Page 15 of Make Me Hunt
She did ask about the spare bedroom. Rent’s insane in Seattle, and keeping the spare bedroom around doesn’t really make financial sense.
I told her that my roommate just moved out, and that I’m looking for a smaller apartment since I don’t want anyone else living here with me.
The truth is, I just can’t let this place go. It’s the closest thing I've ever felt to a true home, even if I’ve only been here for three years. Plus, I painted all the walls black just to erase that sterile hospital white, and it will take a lot of money and effort to bring it back to its original color before I hand the keys to the landlord.
I set up the room for Silver after double-checking that none of Elias’s stuff is still in there. Just his clothes. I told her that they belonged to an ex, that he’d come pick them up eventually. She suggested I burn them. If the ex-boyfriend story was real, maybe I would. But they belong to the only person I ever cared about. And I can’t bring myself to let go—not yet. It would make everything too final, like he’s truly gone. And clinging to revenge is the only way I still feel him here with me sometimes.
He’s the only thing I have worth living for anyway.
Elias was there for me in my darkest hours. He was the bravest man I ever knew, lifting me from the ground when my feet couldn’t carry me, bringing back hope when my soul was crushed.
My chest tightens, and I know I’ll never love again. Not like this. Not with everything I have. It might not have been the kind of love you have for a boyfriend or a husband. But it was pure and stronger than any other emotion I’ve ever felt.
I’m stuck with Silver for the next few days.Peoplinghas never been one of my best skills, and even if I tried to befriend her at the club, I’m not sure how to act around people. I mean, I knew how to act around Elias, but he was just as weird as I was. He always understood without words whether I wanted to be alone, went batshit crazy on him, or had a mental breakdown. I had plenty of those at the start, and I’d really hoped I’d left them somewhere in my past, but after hisdeath, they started piling up again.
I’m just changing to go down to the grocery store and get myself a drink when Silver barges into my room without knocking. I’m almost dressed, but my top’s off, and the mark on my skin is pretty much on full display.
“What the fuck is that?” She asks without moving her gaze from the mark. And before I get a chance to pull my top on, she comes closer, inspecting it.
I yank my shirt down and try to brush her off, but I know she’s already seen Ares’s symbol there, and that means she won’t back off.
“Did he… did Ares do that?” She asks, worry in her voice, and I can’t tell if it’s because she thinks it’s some kind of initiation, or because she’s never seen anything like that before.
Too late to hide anyway, and I think I need answers, so I lift my shirt and point to the center where the symbol is. “He did it to cauterize the wound. I was bleeding and…” I don’t go on, because even I know how stupid that sounds. There are one million other ways to close a wound. But I don’t want to admit to her that he wanted to punish me. Or maybe even something way worse than that.
Silver can’t hide her shock. “And he didthatto you.” I guess that answers my question. I’m the only onemarkedas his. Which makes me wonder if this is something about loyalty and being part of his team, or something more.
I need to find out what this really means.
“Have you ever seen this before?” I ask, pointing again at the mark, wanting to convince myself of what exactly it means.
Silver stutters. “I’ve seen the symbols. It’s Ares’s mark. I’ve just never seen anyone wear it before. Not even as a tattoo. He forbade it. One of the guys tried to get it inked on his arm, and Ares threatened to cut his arm off if he went through with it. He said he’s the only one worthy of wearing it.” Silver stares a little longer. “I still don’t get how he allowed you to have that.”
Well, I don’t get it either, but since I’m living and breathing, I suspect I’m on the right track.
After four days, I convince Silver I’m ready to go back to work, and it’s only then does she inform me Ares has a job for me. In a way, she’s probably right. If I’d found out earlier, I would’ve convinced her a couple of days ago, and probably screwed things up.
I head to Elysium, unsure where I should begin. Do I start serving drinks again? Or should I just wait at the bar like everyone else for Ares to give me an order? Don’t want to seem too bold, so I don’t piss him off, but I don’t want to seem like I’m backing down either. Which leaves me with pretty much just one option since Ares is already in. He’s at his usual table, lounging in a leather armchair with his phone in one hand and whiskey in the other.
I walk straight to him, trying to maintain a sheepish attitude, maybe even a hint of repentance in my voice. “You’ve asked to see me,” I say.
He ignores me at first. But then his eyes lift from his phone, looking straight at me.
“I’m busy right now. Wait until I call for you.” He drops his gaze back to his phone, dismissing me.
I don’t have a choice but to do what he says, so I get myself a Coke, then take a seat at a table. I could use something stronger, but I’m not sure if drinking would be the best look.
I watch him scroll through his phone, send out a million texts—or whatever the hell he’s doing—then just order another whiskey and scan the room, like he’s studying everyone here. I figure he’s waiting for a meeting. People usually come here to see him, but today, he doesn’t seem to be doing shit except for toying with my head.
Busymy ass. He’s just stalling me, testing my patience.
He’s trying to teach me who’s boss.
A few of the other men approach him, probably discussing different businesses, and somehow, he finds time for all of them.
Oh, I’m pissed off now. And I stay pissed off for three straight hours before he finally decides to speak to me.
He signals me from across the room, and I pray to everything that I can hide the burning intensity in my gaze. I could kill him right now just for thinking I’d ever be his toy.
