Fierce(47)

What the hell am I doing here?

I want to turn around and run, but at the same time I can’t just leave either. Jaret’s my ride, and he’s left me alone. I don’t even have an idea how to get home.

Besides, Hunter is here. I should try to find him, see what he’s up to.

In the corner is a bowl of punch, and I make my way to the table. I grab a cup and fill it to the brim. Under normal circumstances I won’t just drink for the heck of it, but I really need something to take the edge of this anxiousness I’m feeling. I can’t go around this house looking like a scared little kid. That’ll only generate suspicion. No, I need to blend in. Fit in with the crowd. Act like them.

I down the punch in one go, and then follow it up with a jello shot. It’s already dazing me, and I feel wobbly on my legs. Whatever they put in these drinks can’t be good, so I decide this one is my last.

‘Uprising’ by Muse is playing, and I’m suddenly in the mood for dancing, so I push my way through the crowd.

Peering around the room, I see Brody hanging on the couch with a couple of girls. My eyeballs almost pop out of my head seeing him subjected to women’s hands. They’re groping him, running their fingers through his hair, handing him drinks and smokes. Disgusting.

Desperate to ignore him, I turn around and walk in the other direction. When I spot Hunter, I stop in my tracks.

Leaning against the wall in a corner of the giant mansion is Hunter Bane. In his arms is a curvy blonde girl, squirming up against him.

Chills run through my body. I feel cold and dead inside as I stare at the two. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

She’s smoking a joint, and they’re whispering words into each other’s ears. Hunter’s lips quirk up into a lopsided smile as he reaches into his pocket and takes out a plastic bag with white powder and hands it to the girl.

The moment she turns to give him a small kiss on the cheek, I realize it’s Scarlet.

What the fuck?

What is she doing here? And why is she smoking pot and getting drugs from him?

Why does she have her hands all over him? She’s supposed to be with Brody!

I’m furious. All I want to do now is punch her in the face.

And then Hunter’s gaze shifts toward my position. When he sees me, my heart shatters.

His eyes are dark and full of contempt. He doesn’t seem even slightly surprised to find me here. Doesn’t even look scared or sorry. He only gives me a fierce, stone-cold stare.

Tears sting my eyes, and I struggle not to run over there and hit him in the face.

Instead, I turn around, push through the crowd, and run outside.

Brushing away the ones that have rolled down my cheeks, I force back the rest of the tears while bolting down the steps.

Suddenly, someone grabs my hand and holds me back.

“Let me go!” I scream, kicking and jabbing.

“No. Not until you listen to me,” Hunter says with a low voice.

Somehow one of my backward kicks hits him in the nuts, and his grip on me loosens.

“Wow, nice kick. You’ve learned a lot,” he grunts.

I don’t wait one second before making a run for it. My feet take me as far as they can through the parking lot before Hunter catches up to me.

“You wanna play catch? I can do that.” He muffles a deep, guttural laugh that alerts all my senses. “I’m Hunter. Seizing innocent prey is what I do best. You should know better.”

Darkness surrounds us. I’m running past the cars to ditch him. It’s scary, but thrilling to the bone, too.

When I stumble over a ridge, I barely manage to catch myself before falling. I try to get up as fast as possible, but Hunter’s already caught me. His fingers clench firmly around my wrist as he pulls me up from the street.

“Let go of me!” I squeal.

“No,” he says crudely.

“Fuck you!” I say. “You can’t keep me here forever. I’m leaving.”

“Oh, no, no, no.” Hunter flings me around and traps me between his sculpted arms. I fight to free myself, but it’s no use. He’s too strong, and I’m at his mercy. I don’t want to be, though.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“Let me go or I’ll―”

“You’ll what? Scream? Yeah, nobody’s going to react to that. Not here,” he says with a chuckle.

“I want to go. Now,” I say.

“Go where? Home? Good luck. Your driver is wasted, and there’s no way I’m going to let you go on your own. It’s too far to get to the dorm, you’ll never make it on foot.”

“I’ll call a cab,” I snarl.

“With what money?” he says.

“You’re a fucking asshole, you know that?” I hiss.