeks and the heat flushing them. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’ve never wanted anyone. Ever. I mean, I had crushes before...
‘And you think Jude will be any different? If he slept with you, it’d be pity only.’
My heart drops, and I cling to the leash with a renewed somberness—the kind that gripped me after everything happened. After I began harboring the darkest secrets.
“Cher...” A light touch brushes my arm.
I shake my head, ignoring him and the fire with his fingertips. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do. He doesn’t understand why I’m wired the way I am—why I short circuit all the fucking time. He’s not my friend. He’s Henry’s best friend.
And that’s why it’s even more important to keep him at bay.
Which isn’t saying much, since I’m barely into their stay, and he’s already seen way too much.
“I’m sorry if I said something wrong,” Jude’s voice is louder than my own thoughts. “I’m just... trying. ”
“Trying to do what? ” I snap, glancing at him for a split second.
His expression is so fucking soft, I can’t maintain eye contact. “I’m trying to help you.”
Every alarm goes off in my head. “Yeah well, so was he. ”
Jude’s aura tangibly darkens. “The guy last night?”
“No,” I choke out. I finally look back up at him and catch my breath at the intensity in his stare. He’s looking at me like nothing else in the world exists. I hang up in the way I’m being seen suddenly, heat creeping through the icy walls I’ve erected.
‘He’s manipulating you. He doesn’t want to help you. He wouldn’t even look at you when you were naked in front of him.’
Why does that matter? I’m suddenly more aware of my inner conversations with the voices than ever, and the realization that I’m not normal hits me—like I didn’t already know that. I rip my eyes from Jude’s and call for Cash.
“Running again,” Jude murmurs from behind me, letting out a heavy breath.
Pretending I didn’t hear him, I clip the leash to Cash’s collar, and tug him toward the door. “I have to get ready for work. See you around.”
“Oh, I’ll definitely see you.”
Something about his words leave my heart beating unevenly, my hands sweating, and my brain screaming at me to keep him at arm’s length. Yet, I still glance back at him, desperate to just catch a glimpse one more time.