Page 36 of Her Convict Wolf

I grab a set of clothes from the bedroom, and I let my beast emerge.

* * *

An hour later,I’m in my SUV. Emory did exactly what I would’ve done in the same situation. She left the vehicle in a prominent location, and the key fob was in the first place I looked. As frustrated with her as I am right now, love and admiration floods through me. She’s so goddamn smart, my girl.

Now, to work out where she’s gone. I’m guessing she’s arranged to meet a contact of hers someplace anonymous. But the trial is being held in Brunswick, so I head to the town, knowing she’ll be there sooner or later.

I send her a text message:

Travis is out. I’m on my way to you now, baby.

Then I set my phone to auto-dial her number every five minutes.

The first time it rings out again, but then she calls me back.

“Maxim?” Her voice is so hesitant, my heart aches. I don’t want her to feel nervous about speaking to me, ever. “I’ve got to do this. Please don’t try and stop me.”

“Emory, you might as well pull over. I’ll be with you soon.”

She’s silent for a moment. “You have no way of tracking me.”

“You sure about that?” I growl.

“Yup.”

Darn.She’s right. I should’ve put a tracking app on her phone. But I didn’t want to cross the line from possessive to stalker.“You gonna tell me where you’re going now?”

“Nope. Because if I do, you’ll come and kidnap me,” she says, almost cheerfully.

She knows me too well. Knows there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her.

“Emory, this is crazy. Do you realize that?”

“I have to do it, Maxim. I can’t let my father get away with this.” Her voice is quiet but firm, and once again I’m in awe of her guts.

“But you’ve suffered, too. So much. You’re one of the victims here.”

“I’m still alive, though,” she mutters.

“I’m coming for you. This is as dangerous as hell. Please, tell me where you are, and I’ll come pick you up, take you back home.”

“Maxim, if you do that, they’ll pick up your brother in minutes. You want him back in jail?”

I swallow hard. Truth is, I can’t stand the thought of Travis having this little taste of freedom then being dragged back to jail. It’ll kill him. But I also can’t stand the thought of Emory suffering anymore.

“This is for my mom as well,” she continues. “I’m pretty sure my father had her killed.”

I stop breathing. Because when I was working for the Manzoni family, I developed the same suspicion.

“I have to do this, for all those people, and my mom. Please try to understand that.” She releases a long sigh. “I love you so much. Trust me, every part of me wants to just turn this car around and drive straight back to you. But I couldn’t live with myself if that evil asshole walks free, after intimidating or hurting all those other witnesses.”

I’m silent for so long that she says, “Maxim?”

“I’m going to bring you something, okay? Something to help you with the case. When I’ve got it, I’ll call you.”

“Okay.”

“You’re going someplace safe, right?”

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