Page 30 of Bait Wolf
“Because I don’t give a fuck about you,” Everest joked.
They pretended to glare at each other for a moment before the faked heat faded. What was left in their eyes in the exchanged gaze spoke volumes.
They always were close. Had grown up together and everything. As far as I could tell, they were basically brothers at this point. Nothing would get in between them.
“Really though,” Seymour said, “how are you two? It must be tough dealing with this shit while you have your new mate waiting for you at home.”
“I think he’s happy to be with me now that we’ve spent some time together,” I admitted. “I really didn’t want to leave his side... It’s been a bit overwhelming.”
Seymour patted my shoulder as the elevator door opened.
“Well, let’s see if Mr. P.I. can’t fix things for us.”
I didn’t like the fact that I was ready to hire someone. The money spent on this P.I. could be put toward paying for Asha and Ember, but when I really thought about it, I would be damned if I gave those gangsters a cent. Asha was mine. They stole her. As far as I was concerned, they’d be lucky to receive anything other than a beating. The same went for Ember. They didn’t deserve to get paid for the hell they had put him through.
Jaw set, I followed them down a narrow corridor until we slowed to a stop in front of a thick wooden door.
Alistair Alvy P.I. was the name etched into the plaque.
The man himself, when the secretary let us into his office, turned out to be a beta of medium build with medium brown hair and a plain face. He wore glasses and a suit that looked like it was well-loved based on the threads hanging at the wrists. He didn’t look very impressive, but maybe that was the point.
“I’ll find her,” he said as soon as I explained the situation. “I have no doubt of that.”
His confidence sent a buzz of hope through my chest.
“How soon?” I asked.
“Can’t say for sure,” Alvy said, “but probably a couple of days, max. I’ve been keeping tabs on the Belkin brothers on and off for other clients. I know their habits and where to start watching from.”
He checked his watch.
“I can start today. They’ll be at their usual haunt for a Saturday. All I’ll need is a down payment and the papers filled.”
Part of me couldn’t believe itcouldbe that easy, but Everest gave me an excited thumbs up, and Seymour seemed to really trust the guy or he wouldn’t have brought me here.
I nodded.
“Deal.”
Alvy pulled out a questionnaire and went through the details with me: what Asha looked like, what she was wearing the last time I’d seen her, and any other information I had. I told him about how they had taken her around town and let her watch movies. Just because it didn’t seem like she was having a bad time, didn’t change anything. I was angry and scared to have her out of my sight.
“And when I find her, what would you like me to do? Alert the authorities?”
I shook my head at once.
“No. Just let me know the second you find out. I’ll go get her, and I’ll deal with the assholes keeping her with my own two hands.” And my claws, my fangs. I would destroy them and leave whatever shreds remained of their bodies as a warning to the rest of the gangsters.
Everest’s hand landed on my shoulder, comforting me.
“Alright, I’ll be in touch soon with any updates.”
When we stood to leave, I reached out and shook the detective’s hand.
“Thank you,” I said.
My world was out of alignment, but if Asha could be brought home and if I could come to some kind of stalemate with the gangsters then there would only be one other matter to deal with. Ember’s freedom from the fight league.
It was so frustrating. I felt like I was on the cusp of true contentment, balancing on the edge, unable to let go without everything falling apart.
