32. Chapter 32
Chapter 32
The Huntress
“How was Destin?” I ask Lydia as I slide on my shoes. Cash is bouncing like a happy little kid, while Duke sits patiently next to Lydia.
“It was nice. I think Emma is more than happy to be back with Luca though,” she laughs as she pulls her blonde hair into a ponytail. “She’s not used to being apart from him.”
“And you’re usually glued to my brother,” I reason, eyeing her with a smirk on my face. “You both are clingy women.”
“I guess that’s what happens when you find the right one.”
“Or when the right one is a controlling psychopath,” I reason, standing up straight and reaching for the door. I open it for the four of us to slip out, ensuring that I have my phone in my pocket. “I’m surprised Henry is letting you leave the apartment while he’s with the realtor.”
Lydia giggles. “Yeah, well, he let me go to Destin without him, so my guess is a walk with the dogs in the same city will be fine.”
“Touche.” Cash jumps paw to paw as I lead the way to the elevator, whining while I tap the button. I feel safe-ish going out with Lydia, mostly because Cash and Duke are coming along for the ride. However, I’m still counting down until I can slip off to Jude’s.
And let him slip in me.
I nearly laugh to myself, noting how nothing in my body rears its ugly head. No voices. No taunting thoughts or panicked reactions. I feel... okay —even with knowing that he’s out there somewhere.
Jude will find him.
And because I’m using a burner, there’s no taunting texts coming through either. I did give Henry my new number, but other than that, no one else has it. It’s the relief I needed, and maybe finally I can put the past behind me.
Including the Black Widow.
“So are you seeing anyone here?” Lydia asks me as we step inside. “I feel like Vegas might be a tough place to find someone serious though.”
“That would be correct,” I tell her, hesitating to say anything more. I stare at my feet, wondering at what point I’ll explain Jude to them. I know it’ll cause waves, even if it’s stupid for it to. It’s not like we’re kids anymore—and it’s not like I’m innocent.
I could be leading him to his death.
I shake my head to myself. There’s no way Henry would actually kill Jude. I mean, yeah, he’ll snap someone’s neck just for looking at me, but Jude is his best friend.
And the feelings are mutual between us.
“You okay?” Lydia’s voice comes out soft as she places a hand on my shoulder. “You seem off from your normal.”
“I’m fine,” I say as we step out of the elevator and head for the main doors. “It’s just been a long few weeks.”
“Is Henry being a handful?”
I laugh. “When is he not a handful?”
Lydia sighs. “Never. The answer to that is never. ”
I eye her. “I’m glad he has you—even if the way he went about it was shady as fuck.”
She meets my gaze, holding it for a few minutes. “Yeah, it’s amazing what finding your person can do for you.”
“It’s like they help wash away all the bad,” I blurt out, instantly regretting my words as Lydia’s expression shifts with curiosity.
“Oh? Do they?” She gives me a grin. “And who is helping you?”
I divert my gaze, feeling my cheeks redden. “No one.”
She grabs my arm. “Um, someone. It’s written all over your face.”
“No, not at all.”
“Cher, don’t lie,” Lydia giggles. “If you’re worried about Henry finding out and losing his mind—well, he probably will—but I won’t be the one who relays the news.”
I glance up at her then, suddenly desperate to share everything that’s happened between Jude and me. I have no one to help me navigate a relationship. I’ve never even had a real one before.
“Who is it?” Lydia narrows her gaze at me. “Surely it’s not someone I know?”
Biting down on my lip, I wince. “Um...”
Lie. Just lie.
But I don’t want to lie anymore. If Jude would’ve asked me this morning about my purse and its contents, I would’ve told him. In fact, I’m done lying. The moment Dr. Nile is taken care of, I’ll face the music. For everything. I already know that.
“The only person I know here is...” Lydia’s eyes widen. “Oh my... Is it? Jude? ”
I let out a sigh that I know gives it away. “It’s complicated.”
“But it’s him, isn’t it?”
“Henry will fucking murder him,” I blurt out, concern bleeding from my words. “And I know he probably won’t actually— ”
“I hope not.” She suddenly appears worried as well as she cuts me off. “But it’ll have to be handled delicately.”
“Yeah, I’m aware,” I mutter, running my fingers through my hair. I pull at the tangles, my mind flashing back to earlier today—when Jude had it fisted in his hands. My body reacts with a tingle of excitement. And it’s so fucking refreshing.
“It’ll be fine though,” Lydia reassures me, though I don’t hear confidence in her voice. “He’ll get over it.”
“He never gets over anything.”
Lydia giggles. “Well, he’ll have to. But let’s not talk about him. Let’s talk about Jude. How did it happen? How serious are you?”
I bite down on the inside of my cheek, never having tried to discuss a relationship before. “Um, I think it’s serious.”
