Page 47 of Stalked

I grunt in acknowledgment, mind elsewhere. It's been ten days since I saw Lia. Ten fucking days since she walked away from me with that smirk on her face, talking about my brothers catching her. The memory makes my jaw clench so hard my teeth might crack.

Xavier. Landon. Their names in her mouth ignited a true envy within—a very dangerous emotion.

“You look like you're about to murder someone,” X comments, finally glancing up. “Planning your Hunt strategy already?”

“Something like that.” I test a red button discreetly embedded in the wall, watching it light up on X's monitor. At least something's working right.

I've given Lia space—not because I wanted to, but because I needed to. If I'd gone to her after that night at Purgatory, after what she said... I might have done something I’d regret. The thought of her with anyone else, especially my brothers, makes me see red.

“You know,” Xavier says, “the whole point of the Hunt is fair competition. You can't claim one of the women beforehand.”

I turn to him, eyes narrowing. “Stay away from Lia. Focus on your journalist.”

X raises an eyebrow. “Just making conversation, little brother. Though your reaction is... illuminating.”

“She's mine.” The words come out as a growl. “She's always been mine.”

“Then you better catch her first.” He smirks, turning back to his tablet.

I run my hand along the smooth wall of the maze, imagining tomorrow night. Twenty-four hours from now, Lia will be in here, running through these corridors. And this time, there will be no escape.

I check the last panic button, confirming it's operational. The Hunt maze is finally ready.

“I'm done here,” I tell Xavier, rolling my shoulders to ease the tension that's built from hours of preparation. “Send me the security report later.”

“Sure thing,” he replies. “Don't do anything stupid before tomorrow.”

I flip him off as I walk away, though he doesn't see it. My mind is already elsewhere—on Lia, as always.

Back in my office, I lock the door and settle into my leather chair. With a few keystrokes, my screen illuminates with different angles of Lia's apartment.

She's curled up on her sofa in loose gray sweatpants and a white tank top, her dark hair piled messily on top of her head. A book rests in her hands, and she's completely absorbed in it. The sight of her makes my chest tighten. So fucking beautiful without even trying.

I lean forward, zooming in on her face. The concentrated furrow of her brow, the slight purse of her lips as she reads—I've memorized every expression, but they still captivate me.

A knock at her door startles her. She looks up, confused. Setting the book down, she approaches the door cautiously and peers through the peephole.

Her whole demeanor changes—shoulders relaxing, eyes widening in surprise. She swings the door open to reveal four people.

“SURPRISE!” they shout in unison.

“What the—” Lia gasps as Megan rushes forward to hug her, followed by Zoe, Dani, and James.

“We couldn't let you come back to town without seeing you!” Megan exclaims.

“How did you know I was back?” Lia asks, stepping aside to let them in.

“Town might be bigger than when you left, but the gossip still spreads fast,” James says, his arm around Dani's waist. The wedding ring on his finger catches the light—so he married the cheerleader after all.

“Why haven't you called us?” Zoe demands, hands on her hips. “We had to find out from Elliot that you're running his gallery now.”

I watch as Lia's friends crowd her living room, making themselves at home. My jaw tightens.

I clench my fist as I watch these familiar faces invade Lia's apartment. Her friends. The golden fucking circle that always stood between us.

It wasn't that they actively tried to keep us apart—hell, they even acted supportive when I took her to prom. But beneath the surface pleasantries ran the current of who belonged where. Who fit with whom.

Lia was college-bound brilliance with a perfect family and a five-year plan. I was the foster kid with a chip on my shoulder and scars I didn't show anyone. We occupied different worlds in the high school universe, and everyone—including Lia—knew it.