Free Crossed by Lacey Silks

hold, hiding in the dark space behind the tree. At least I wasn’t alone. Waiting patiently, for the first time since I’d left the store I was able to catch a small breath—but not for long. The echo of rushed steps on the marble floor was getting closer. I could hear my heart drumming against Hunter’s chest and his responding with the same quick beat. As the man approached, I could see that he still held his left hand in his pocket. From the close view now, it appeared he held a gun there. I drew my gaze higher, regarding every feature I could take in. And if there was any doubt in my mind that the guy was after me, it disappeared the moment I saw his profile. Although he wore dark shades and had a hoodie still over his head, and I hadn’t seen him in over ten years, I’d recognized my own flesh and blood.
    “I fucking lost her,” he growled into his phone. “Meet me at the pier in fifteen.”
    He hung up, still searching with his eyes. When he turned toward the nook I thought my heart would jump out of my chest, but I held my breath and remained as quiet as a corpse. For a moment I thought he’d look into the dark hole we were hiding in, but he turned on his heel and left. Why would my brother do this to me? We waited a few more minutes before either of us moved a muscle. Hunter checked both sides of the hall, ensuring the threat had passed, before he let me out of the nook.
    “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
    “Scar tried to rob me. I need to call the detective.”
    “Grace, by the time the police get here he’ll be long gone.”
    “He went to the pier.”
    “And how many piers are there in Manhattan?” He pushed the elevator button.
    “Too many. Hunter, you don’t seem surprised he was there. That was my brother.”
    “That’s because I know him as well.”
    “What?”
    “It’s a long story, Grace. I’ve been tracking some of his unlawful activities. Let’s get upstairs first.”
    We had already passed the entrance into my building, where the tight security would not let non-residents through. Once the elevator door had closed and I’d pushed my floor, I breathed out in relief. No one got on the elevator without a pass.
    “He knows where I live. My brother wants to rob me, or kill me—I don’t know what he wants and why.” I leaned my head back against the glass wall and closed my eyes. My migraine only intensified. “I don’t know what to do.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
    “How?”
    “The only thing I can think of is to do what I’m good at. I need to see your home computer and the one you had at the salon.”
    “I’m pretty sure that was smashed.”
    “It doesn’t matter if it was. If the hard-drive is intact I can work with it.”
    “Frankie brought more boxes to my apartment this morning. I think I have the computer there.” The elevator door dinged and opened.
    “Good, then I guess I’m staying over.”
    I turned the key to my apartment and pushed the door open. Setting my bag of tampons and batteries on the kitchen counter, I clicked the kettle on. “Coffee? Tea?”
    “Coffee. I think this may be a long night. Here.” Hunter pulled on my hand and led me down to the couch. He grabbed my feet, removed my shoes, then lifted them onto the cushion. “Take care of your headache first, and I’ll take care of the rest.” Within a minute I had an ice pack on my forehead, a pillow underneath my head, and a pill to swallow in my hand. Moments later the smell of coffee drifted around the room. Hunter had made me a tea the way I had asked and started looking through the boxes I pointed him toward.
    “What were you doing in the building?”
    “I was on my way to see you.” He lifted a black bag he’d been carrying with him. I peeked inside to find some sort of concoction in a jar. “It’s my mother’s recipe. Emma told me you weren’t feeling well. I thought this could help.”
    “Thank you, that’s very thoughtful