Page 14 of Dubious Match
“It’s a public city block,” I mutter, pulling my knife from between my breasts. It’s a lot longer and sharper than most would expect it to be, and it took some time before I was able to ensure that I wouldn’t cut myself when drawing it out.
Holding eye contact with the kids on the street who have to be maybe nineteen, I draw my tongue up the flat side of the knife where I know I won’t cut myself. Their eyes begin to widen with fear and they push each other to run away.
“All better,” I murmur, knowing my voice sounds a bit creepy. It’s better if Pack Ledger thinks I’m crazy.
“I think I just fell in love,” Malcolm groans.
Well, a girl can dream. Unlocking the door, I push open the door.
“I hope I’ve suitably explained now that I’m more than capable of taking care of myself,” I say, pushing the door open. “Goodnight, gentlemen.”
Each of the alphas say goodbye, but they stare for way too long before they walk away from me. The hand holding the knife starts to shake, so I hand it to Caleb who is standing next to me now.
“What the fuck was all of that about?” he asks.
“Get your shit, Hollis. You can tell us at the bar,” Lars says.
“I mean, I’m closed tonight, that works for me,” Caleb says. “If it wasn’t, I’d kick everyone out. This looks serious.”
“Grab my bag for me, Lars?” I ask, catching his gaze as my legs threaten to dump me on my ass.
“Yep,” he grunts, picking up my large messenger bag for work and sliding in my laptop and cell phone. “Anything I’m missing?”
“The giant ass binder,” Caleb says. They’re in sync together as Caleb walks back inside to turn off all of the lights and set the alarm.
I know how to arm their security at their businesses as well as at their homes. That’s the kind of best friends that we are. I haven’t had a chance to see them in at least a month, but they called to tell me they may have found Alisa.
Now, I have to explain the giant fuck up that happened. Cian could probably do it, but he told me so I could rip the bandaid off instead. Gently, with booze and pastries.
“Did you walk here?” I ask, my voice starting to fade from stress.
“Yeah, I’ll drive your car over to the bar,” Caleb says, fishing my keys out of the bag that Lars is holding.
“Thanks,” I say, forcing myself to keep moving. Now that Pack Ledger is gone, I feel as if I just lost another piece of myself.
I feel as if I’m floating in a sea of pain, and the only thing I can do is continue to move. Caleb locks my office door, his hand clamped on my elbow as he hits the key fob to find my car. I don’t even have to say anything because the lights flash before we’re walking that way.
“You’re hiding shit from us,” Lars grunts.
“Hush,” his brother reprimands. “Wait till we’re in the car. I’m waiting for someone to yell at me for practically dragging her down the sidewalk. This looks like a kidnapping.”
“Hardly,” I tease him. “Kidnappings don’t have booze and treats.”
“This conversation is going to require treats…” Lars drawls. “Swing me by the bakery, big brother. Have you had any real food yet, Hollis?”
“Negative,” I say, getting into the back seat as Lars pushes in with me. “Why aren’t you sitting up front?”
“Easier to get answers and maybe give you a hug if necessary,” he says gruffly.
Dropping my head back, I nod as Caleb pulls away from the curb.
“I didn’t call you to talk about my shit,” I say, feeling air starved. I’m trying so fucking hard to dull this feeling that I should track Pack Ledger down, so I can tie them to bedposts and fuck them.
This is why I regularly buy toys from their company. It keeps my sex drive in check.
“I know, because whatever just happened isn’t something you could have known about,” Caleb says. “How about we deal with your shit first. We may need to be pretty drunk for you to tell us about Alisa.”
“You know?” I squeak out, my anxious spiking hard.
