“Blaire did some damage to my property as she was leaving. After she left graffiti here, I installed security cameras in the entryway to the building and the hallway. I planned to put them in here as well, but wanted to talk to you about it first. She beat me to it.” Hunter’s arms tightened. “We have her for breaking and entering, but not for destruction of property unless they run prints.”
Tears overflowed as I looked at all my stuff. It was new, yes, but it was still mine. I’d claimed it. I’d called this home. Hunter’s and my home. And now it was tarnished. I wasn’t sure I’d feel safe after this.
“This isn’t exactly a knife in the back, but it sure sucks,” I said as I leaned into Hunter’s warmth.
“I’m sorry, Livy. I thought I was absolved of her. With the contract out of my life, and her out of my house… I was naive.”
“It’s not your fault.” I closed my eyes. “What does the bedroom look like?”
“We’ll stay at my house tonight.”
So ruined, then. She’d done the whole apartment. Not that that was a surprise.
“Do you have your project for Bruce saved in the cloud?” Hunter asked quietly.
“Yes.”
“Good. She—”
I held up my hand. “Don’t tell me.”
The doorbell chimed. Hunter got off the couch and leaned toward the window. “The police are here.” He went to let them in.
I looked around in misery. She’d gotten me right where it hurt the most. This had technically been Hunter’s building, but it was our home. We shared everything. He spent more time in this place with me than in his own house. She’d broken into my refuge and plastered herself all over it in a way I surely wouldn’t forget. I had no idea how she’d gotten in, which meant that even if we changed the locks, she could probably do this again. She’d tarnished the purity I had with Hunter.
The police came in, hard-eyed and severe. They looked around and started asking questions, but I didn’t concern myself. Hunter would handle that. Instead, I texted Bert. I wanted to get out of there. Maybe I’d hit up the library until Hunter was done. I needed to think. I needed a new plan.
The next day I sat at my desk as the time clicked over to 8:00 p.m. I wanted to go home.
Where was home?
It certainly wasn’t my flat at the moment. When I’d first walked in, I hadn’t seen the extent of the damage. That had changed when I had to walk through with the insurance agent.
The master bedroom had been the worst. My clothes had all been cut and ripped, as had Hunter’s. Pictures were destroyed, the bed linen had been tossed out into the backyard, and she’d defecated in the middle of the mattress.
It was the last that I couldn’t believe. She had pooped on my mattress. It was so far out there… I didn’t know what to think.
I pushed myself up and made my way into Hunter’s office. As I walked toward him, he glanced up, and then leaned back. He watched me sit across from him.
“Hey,” I said.
“Are you okay?”
I shrugged. “Yeah.”
“I pressed charges against Blaire. She’s under house arrest until her trial. Her father is taking charge of her.”
“I’m sure he’s not thrilled about that…” I crossed my leg over my knee.
“No. More than that, though, he’s embarrassed. He offered me his sincerest apologies. She’ll be on a tight leash. You don’t have to worry about her anymore.”
I scoffed. “How can you be sure?”
“I let him know that if she comes within a hundred feet of you, she will go to prison. Also, if anyone that is in any way linked to her harms you, I will bury her or him. His business is faltering. I can give it a solid push.” Hunter clasped his fingers in his lap. “I’ve made sure that he’ll keep her in line or he’ll cut her off. Blaire would never be able to function without money. She’s out of your hair.”
“That’s good, but the damage has been done.” I wiped a tear away.
“I’m sorry, Livy.” Hunter took something out of a drawer and came around his desk. He knelt in front of me, holding a key. “Will you consider moving in with me? You can change anything in the house you want. If you need a room to yourself, you can have it. An office, your own TV room, anything. Whatever you want.”
I smiled as my heart warmed. The flat had never really been mine—I knew that. I’d loved it because it was Blaire-free. Since that was no longer true, it had lost its appeal. What I wanted was to be with Hunter. I didn’t really care where.
“Yes,” I said, taking the key. “Okay, yes.”