She cocks her head. “Do you love him? I mean, he’s been here for a month, so...”
“I...” My voice trails off as I swallow hard, knowing the answer. I know what love is. My brother loved me better than most parents love their kids, and... “Yeah, I think so.”
“Does he know?” Lydia is feeding into this like a ravenous scavenger, hungry for anything I’ll give her.
“Um, no? I don’t know. I haven’t, like, told him. It’s not like he’s said it, either.” As those words slip out, my stomach lurches with fear. What if he doesn’t love me? What if he doesn’t want to be with me long term?
What if he’s just doing it because I’m Henry’s little sister?
“I’m sure Jude wouldn’t be seeing you if he didn’t have real feelings. He’s not the type to jump into something—or anything. I don’t think he’s been in a relationship since college. That’s what Henry said.”
I nod, feeling a little better. “Yeah, well, I still have to tell my brother. He wanted to tell him today.”
“Then he must love you,” Lydia snorts. “No way he’d choose that if he wasn’t serious about it.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I wasn’t ready.”
“I don’t blame you. You’ll have to approach it with caution. I get that.”
As I open my mouth to say something, my phone rings. Heart jumping at the chance it’s Jude, I pull it out, seeing a Las Vegas number. Huh. Okay...
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hey,” a female voice rings with excitement. “I was just calling to let you know that I’ve scheduled an Uber to pick you up and bring you to your new home! ”
“Cool,” I say, thinking of Henry. He would try to surprise me. Which only serves to make me feel so much fucking worse about it all.
“He had it scheduled to pick you up outside of your apartment,” she continues. “I’m excited for you, and I’ll see you when you get here for the final tour.” She hangs up the phone, and half-heartedly I smile.
“What is it?” Lydia asks. “Sounded exciting!”
I eye her, because obviously, she appears to already know. “Yeah, as it turns out, it looks like I have an Uber waiting for me back at the apartment.”
“ Ooh, ” she grins. “How fun.”
“Are you coming?” I ask as we make a U-turn and head back the couple of blocks we’d made it.
“No,” she answers, laughing. “Let me know how it goes though.”
“ Right. Do you think it’s okay if I take Cash?” I ask her, hung in the moment. Part of me wants to text Jude and see if he’s coming—but maybe Henry wants it to just be an us thing.
Ugh. Maybe I should tell him about Jude then.
“I think it’s fine for you to take Cash. I take Duke with me everywhere. He’ll get used to it the same way Henry did,” Lydia says, and I barely catch her words as I spot the Uber parked out front of the apartments.
“Okay, well then, he’ll come along.” I give Lydia a quick side embrace and then open the back passenger door of the car. “Is this for Cher?”
“From Desert Realty,” the driver says, already looking annoyed as he eyes my dog. “I don’t usually allow pets.”
“Then I’ll get another ride,” I quip, raising a brow.
“No, it’s fine,” he sighs. “I don’t need another bad review.”
“Thank you.” I gesture for Cash to jump in, and he does so, plopping down with his tongue lolling behind the driver’s seat. I climb in and shut the door, giving Lydia a small wave. The driver pulls away from the curb and I relax back.
I really could tell Henry about Jude today.
Since he got the house, he should be in a decent mood. I’ll just tell him that I like Jude, and then feel it out from there. I mentally start preparing as the car heads out of town, making its way to the house. I stroke Cash’s head the entire way, trying not to get psyched out about approaching my brother.
It’ll be fine. He won’t get that mad at me.
He’ll just be mad at Jude.
I frown at that. I don’t want him to get mad at Jude.
“Here,” the driver says, jarring my thoughts. I glance up at the house that we just looked at a few days ago. It seems like it could be home—especially if I can just convince Jude to stay... with me.
“Thank you,” I tell him, sliding out of the SUV. He pulls away as soon as I get the door shut, and I roll my eyes at the rush. My eyes spot the realtor’s vehicle, but I don’t see Henry’s rental.
He must’ve ridden with her.
I lead Cash across the yard, but as I make it to the concrete sidewalk leading to the front door, he freezes. “Come on,” I urge, tugging at him.
He lets out a huff—and then pisses on one of the rose bushes in the landscaped flower bed.
“Really?” I snap at him. “Could we not start killing the plants before we even move in?”
He eyes me as he drops his leg, and then continues forward with me. As we reach the front door, I consider knocking, but then I realize this is my house. I don’t have to fucking knock. So, I turn the knob, and then step inside. A blast of a/c hits me in the face, and I instantly relax.
But as I exit the entryway, and head into the living room area, everything changes. Cash growls. My stomach flips, and as my eyes land on a nearly unrecognizable body...
I realize I’ve walked right into a fucking nightmare.