“For me?” I open the box curiously. He came all this way to give me a gift? There has to be more to it than that.
It’s a finger. Based on the colouring, and the lingering unpleasant smell, I’d say it has to have been removed from its owner at least a few days ago.
My brows draw together, and the corner of my mouth twitches. “Why, Hunter, you shouldn’t have.” It’s inspired, to say the least.
“I didn’t,” Hunter replies flatly. “I’m returning it to you.”
Odd choice of word. “Returningit to me?” I hold up my hands and wriggle my fingers. “I’m not missing any. You could have just brought chocolates; you know what I like.”
“It’sfrom you. I found them in my flowers today.”
That makes me sit up, heart skipping a beat. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t try that innocent act on me, Xavier. I know it too well.”
Ignoring the barb, I put the lid back on the box and lift it. Miles is there in an instant, taking it from me. “Find out who this belongs to. Today.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hunter scoffs. “You can’t actually expect me to believe that you had nothing to do with this!” he sputters. “It was in the flowersyousent me.”
I don’t like any of that. Someone knew the pattern well enough to know when to slip it in. Watching Hunter’s house or the florist? It could be a coincidence, but I rarely find that to be the case in any situation.
“Who else knows that I deliver flowers to you each week?”
“Besides you and your shadow?” Hunter asks dryly.
“Yes, besides us.” I stand and button the middle section of my jacket. “Who else, Hunter?” He’s not leaving until I get theanswers that I want from him.Someoneleft him this unpleasant present, and I’m going to find out who and leave them out for the crows to feast on.
Hunter hesitates, like he’s trying to work out whether I’m lying or not. A look I’m familiar with. One I deserve.
“Jericho,” he says eventually. “And if you try to tell me you think he has anything to do with this, let me stop you right there.”
“I don’t waste my time on dead ends.” Jericho would never harm his brother, and he wouldn’t play this kind of trick on him. If there was ever a person that would remove me from this earth, it would be him. I could almost admire him. Almost.
“You think it was done maliciously.”
“Do people usually send dismembered body parts as declarations of love?”
“Probably depends on the person,” Hunter says, raising a pointed eyebrow at me.
Ah. He originally thought I did, so I suppose it can’t be too far from the truth. “I’d never be so tacky. I’d send you the beating heart, my dear.”
“Beneath the floorboards?” Hunter quips.
“If I were so inclined.” I do like my theatrics. I can admit, however, that sending pieces of a person, while inspired, isn’t my doing. There’s a symbolism to it, I’m sure. What that is eludes me. For now. “You have no clue as to who it may have been?”
“I assumed it was you,” Hunter says, scowling and crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t have a long line of enemies the way you do.”
I find that difficult to believe, given what he does. Though he’s quite good at remaining in the shadows. My job leans less towards being unseen and more towards intimidation and fear.If retribution of violence is worse than the reward, they’re less inclined to try anything.
“Someone is sending you a message, Hunter.” I circle the desk and invade his space. His smell is stronger now, and I want to bury my face in his neck and inhale deeply. “I don’t like the message.”
“You think I do?”
The breathlessness to his tone only feeds me. How easily I affect him. How easily he affectsme. “I’ll find out who, and I’ll ensure they never send you another.”
“That’s not your concern.”
