Page 113 of Hunted

“Alright, now you guys want to tell me what happened?” Reece asks angrily.

“You think we did that?” Bower asks in surprise.

“Sir, I think I know what it was,” one of the other security guards says as he comes over to join us.

“A package was delivered this morning, addressed to Miss Darla. I came to bring it inside but, uh…” He rubs the back of his neck and looks anywhere but at us as he continues. “You seemed busy, so I set it outside the back door and was going to bring it in to you later.”

My face flushes in embarrassment, realizing what we were doing. Did he see us through the door?!

“You think it was a bomb?” Weston asks in anger.

It’s only then that I realize what he said.It was addressed to me.

My knees grow weak and only Reece’s quick reflexes hold me up.

“Shit, she’s gone pale as a ghost.”

“Did she hit her head?”

“We should check for injuries, maybe we missed something.”

They all talk over each other as I’m lowered to the ground, leaning against Reece.

“I’m not injured,” I manage to whisper to him as I try to steady my breath.

“Quick, can someone find her some water?” Reece asks. My head spins as it tries to latch onto a single thought. Has the person who’s been after us the entire time, actually been just trying to kill me? And the others are just collateral damage?

“Look at me, sweetheart.” I blink and realize Kingsley is holding my face, his only inches away. “There you are, good girl. It’s going to be okay, nobody was hurt.”

I slowly shake my head as a bottle of water is pressed to my lips. I tilt my head and take a few sips before gently nudging it away.

“It was addressed to me, Kingsley. Don’t you get it? They aren’t after you guys, they’re after me! You’re going to get hurt just because you’renear m-me!” My voice catches on the last word and a tear rolls down my cheek.

“I don’t think that’s true at all,” Weston says, taking a knee so I can see him easier. “Remember on the island? They didn't even know you existed. They were after us.”

I consider that for a moment, but that only makes things worse. “Wait—are there two different people trying to kill us? One’s after you and the other’s after me?” My voice grows a little hysterical, even to my own ears.

Nobody answers, and it makes the sinking feeling in my gut grow even worse.

“Probably not, but it’s hard to say for sure,” Kingsley says gently. “Maybe it’s only one, but it was just us in the beginning, but now they want you gone, too, since you’re always with us.”

Reece’s phone buzzes underneath me and he pulls it out. “It’s my dad, I better answer it.” He wraps an arm around me as he speaks into his phone.

“Hey, Dad… Yeah, you heard?... Someone placed a bomb at the house… No, we're all okay… Thanks, yeah… Actually, could we come stay at your house for a couple of days until we find somewhere else? I’d go to a hotel, but it would be impossible to make that secure with other guests in the building… Thanks, I really appreciate it. We’ll see you soon.”

“So I guess we’re staying at your dad’s?” Bower asks from where he’s seated at my side, his hand gently rubbing my leg.

“Yeah. I’m open to other ideas. But it might take us a couple of days to figure something else out. I have some extra clothes there, too. Although they might be a bit tight on you two.” I assume he means Bower and Weston as they are the biggest of the four of them.

I look down and am glad to see I’m still wearing my new bag. I place my hand over it, feeling Steve’s reassuring presence against my chest.

“Hopefully we can grab some of our stuff from the house soon,” Kingsley says, and we all watch as firemen and police officers flood into our backyard.

A few come over to talk to us, and eventually they convince us to let the paramedics look us over for injuries. Luckily, they don’t think anyone needs to go to the hospital and soon we’re in the SUV heading to Reece’s dad’s house, a place I visited often as a kid.

It doesn’t take us long to get there, and Richard greets us all warmly, asking what he can get for us. I’m surprised to find out it’s only one o’clock in the afternoon. It feels like midnight since so much has happened today.

Remembering all the gifts they just gave me, I glance up from where I’m sprawled out on Reece’s childhood bed and see the guys all sitting around the room, watching an action movie. “I hope my tennis racket and blanket didn’t get damaged.”