Page 25 of Wanted

I didn’t even need for her to confirm it. I knew exactly what happened,and for the first time that evening I wasn’t going to fight it. I was suddenlydrained. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed and wait for a new day.

I snatched my things from her hands and stalked toward the frontdoor. Or should I say stumbled toward the front door.

We were in the back of a cab two minutes later. Resting my headagainst the seat, I caught movement in my peripheral vision. Alexa was textingsomeone, and I knew it wasn’t Braden. Taking a chance, I blurted out, “Tell himI said to go to hell,” before turning to look out the window.

She didn’t say anything in response as we drove toward home.

~17~

Alek

Holy fuck, she is infuriating!I had half a mind to go over to her place, throw her over my knee and give herthe spanking she deserved. I was losing my patience. I was trying my best,trying to be the man she needed me to be, but I was struggling.

My phone chimed with a message from Alexa, letting me know theywere in a cab and on their way home. After what Sara had insinuated, I lost it,but instead of saying something I would later regret, I simply hung up on her. ThenI texted her friend. Thankfully, she was in agreement, ushering Sara from theclub immediately. I was grateful she had someone close to her to look out forwhen I couldn’t be there.

The more thought I gave it, the more I knew I had to engage theservices of my good friend, Calvin. He was the one person I trusted over theyears to watch over Sara whenever I couldn’t. He owned his own P.I. firm and hewas the best at what he did. It wasn’t much of a challenge watching her beforebecause she lived a pretty sheltered life, especially after what had happened.

It was even easier now because she was walking around with atracking device in her phone, one she agreed to have.Thankfully, she carried it everywhere withher. It was how I found her at Throttle, even though it wasn’t a hard guess,seeing as how I knew both of them loved the place. From her responses, she waseither too drunk to figure out how I’d tracked her or she’d simply forgotten itwas on her phone. Either way, I wasn’t reminding her.

Thankfully, Calvin answered on the second ring.

“Alek. How the hell are you? It’s been a while since I’ve heardfrom you. Everything all right?”

Calvin Herdsman was based in California. He’d done a lot oftraveling for me over the years, but luckily he wouldn’t have far to go withthe new assignment.

“Depends on what you mean by ’all right’.” I allowed a briefmoment of silence to linger between us before speaking again. “I need your helpagain, friend. The woman, Sara Hawthorne, the one you were helping me out withbefore? Well, I need you to look out for her for a few days while I’m away onbusiness.”

“Whatever you want, man. Youknow I’ll be there to help you. Does she still live at the same address?” Iheard him shuffling through some papers, no doubt trying to find the file hekept on her.

There was another pause before I answered. “No, she up and movedto Seattle about a year ago.”

“She did?” he asked, sounding confused.

“Yeah. I’ve been able to keep an eye on her, but I have to goaway for business and would feel better knowing you had my back while I’mgone.” I didn’t want to divulge all the details of our recent relationship. Theonly thing I wanted to hear from him was that he would drop everything to helpme out. I knew it was short notice, but I’d pay him whatever he wanted if itmeant her safety and my peace of mind. I wasn’t so crazy this time aroundbecause Samuel was no longer a threat, but to be safe I wanted an extra pair ofeyes on her.

“Okay, yeah, sure. When do you want me to be there?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Damn, Devera, nothing like giving me some notice.” Heblew out a breath of air before continuing. “Okay, let me move some stuffaround and I’ll be there in the morning.”

“Great. I’ll send you all the details.”

“Sure thing. Talk to you later.”

A wave of relief washed over me after we’d hung up. I needed tostart making the transition back to the way I handled things before.

Before I’d made the best and worst decision of my life.

Before, for my own selfish reasons, I walked into her shop anddrew her into my world.

I texted Sara to let her know I was leaving early the next dayand would be away for a week. I’d initially thought it would only be three daysbut more issues arose with the new building plans. I also informed her I wouldbe back late Friday and would see her then.

She didn’t text me back. I wasn’t surprised.

~~~~

It’d been four days since I last had any communication with Sara,and it was weighing heavier on me than I thought it would. But I couldn’tbreak. I had to be strong.

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