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“You apparently have questions for me, and I have questions for you.” A little shrug from Gabriel. “Truth be told, I have quite a few questions for you. I’ve considered diving into victimology research, specifically what makes certain individuals become the prey to what I call high-level predators, the real-life monsters.” His smile had faded, and his voice took on a grim, serious tone. “The serial killers. Individuals like your former lover, Nate.”

“For the record, I never slept with Nate.”

Hunter’s head whipped toward her. For once, a bit of Shelby lore had just caught him by surprise.

She stared straight at the professor. “You found out I was in town this morning, when you watched the news? That was when you first learned that I’d arrived back in Hathaway?”

Gabriel stepped closer to her. His gaze swept down her body only to quickly rise again and dart toward her right ear. “Do you still have nightmares?”

Enough of this bullshit. Hunter moved between them. “Hey, asshole.”

“Excuse me?” Gabriel gaped.

Hunter bared his teeth in a grin of his own. One that said I-would-love-to-kick-your-ass. “The lady asked you a question. When, exactly, did you find out that she was in town?”

Gabriel blinked his eyes. Sort of a serpentine blink. Actually, every damn thing about the professor reminded Hunter of a snake. Or, fine, maybe he just really didn’t like the sonofabitch.

“Who are you?” Gabriel asked him. “Kimber informed me that Shelby was on the way to my home. I didn’t realize Shelby was bringing anyone with her.”

“I’m her bodyguard,” he supplied, voice flat. “Hunter McQueen.”

A faint upward tilt of Gabriel’s mouth. What could have been relief came and went in his gaze. “Oh, for a moment, I thought you were involved with her. Good to know.”

In the distance, thunder rumbled. This dick is gonna annoy the hell out of me. “You watched Tiffany’s feed last night.” Not a guess. “You saw Shelby then. That’s when you learned she was in town. Last night. Not this morning.”

Gabriel was almost as tall as he was. The professor wasn’t some weak-boned, pencil pusher. The guy worked out. He had the kind of power in him that would say…easily let him overwhelm a college student and kill her.

Gabriel nodded. “Yes, I watched her video, along with all ten thousand of her followers. Those followers would include pretty much all of the students who attend college here and plenty of locals in Hathaway. Tiffany enjoyed her followers, and she made sure to put up lots of fresh content.” His hand extended toward Hunter. “I feel like we have gotten off on the wrong foot. Let’s start again. I’m Gabriel.”

Hunter flickered his gaze down to the extended hand. Did he want to shake that hand? No. Did he want to break that hand? Potentially. Was that a rational thing to do? Again, no.

“It’s considered polite to shake an offered hand,” Gabriel noted. “Those who don’t indicate narcissism, a disdain for the rule of law, and possible psychopathic tendencies.”

A sharp bark of laughter came from Hunter. “Are you serious right now? You’re testing me with a handshake?”

Gabriel shrugged one shoulder. He left his hand extended.

Hunter curled his fingers around the professor’s. “I tend to have my own test.”

“Do tell,” Gabriel encouraged.

“I believe in primal instincts,” he explained. “Your body will tell you something about a person almost instantly. You can tell if a person is a threat. If the person is a friend.” He let go of the guy’s weak handshake. “Or if he will be an enemy.”

“Primal instincts.” Gabriel nodded once more. “Another area that intrigues me. I believe that high-level predators often operate purely on the basis of their more primal instincts.” A pause. A considering stare. “Perhaps you have the potential to be a high-level predator.”

“Oh, I’ve got loads of potential. Loads.”

Thunder rumbled again. When Hunter’s nostrils flared, he could smell the coming storm.

Gabriel stepped to the side and extended his hand toward Shelby.

She stared at his palm. Then glanced up and looked him dead in the eyes. “Do you have the potential to be a high-level predator, professor?” Shelby’s cool-as-you-please voice.

Damn but he loved that woman.

Wait, wait, wait. Hunter’s teeth snapped together.

Shelby and Gabriel shook hands.