Page 3 of Theirs to Hunt

“Brooks, have you seen her?” I barked into the phone.

“No, Dad. Have you?”

“No. Our little fawn must’ve had a heads-up. I’m not finding her either.”

“She looked spooked when she came out of the restroom,” I said. “Took off the second I got distracted.”

My eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows beneath the trees.

“She’s still on the property. Somewhere close.”

I slowed my pace, circling beneath the canopy of the live oak, eyes sweeping the dark with deliberate intent, a performance for her.

It’s always better when they understand what’s coming. Makes the capture taste sweeter.

There was a beat of silence on the line.

“Meet me at my location,” I said, turning back toward the gravel path. “We’ll regroup.”

I didn’t miss the faint rustle above me, a shift in the branches, subtle but there.

Clever. Untrained.

It wasn’t supposed to be tonight. But she ran. And once prey runs, the game’s begun.

Brooks can worry about the schedule. I know how this ends.

A smile ghosted across my mouth as I pocketed the phone.

I wouldn’t chase her. Not tonight.

Chapter three

Brooks, Friday 09:47 p.m.

Iwalked up to my father and caught his glance.

A quick upward flick, then the faintest shake of his head. Message received.

Every part of me wanted to argue, to go after Reagan and end this tonight, but he was right. She was running. Scared. And Genevieve, that absolute idiot, probably gave her the wrong idea. Nerves, stupidity, or greed. Most likely all three.

I should never have trusted her with this. She dots her fucking i’s with hearts. When I told her to befriend Reagan and report back, I meant observe. Quietly. Not shove her into this world and let the others sniff around what’s ours.

I’ll admit it. The mask Reagan wore tonight was perfect. Just not here. Not for this. But I was short on options. Reagan is well liked. Careful about who she lets in. None of her coworkers would have sold her out without warning her first.

“Dad,” I say low, scanning the trees, “I take responsibility. I should have known Genevieve wasn’t cut out for this, but she was easy to place. I was too rushed. I used an amateur instead of being patient and finding someone who understood what this required. And now she’s dragged Reagan here when she was never supposed to be.”

Genevieve swapped her at the last minute. Probably didn’t even read the damn profile. We’re lucky you had that client meeting here at the estate. If we hadn’t been on site, no one would have stopped what was coming.

A beat of silence.

“They would have hunted her tonight,” I say. “Blind. Unaware. Terrified.”

He exhales through his nose, jaw clenched.

“If she hadn’t bolted, Emerson would have walked her through it. She would have had a choice and could have opted out. Now she has entered our game early, but based on everything you found out about her, she will be worthy.”

I nod and glance toward the branches above. Slow. Long enough for her to feel it if she’s watching. Let her wonder if I saw her.