Free Exposed - Part Two (The Exposed Series, #2) by Deborah Bladon Page A

she's no longer standing next to me. Panic rushes through me. There are so many people in the room. It's so noisy and I'm alone. I wish I could find Hunter. I need to ask someone where he is.
    I push my way away from the bar towards one of the open windows near the street. I pause when I see a flash of red hair in the crowd. I recognize the hue. That's the same red hair that Coral had in the picture.
    I maneuver my way towards her and I'm rewarded with the silhouette of a woman near the window. She turns to face me and I instantly can see the distinctive curve of her nose. This has to be Christina. She must be Coral's sister.  It would make sense that she'd be here. Hunter is like family to her family.
    "Excuse me," I say quietly hoping she'll turn. She stands silent, her gaze cast to the street.
    "Miss." I tap her on the shoulder and it causes her to jump.
    "Yes?" Her voice is lovely. She's regal. The deep blue dress she's wearing highlights the color of her eyes.
    "I'm looking for someone." I try to level my voice. This has to be the woman Hunter told me about. She knew and loved Coral.
    "Who might that be?" The way she pulls her gaze over my body suggests she doesn't think I measure up to her. He did say she was pretentious. He was right.
    "Hunter Reynolds."
    She raises her left brow before she laughs. "You're not one of those, are you?"
    "One of what?" I try to hold onto my composure. Hunter wasn't kidding when he said she was difficult. I haven't been speaking to her for more than a minute and I can already feel her displeasure in my disturbing her.
    She inhales sharply. "One of those people who still calls him by that wretched nickname. He hasn't been Hunter since high school. "
    "Nickname," I whisper. Hunter is his nickname?
    "Do you know where he is? He's handling the launch of the restaurant, isn't he?"
    "This restaurant?" She furrows her brow in confusion. "We've been open for months."
    "This isn't a launch party?" I scan the room searching desperately for any sign of Hunter. Maybe that note in his pocket had nothing to do with his job. Maybe I've stumbled into a private party for Coral's family.
    "What's your name?" she asks without any reservation in her tone.
    "Sadie."
    "You're Sadie? The Sadie?" Her voice is louder now and I can see people turning to look at us through the corner of my eye.
    "Sadie Lockwood." I offer.
    Her gaze falls from my face to my chest. Her eyes are glued to the top of my scar. "He brought you here for me, didn't he?" She pulls her hand to cover her mouth. "Are you the surprise he promised me?"
    I can't understand what she's saying. "Am I what surprise?"
    "My engagement present." She reaches to touch my chest and I pull back sharply. I look behind me for Alexa. I want to go. I can't do this. I don't understand what's going on.
    "You have Coral's heart." Her voice cracks as she says her sister's name.
    "You're Christina, aren't you?" I ask even though I already know the answer.
    "He told you about me?" She smiles brightly.
    I can only nod in agreement. I feel as though I've stepped into an alternative universe.
    "You are my present." She pulls me into a tight embrace. "Zander promised us he'd find you before the wedding and he brought you to our engagement party. Wait until my mother sees you."
    The light above us catches on her diamond ring, just as she gasps loudly. "Zander, you're finally here..."
    She rushes towards the doorway and I take the reprieve from her to once again scan the room behind me. I have to find Alexa. I need to leave before Hunter gets here.
    "Zander, you don't know what this means to me." Christina's voice rises above the low hum of the room. "I love you so much. It's so perfect you brought her here."
    My eyes leave the crowd as I turn to look at her once again.  My gaze slowly snakes up her back to settle on her head. She's embracing a man tightly. My legs give out as his eyes lock on mine.
    It's Hunter.
    Her Zander, the man she's marrying, is my Hunter.

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