Page 1 of Hunt Me

1

DENVER

‘Someone sent you this.’

I stare at the drink in Rene’s hand. It’s one of my favorites: a Manhattan on the rocks, two extra cherries, and a splash of grenadine at the end to make it sweeter.

‘Who made it?’

‘Casey,’ he says, jerking his chin toward the bar. Casey catches my eye and winks. We had a thing once. It didn’t last, and thankfully, it didn’t end badly, so we’re still friends.

‘He made me a drink?’ I ask as I take it.

Rene shakes his head. ‘The guy at the end of the bar.’

I freeze with the drink halfway to my lips and peer around the curtain. There’s a man there with only his profile visible. He’s got pale skin and dark hair, and he’s speaking aloud.

That’s all I can make out.

And then he turns. His eyes find mine, and something twists in my stomach. The feeling is ugly. It’s like I’m being taken apart by his eyes—seen in a way I didn’t consent to.

He smirks and turns his back to me, speaking to Casey again.

Looking down at the drink, it’s suddenly sinister. Like if I slosh some of it over the side, it’ll hit the floor in a rush of hissing skulls and crossbones.

Moving back behind the curtain, I slide toward the back door and crack it open, pouring the drink on the pavement. Rene is still staring at me with a quirked brow, but I offer no explanation, and he doesn’t ask for one.

‘Not thirsty?’

‘No.’ I set the glass down on the stool and wonder if I should text Thorne and see if maybe he still knows any forensics guys who can test it.

Something tells me this was meant to be a threat. Thorne will probably think I’m losing my mind, but he might humor me anyway.

Before I can panic and overthink it too much, Rene signals me since I missed the cue lights flashing. It’s time for our duet.

Adjusting my wig, I take a deep breath and follow him past the curtain.

The spotlight is bright, and I take a moment to adjust as we step out, following the beat underneath our feet. For a moment, I lose myself in the choreography and the dance. Rene and I play with the audience as we move around each other and get everyone’s energy up.

There are hands in the air and people enthusiastically signing along, and I feel like myself again. Not just some buttoned-up, nerdy professor, but also this.

Me.

Glimmer Dear.

A piece of me I had repressed for so long until I ended up here and embraced parts of myself I thought would lie dormant forever.

It’s good.

Until it’s not.

Until I peer across the room and see him again. He’s closer to the stage this time, though still in the shadows, so I can’t really see his face. All I can see is that he’s pale, thin, and tall.

Something creeps up my spine. Fear, I think. Almost like terror. It’s enough that I miss a step. Then another.

Rene shoots me a concerned look and lifts a brow like he’s asking if I’m okay, and I give a hopefully barely there nod before getting back on track.

Mostly.