Page 88 of Hunt Me

We head toward town, and the closer I get to my apartment, the more I start to squirm. I didn’t think I’d feel this way, but my nerves are starting to settle in. For the first time since meeting Archie, this no longer feels like my home.

The parking lot feels strange and off-putting, and as he pulls into a spot close to my condo, I realize I don’t even want to go inside.

I need to, of course. Archie was meticulous in packing a suitcase for me, but after going through it while he was in his garden, I noticed how much was missing. Since the break-in, my things feel slightly tainted, but part of me needs them because I want to take back what was stolen from me.

Archie puts the car in park and turns toward me, picking up my hand and pressing his lips to my wrist for a long, soothing kiss.

‘If there’s anyone here that wants to hurt you, I will kill them.’ His signs are clipped but smooth, much like when he flicks his knife through my clothes to peel them off my body.

‘Thank you.’ There’s a faint tremble in my fingers as they tip from my chin.

Archie lets out a small breath, then holds up a finger. ‘Wait here. Let me check your place first.’

I settle into the seat as he slips out of the car, stalking to the front door. He uses the key, which startles me because when did he get it? Not that I’m surprised he managed to swipe it from me, and I’m not as bothered as I should be.

I feel very alone when he slips inside, but he doesn’t take very long. A moment later, he’s jogging up to the car and opening my door. I give myself a moment, a deep inhale, and then let it out. I will go in and get my shit and get out.

‘Safe,’ he signs when I look back at him.

I give him a firm nod. I can be brave, I can be strong.

It helps that Archie is next to me, his movements lithe and dangerous, his eyes flicking this way and that like a cat on the hunt. We move to the front door, his body pressing into mine as I reach for the door and push it open all the way. Archie steps in first, flicking on the lights, and I blink, taking in the clean living room.

It wasn’t like this last time, but now it’s immaculate. You’d almost never know that someone had torn it apart. My eyes well up, my throat growing tight.

‘You did this?’ I ask, and he turns toward me and gives a small shrug.

‘Percy had someone take care of it.’

My hand shakes as it lifts toward my temple. ‘Why?’

He frowns, turning to cup my cheek. ‘Because we take care of family.’

Family. The sensation of that word rattles around my chest, and I feel something like a sob crawling up my throat. Pushing into his chest, my arms go around him, and I hold on like if I don’t, he’ll disappear. His steady heartbeat against my cheek is a balm to the overwhelming feelings welling up inside of me.

When I finally look up, he blinks down at me, his eyes flickering with something I don’t quite understand. Then he pulls away.

‘I’m going to double-check bedrooms. Stay here.’

He steps away from me, and the farther he goes, the more unraveled I feel. I hate being here, even though it’s been cleaned up, everything put back the way it should be. But things are off. The couch cushions are torn and draped over with a blanket so I can’t see the damage, and a lamp is missing because it had been shattered on the floor.

Things are put back, but they’re not in the right space, and it’s another reminder that although Archie is here to protect me, I still can’t navigate my own world without some kind of threat to my safety. I feel my entire body start to grow numb. First my hands and then my face.

I recognize the panic attack before it hits, and I press my back to the wall, counting slowly in my head backward from fifty. By the time I reach twenty, the numbness is gone, and I’ve managed to avoid the part where it feels like I’m dying.

There’s a rumble beneath my feet, and I look up to see Archie standing a few feet away from me, his face unreadable. ‘You okay?’

I shrug. ‘I can get my things now?’

He blinks, then gives a sharp nod and steps aside so I can breeze past him, heading right for my bedroom. Nothing feelsright though. Unease is itching at my skin, and I want to leave as quickly as possible.

Grabbing a large Pride bag hanging on the bathroom doorknob, I move into the closet and see what I want almost immediately. It doesn’t take long for me to grab what I need, but by the time I’m done, I’m slightly breathless, and my muscles are aching like I’ve done a full arm day at the gym.

I sag against the wall for a second, and I feel Archie step in closer.

‘Ready?’ he asks, tapping my shoulder to get my attention.

I start to nod but stop when the room begins to spin. I feel like I’m going to be sick. That itchy feeling is growing, like ants crawling over my skin. I won’t ever be able to come back here. I’ll have to find another place to live when this is all over.