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In the distance, the bellowing of bullfrogs could be heard. I loved that sound, and I would never grow tired of it. I’d mostly grown up in Chicago, a bustling city that was always too loud to hear sounds of nature like frogs or insects. But I had early memories of life in Mexico, before my family moved to the U.S., when we lived a more rural life. I had always yearned to step away from the city one day but being in the financial sector it seemed like it might be hard to do. But then the opportunity for The Gilded Peak presented itself, and I jumped on it.
I meandered on the walkway, taking my time to enjoy the perfect weather and the sights and smells. I worked a lot—too much some might say—so when I could take a chance to enjoy the place without the hustle and bustle, I did just that.
A sound caused me to stop in my tracks.
Was that a scream?
I knew there was a cottage nearby, so I listened to make sure it wasn’t just someone getting a little freaky in the privacy of their own room.
More screams.
They didn’t sound like they were enjoying themselves. It sounded like a fight.
I took off running toward the sound of the yelling and ended up at the doorway to a cottage.
“Get out!” A woman’s voice screamed.
I knocked on the door. “Staff—is everything okay in there?”
“No, Hunter. You need to leave, now.” I heard from inside.
I knocked again and spoke louder this time. “Staff, is everything okay?”
I fumbled in my pockets for my keys as a male voice shouted back at her though I was unable to make out what he was saying. I didn’t like entering guest’s cottages without their permission—it was their own private space—but based on the yelling and the woman telling him to leave I was considering doing just that.
Luckily the door swung open before I had to use my key. I stared into the eyes of the woman I had hoped would meet me at the pool. Snow. Her cheeks were flushed with anger though I knew it wasn’t directed toward me. She held the door open and pointed outward. “Now, Hunter.”
Her voice trembled just slightly but I picked up on it.
I raised my voice. “Sir, if she’s asking you to leave you need to leave,now.”
“We’re just role talking,” a voice growled back. A man stepped into view, placing his hand on the door as if trying to close it. Snow held a firm grip and I placed my foot against the door so there was no way he could force it closed.
“May I talk to her, please?” I asked.
“There’s nothing to talk about. He needs to leave, now,” Snow said.
Hearing those words caused my blood to boil. Did he break into her room?
“You need to come with me,” I said.
I had a feeling this was the man Reed had warned us about—Hunter Wilde. The one causing Snow so much trouble.
He tried to push past me, and when that didn’t work, he raised his fist, hitting me square in the jaw. I grabbed his arms and shoved him against the wall. Footsteps came from behind me, and Gage’s voice growled, “I knew you were going to be trouble.”
I stared into his dark eyes, holding him there even as he struggled to break free.
“You’re not going anywhere except off this property.”
“She let me in her room, we were just having some fun.” Hunter said.
“I didn’t let you in here, asshole,” Snow said from the couch. “You snuck in.”
Hunter grinned at me and said, “How is that even possible if the rooms are so secure? Things just got a bit rough and now she’s acting a little freaked out because of it. I assure you that everything was consensual.” Hunter looked so fucking smug. Clearly he thought I might see some logic in his ridiculous statement, take his word over Snow’s.
“He stole my bracelet!” Snow shouted.
“Gage, please make sure he is handled,” I snarled, releasing Hunter over to Gage, who I knew would make sure he was no longer a problem for any of us, but especially Snow.
