Ready Or Not (The Hunter’s Club #2)

Chapter 19

19

Trick or Cheat - Diggy Graves

As I pull up to the barn, my hands shake. Real, deep rage flows through me. Riley got the drop on me. I was complacent, and she took advantage of that.

I get out of the car and slam the door, marching to the barn. I hope Riley is feeling just reckless enough to be here.

But she isn’t. I see the trackers lying on the floor.

I know Riley rarely goes into the house, but I stride there next. The back door is standing wide open, which only makes me more angry. Anyone could come in and hurt her. Riley isn’t invincible.

My eyes catch on the mousetraps on the wall, and I arch an eyebrow. Did she think that would keep me away?

Cute.

I don’t find her anywhere on the property, but I do find her phone, which she factory reset.

Jesus.

A weird tingling runs through my body. I told Riley to prove herself. I gave her the green light to fuck around and find out. I meant for her to show me what skills she has. But Riley is the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met in my life, and she’s currently pissed off at me. The tingling in my stomach increases. Now we’re really playing, and this isn’t like when we would mess around as kids. I think Riley’s about to fuck shit up.

I try to keep my hands still as I dial my law enforcement connection. He picks up on the third ring. “What’s up?”

I rattle off Riley’s plate number.

“What?” He sounds confused.

I take a second to suck in a breath. My mask is slipping. I can’t be sloppy about this. I put on a friendly voice. “I need you to keep an eye out for that plate.”

“Oookay? What they do?”

My blood boils. That’s none of his damn business. “I just need to know where it is. Find it for me.”

The man mutters on the other end of the line, but I pay him for this shit. The agreement is he’s there for me, any time of the day or night. Or I’ll find a way for him to disappear. That part wasn’t in the agreement, but it was implied.

“It was over in Stark County a few days ago.”

“Today.” I grind my teeth together.

“Nothing today.”

Silence. I consider ripping his head from his body.

“Listen man, you know we don’t have shit for shit. There are only a few counties and The City with these cameras. Not much I can do.”

I grip the phone so hard that a bolt of pain shoots through my fingers.

I hear the scanner kick on in the background. Structure fire. 10945 Country Road East .

“Sorry man. I’ll let you know if it pops up again.”

One occupant inside .

I cock my head. That address isn’t far from here.

Riley has always been obsessed with fire. My stomach clenches, and I launch myself to my car, hanging up the phone.

There are so many things that could go wrong. I haven’t taught her everything I know. Mostly because she’s not been ready for it. She could get hurt. Worse, she could get killed. And what the hell is Rachel doing? Just going along with it? Did she kill her, too?

Both fear and a thrill run through me. Riley’s finally playing the game, and I want nothing more than to stop her. So I will. Ready or not, here I come.