Page 26 of While She Sleeps (The Hunter and The Thief #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

EMBER

I ncessant buzzing drags me from the most peaceful sleep I can remember having since Travis died, and I curse as I shove myself from the bed.

The thin nightgown I fell asleep in is bunched up around my waist when I throw the sheet off me and reach for my phone, vibrating around my bedside table.

The clock beside it tells me it’s not even seven in the morning, far too early for anyone to be calling if you ask me, but if I ignore it, they’re just going to call back.

“What?” I snap down the line.

“Is that any way to greet your boss, Ember?” Lucas snarls down the line.

“It is when they call at six fifty-two in the morning,” I snap back. “Now, what do you want?”

“You’re a bitch in the mornings.”

“Yeah, and you’re an asshole all the time. Tell me what you want, or I’m hanging up.”

“I want to know what you have on the Hunter.”

“Nothing,” I reply honestly. “But neither did any of the other people you sent to look into him. Every single lead you gave me was bullshit. The Hunter has been running rings around you from the beginning.”

“That can’t be.”

“Well, it is.” I sigh and shove myself up the bed, resting my back against the headboard.

“Once I realized the first couple were fake, I went back over every single piece of information in that file, and out of everything, I think there were three things I couldn’t completely rule out, but given how incorrect everything else was, I’m pretty happy assuming those are bullshit as well. ”

Silence greets me on the other end of the phone, and I pull it away from my ear to make sure Lucas didn’t hang up on me. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been distracted by something while talking to me, and he’s ended the call without saying anything.

“How did you figure out it was all bullshit?”

“I looked into it. I followed every lead, checked every source. It was pretty easy to disprove most of it.”

“Have you started working on your own leads then?”

“I have, but it’s slow going. Lucas, this guy is a ghost. He has the nickname he has for a reason. I don’t think I’m going to be any more successful in figuring out who the fuck this guy is than anyone else has been.”

“He killed your brother, Ember. I thought you’d want revenge.”

“I do,” I snap. “Believe me, I do. But I’m trying to be practical here. I don’t want to tell you I’m going to be able to find something that others haven’t. I’m good at a lot, but I think this might surpass even my talents.”

“You’ll find the Hunter, or I’ll be adding another hundred grand to your debt.”

“What?” I ask incredulously. “You can’t do that.”

“I can and I will, Ember. Don’t fucking push me.”

The call ends before I can argue any further, and I drop my head into my hands. He wants me to accomplish something that I’m pretty sure is impossible.

As it is, he’ll have me for another five to seven years, depending on how many jobs I can do. But that also depends on how long he keeps me on this wild goose chase. Adding another hundred grand to the total is just going to blow it out for longer, and I don’t know how much longer I can do this.

I’m a good thief. One of the best. But I’m tired of this life. Most thieves get a thrill from stealing, but that’s never been the case for me. It’s necessity that put me in this position, and I don’t want this to be the rest of my life.

I drop the phone on the mattress and shove myself out of bed. There’s no point wallowing when I can get in some research before my date tonight.

Just the thought of Orion brings a smile to my face, softening some of the anxiety beating through my veins.

I strip out of my nightgown and panties as I reach the bathroom and turn the shower on, but it’s only when I move to step into the shower that I realize there’s something dried across my thighs, and my cheeks heat.

The dream I had clearly had a happy ending somewhere other than in my subconscious. Maybe if I play my cards right, I’ll get a live reply from the man himself tonight.

I should be so lucky.

A fter a long, hot shower and a coffee, I sit down at my laptop and go over the notes I’ve left for myself over the last few days.

A hacker would probably be better at tracking this stuff than I am, but I don’t know any who would be willing to help for free, and I don’t have the cash to hire anyone.

I nibble on my bottom lip as I consider my options.

I’ve already scoured the web for all mentions of the Hunter in Los Angeles and beyond.

I’ve spoken to some of the dealers I know from my time on the street, and while they could confirm the product they were selling was his, they weren’t able to give me any information about who he is.

Because no one fucking knows.

But how is that possible?

In this day and age, with the internet and security cameras on every corner, how can someone so infamous remain anonymous? They can’t. Surely it’s not possible.

I sigh and start tapping away, checking on some of the sources I found yesterday to make sure they’re solid before moving on to finding new information.

If I can figure out where he’s been, I might be able to hack into an ATM or a private camera. I’ve done it a couple of times in the past, but it’s been a while, and I’m out of practice.

Otherwise, I could go the old-fashioned route and see if I can charm my way into someone giving me the tapes.

That’s probably safer.

Having decided my plan of attack, I look through some of the information I was able to get from the dealers and cross-check it with what Lucas gave me.

It seems safe to say he’d be active within the warehouse district.

He has to be holding the drugs he imports somewhere, even if it’s for a short time.

But there are too many warehouses for me to go through by myself, and I would definitely draw attention to myself, something I most certainly do not want to do.

If the Hunter killed Travis for investigating him, I don’t doubt that I would meet the same fate if I’m caught, something that seems kind of inevitable.

I’m about to stand to get ready to head out when my phone vibrates.

I reach for it, fully expecting it to be Lucas with another unreasonable demand, but instead I find Orion’s name staring back at me.

Orion: Don’t forget about our date tonight.

Ember: Who is this?

I giggle to myself, shaking my head as I move into my bedroom and pull out a light summer dress.

It’s too fucking hot to spend all day walking around the city, but I don’t have any other options.

God, I miss how simple it was before I was too scared to set foot in any kind of vehicle.

If I ever manage it again, I’ll never take it for granted.

Orion: Careful, brat. I’ll be there at 7.

Ember: Are you sure you don’t want me to meet you there?

Orion: I don’t like repeating myself, Little Flame. I don’t want you walking around by yourself at night.

A smile tugs at my lips of its own accord, and I press my hands to the heated cheeks. This man is going to be the end of me.

Ember: Okay, I understand.

Orion: What number is your apartment?

Ember: Why?

Orion: Because I asked.

Ember: Are you planning on stalking me or something?

Orion: Don’t tempt me. Now answer the question.

Ember: 307

Orion: Good girl. I’ll see you tonight.

Ember: See you tonight x

For the first time in my life, I feel like a giddy teenager about to go on her first date, and it’s impossible to wipe the smile off my face as I go about getting ready for my day.