Page 65 of Hunt Me

Leaf arches an eyebrow and then shrugs, getting back to work on making drinks, signing in between cutting and squeezing like only an adept interpreter can do. ‘I mean, I can’t judge. I thought Thorne was a dude from the dark web.’

I snort, and Leaf grins at me. ‘You did.’

‘And he thought I was a murderer, so really…you’re in good company.’

Leaf slides the martini glass toward me, and I take a small sip of it. It’s sweet rather than bitter. I really shouldn’t drink much with a head injury, but the faint heat of the alcohol has my shoulders relaxing by the third sip.

‘Better?’ he asks.

I smile at him and nod. ‘Yes. Thank you.’ I have a few more sips, then drum my fingers on the table before lifting my hand. ‘What’s going on with you?’

Leaf’s brows lift. ‘You want to talk about me? With all this going on?’ He waves his hand to indicate how bruised I am.

‘Yes. I feel like shit, and I need a distraction.’

Leaf leans down and takes the shaker, drinking from it like it’s a sports bottle, then swipes the back of his hand over his mouth. ‘Well, did you know Otto has been making wine?’

I burst into laughter. ‘Yes. I had some.’

His face scrunches up. ‘So you know it’s better than mine? God, why is he better at everything? I hate it.’

‘No you don’t. You like it,’ I challenge, because I know he does. Everyone loves Otto. It’s impossible not to. He’s been through hell and back, losing all light perception in both eyes before he was eighteen and then being kept nearly hostage by his overprotective parents until his brothers stepped in.

But he’s the nicest guy I know, which is saying a lot because I know way too many people.

Leaf rolls his eyes. ‘Yeah, fine, whatever. But it’s still rude to be better than I am at everything. And now he has a hot boyfriend…’

My eyes widen. ‘Hot boyfriend? Tell me.’

‘Salem.’ Leaf uses the sign name I recognize for the former interpreter who also lives down the road. ‘I don’t know if they’re actually together, but Thorne and I have theories.’

If it’s true, I’m happy for Otto. Salem isn’t as high-strung as Leaf. His trauma comes out in other ways. Different ways. Like starting what looks to be a chicken and button quail army in his backyard.

‘He seems happy,’ Leaf goes on.

‘When do you think it happened?’

Leaf rolls his lips through his teeth in thought, then shrugs. ‘A few weeks after I met Thorne, I think. I figured it out when they turned up on my porch one night with Michael in a duffle bag.’

I grimace. That thing really is a fucking menace. ‘Was he eating their zucchini?’

Leaf pulls a face. ‘No. Trying to make a home in the quail coop.’

I can’t help a small laugh, even as it makes my head pound. ‘Tell me you gave Michael his own coop.’

Leaf looks furious about it, but he nods. ‘Thorne’s building him one that looks like a princess castle.’

I love my friends. Truly. ‘I’m happy for Otto.’ I’m happy for all of us, really. There are only a few left who are unattached, and while Archie and I haven’t exactly defined what we are—hell, I don’t even really know whoheis—I feel like he’s mine.

Leaf touches my hand, gently drawing me out of my thoughts. ‘Seriously, you okay? Archie seems like a good guy, but you’ve been through a lot, and maybe you’re not thinking clearly.’

I swallow heavily and grimace at the pain. ‘He makes me feel safe. Especially because I don’t know who’s after me.’

Leaf strokes his chin. ‘Thorne helped solve your first case, right? With the stalker?’

I nod my fist. ‘Yes. That’s actually why I’m here.’

I lift my hands to ask when Thorne will be back, but before I can move, Archie reappears with a bulging bag over his shoulder and something in his hand.