Page 25 of Mine To Hunt

“He mocked Ree’s address.” Maddie continues, anger creeping back into her voice. “Like it was some kind of joke.”

She presses her fingers harder into her temples. “Said abuse and stalking are‘normal’where she lives.”

The words taste bitter even when repeated.

“He wouldn’t even take the report. And when I called my dad…” Maddie exhales sharply. “Well… He told me to ditch her and protect the family reputation.”

I feel a small stab of guilt twist in my chest.

“Hung up like I was asking him for a kidney.”

For a moment the line stays completely silent. Then Al swears. A sharp, furious sound. “What the hell?”

His voice has lost all warmth now, replaced with something colder. “That’s bullshit.”

A faint shuffling sound comes through the speaker, like he’s already moving. “Which station?” He asks. “I’ll drive down there right now. I’ll make a scene big enough to get them audited.”

Then his tone softens slightly. “Ree… you okay?”

Another pause. “Mads, you need backup?”

I open my mouth to answer, but my phone buzzes in my lap, the vibration sending ice through my veins.

Unknown number. Always the same game. My hands shake as I unlock it, the message popping up stark and final.

‘You shouldn't have gone to the police. Let’s see who laughs when everyone enjoys watching you.’

Chapter 8

Her

Igrip the edge of Maddie's passenger seat as we pull into St. Alden car park, my knuckles turning white against the leather. The morning sun filters through the windshield, but it does nothing to warm the chill that's settled deep in my bones since that text last night.

The stalker's words replay in my head like a broken record. I didn’t sleep after showing it to Maddie, her face draining of color as she read the message and immediately told me to keep it as evidence. She promised we’d figure it out today.

But figuring it out feels impossible when every glance at my reflection reminds me of that hidden camera, capturing moments I thought were mine alone.

Maddie kills the engine and turns to me, the silence after her father’s call still ringing in the air. Her jaw tightens, then softens as she looks at me, that fierce concern back in place like armor.

“Ree?” She says gently. “You’ve been quiet the whole drive.”

I stare at my hands. The way they won’t stop trembling.

“I know last night was hell,” she continues, softer now, “but we’re here. This place, being out, it’ll ground you. And if anyone stares funny, I’ll handle it. Pepper spray and a monologue ready to go.”

A breathless almost-laugh slips out of me, sharp and brittle. I force a smile, but it feels like cracking glass on my lips. “I’m okay, Mads. Really. Just… tired.”

She doesn’t buy it. She never does.

“That text has me jumping at shadows.” I add, my voice dropping. “What if he wasn’t bluffing? What if it’s already out there?” The words hang between us, thick and ugly. Fear coils tighter in my chest, stealing the air from my lungs.

Maddie reaches over and squeezes my hand hard, grounding, solid. Real.

“Then we shut it down.” She says immediately. “IT, campus security, whatever it takes. We keep pushing until someone listens.”

I swallow. “Your dad said…”

“I don’t care what he said.” She snaps, then reins herself in. “You heard him. Reputation, optics, blah blah billionaire nonsense. He’s wrong.”