Page 83 of Billionaire Unreachable: Wyatt

I didn’t see any woman but her, much less want to fuck someone else.

Then again, I wasn’t sure how I’d react if she’d done the same thing to me. I probably would have lost my shit if she’d taken off in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. I would have wanted to go with her wherever she was going and help her solve whatever problem she had.

Is that what she’d wanted to do by asking so many questions? Had she wanted to help?

I’d seen the legitimate concern on her face for my well-being, and then I’d turned around and rebuffed that concern by being a jackass.

“It might help to give her a call,” Chase mused. “Even if you really can’t tell this story on the phone.”

I shook my head. “It’s something that needs to be explained face-to-face, and it’s going to take time. She’s with her family right now. And I did try to call her. She’s not picking up.”

“She’s probably still flying,” Tori suggested in a much gentler voice. “Go home, Wyatt. Get some sleep. You’re allowed a mistake or two. If you tell Shelby as soon as possible, she’ll understand.”

Chase and I were starting a slew of international meetings tomorrow that would last for days, so we were taking the day off to catch up on our sleep.

“I’d feel better if I was there with her,” I said tersely. “She wouldn’t take my security with her, and I’m not comfortable with that.”

“You don’t think Kaleb will make sure she’s safe?” Chase asked.

“It’s not that I doubt that his intentions are good, and I’ve warned him to keep an eye on her, but no one seems to think she could be in danger because it’s a small town. He thinks she’s safe there,” I said tightly.

“And you don’t?” Cooper questioned.

I shook my head as I pushed my empty plate away. “There’s a lot of people in Montana who could hold a grudge against her because of what her ex-husband did. I have a bad feeling about Shelby being caught out alone anywhere. She’s been constantly guarded or with me physically since the break-in. There hasn’t been an opportunity for anyone to make a move, and I’d prefer they didn’t have one now. My gut isn’t feeling right on this one. I’m not sure if it’s true gut instinct or if I’m too personally involved to tell the difference between concern and gut instinct.”

Gut instinct had kept me and my team alive more than once, and I tried to never discard that feeling that something wasn’t right.

However, I’d never had to listen to my gut when a target was someone I cared about as much as Shelby.

“Marshall mentioned earlier that he has a small lead,” Cooper said. “Yeah, it’s one of many, and the others haven’t panned out, but maybe he’ll have something once he’s investigated it.”

I lifted a brow. “Yeah, but in the meantime, Shelby is in Montana without security in a town where everyone thinks nothing bad can happen there.”

“I get it,” Chase agreed. “We’ve all been around the block enough to know that bad things can happen anywhere. We don’t know this possible stalker’s motives. You’re right. It could be someone who wants to get back at her in Montana. It makes sense. Maybe they know she’s going to be there for that annual picnic, which is why nothing has happened again here. How secure is Kaleb’s place and her aunt’s ranch?”

I’d already checked into that, and they definitely weren’t secure enough for me. “They have regular home security systems but that’s about it. No security cameras, and no secure entry gates. The properties are too easily accessed for my peace of mind. The picnic is Saturday, and from what I understand, practically the whole damn town is there, but that also means that Kaleb, Tanner, and Devon will all be there to watch out for her.”

“The last of the meetings is the Sunday morning breakfast meeting,” Chase reminded me. “Take off early if it makes you feel better.”

That wasn’t a bad idea. I was going to give Shelby enough time with her family before I went to pick her up, but I didn’t think Kaleb would mind if I dropped in on him at the last minute. “I might take you up on that,” I answered. “I could be in Montana by Sunday afternoon instead of Tuesday.”

It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than worrying longer about Shelby’s safety.

Cooper stood, “I’ll take care of the bill on the way out. My wife looks like she’s about to go face down in her empty plate.”

I nodded, noting that Tori did look exhausted.

Hell, we were all wiped out from little sleep and the dangerous op we’d managed earlier.

Tori rose and walked directly over to me. “Everything will be okay, Wyatt,” she said softly as she leaned down and hugged me. “Shelby has more common sense than most people I know.”

I hugged my little sister back, even though she’d raked me over the coals only a few minutes ago.

I couldn’t blame Tori for standing up for a friend, especially when I’d been an asshole.

She hugged Chase as well. “Both of you go home and rest,” she insisted.

“On our way,” Chase said as we both rose from our seats. “Vanna is a little worried because none of us slept much, but I really needed some food.”

---