Page 69 of The Stolen Dagger

I couldn’t let Hunter hurt Leah.

My mind raced with what to do. Do I go to my apartment and hope Hunter will listen to me? Should I call Drew? What if I get there and he hurts Leah anyway?

I took a few deep breaths to calm my fiercely beating heart. The need to get to Leah overwhelmed any rational thought, but I needed a plan.

Hunter wanted the dagger. It was the only thing standing between us and Leah’s safety. So, I would give him what he wanted.

Or at least what he thought he wanted.

I would do anything, say anything, to make sure Leah made it out of this alive.

Even if that meant taking her place.

I walkeddown the hallway to my apartment door with my stomach in knots. Anxiety gripped my chest with its unforgiving claws, clenching tighter and tighter with every step I took.

When I stopped in front of my door, apartment 3-25, I took a deep breath, readying myself for what might be on the other side.

I blew out a breath and steadied myself.I have to be strong.

For Leah.

I wasn’t surprised when the door handle turned easily in my grip as the door opened. I was, however, surprised by my empty apartment.

There was no Hunter. No Leah. No one.

It looked exactly as I had left it a week ago.

Debris in the form of torn books, ripped clothes, and glass shards littered the dark hardwood floors.

The cheap living room furniture I’d scored at a thrift store was either overturned or broken completely. The beige couch had seen better days with the slashed cushions and slanted frame.

There were no lights on inside, but daylight filtered in through the large picture windows on the far wall by the kitchen.

“Hello?” I called out and immediately cringed at how my voice trembled.

This was my apartment. My space. Even though most of my things were destroyed, it was still mine. Why was I the one calling out like some bimbo in a horror movie?

“There she is,” Hunter’s deep voice said behind me, and I whipped around with a gasp.

Hunter stood between me and my only viable exit. Hewore the same clothes from the night before but was sporting a black eye from where I had punched him.

The sight of him banged up almost brought a little smile to my face, but I didn’t let it show. I wasn’t foolish enough to give him any sort of reaction. He was still twice my size and held Leah hostage somewhere.

I’d let him think he had the upper hand. For now.

“I almost didn’t think you’d show,” Hunter grinned, “but then you’d never let anything happen to poor little Leah, would you?”

At the mention of her name, my hands closed into fists and a fierce protectiveness surged through me. “Where is she?”

“About that …” Hunter’s grin widened into a sneer as he retrieved something from his back pocket.

A second later, he raised his right hand and there was a phone in his grip. It was Leah’s. I recognized her phone case with smiley faces all over it.

I glanced between Leah’s phone and Hunter’s smug face. It suddenly clicked. Leah wasn’t here. She never was. Hunter lied to get me here. To get me alone. And it worked.

Hunter laughed. “I’m assuming your friend is at home now, safe and sound. It was almost too easy to swipe her phone in class this morning. A little smile and a well-placed distraction was all it took.”

Knowing Leah was safe settled some of the nerves inside me before I realized the situation I was in.