Page 100 of Hunter

I took a deep breath and braced myself as I walked out the hallway and toward my parents, who were in my living room, taking in all the furniture…

The emptiness of it.

“I’m still furniture shopping,” I said, unable to help myself. I knew they hadn’t said anything about the decoration or the lack of furniture, but I was just bracing myself for their potential criticism.

Mom made a small noncommittal sigh in the back of her throat as Dad took a seat on the couch.

“How have you been, sweetheart?” Dad asked, his warm green eyes glinting a little in the sunlight.

I took after my mom, with my slightly wavy black hair and gray eyes, but I had inherited my dad’s high cheekbones. Plus, I was told several times that I had his “likeness,” whatever that meant.

Mom always said I walked and talked like him, so I assumed that was what everyone meant.

I smiled and walked up to him, sitting down. “I’ve been good. Hap—Good.”

I cleared my throat.

I was about to say happy, but Mom would have taken offense over that. It was a good thing I stopped myself.

“When are you going to come home, Ryleigh?” Mom asked.

She went right on it. There was no mention that they had purposely missed my graduation, no mention of the fact that neither of them had called me to check up.

I didn’t call either, but I thought there was some allowance for being their child in this relationship.

I supposed not.

“I’m not coming home. I’m doing well for myself right now, and I’m enjoying living my life in the city for the first time in a long time.”

“Are you saying you won’t enjoy your time if you move back home?” she asked.

Dad, as usual, was silent throughout this exchange, but I knew he was on my Mom’s side.

My parents had a nice partnership despite not marrying for love but for political and social reasons.

I had never seen them disagree on anything. However, that was probably expected, considering how similar their family background was to each other.

“I’m saying that I like the independence. And I like that I’m doing this on my own. And I look forward to each day. It’s not something I ever thought would be the case for me,” I said, my words filled with meaning.

I was sure my parents were thinking the same thing I was. To my abduction at fourteen, an event I had almost no recollection of—otherwise, I might have led the police to capture the man. As of right now, I was sure my abductor was still running free.

Then there was my witness to the murder of the police officer by a member of the King’s Men MC. And that seemed to have been all for nothing, considering the man still got released.

“You’ll be safe at home,” Dad said, speaking up.

I shook my head. “And am I supposed to stay home forever simply because I’ll be safe?”

Mom nodded before I shot her a look. I was sure even she knew how ridiculous that would be.

I couldn’t live my life in fear.

And what was more, I didn’t want to.

I looked up at the clock hanging on my wall just above the electric fireplace. “Do you think we can do this another time? I already made plans, and I can’t be late for it.”

“When should we do this? When you come home and visit us?” Mom asked.

I didn’t respond to that. Coming back home, even for a short visit, was the furthest thing from my mind.

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