Page 163 of Haze

Deacon scratches his nose with his palm. “Probably the mall. But there are a few other courses she frequents to change it up during the winter. Call and ask if she’s there?”

“Deacon, where?” I snap at him, frustrated.

This cryptic speak and half answers aren’t helping what I’m feeling. Why the fuck did she turn off her phone?

“Oh, you’re hopeless. Here.” Deacon sits up and scoots his butt against the wall.

He starts scrolling through his phone. It’s a second longer than I have patience for, and it finally rings.

“Putput and Gogo, this is Matt.” An over-enthusiastic man answers the phone.

“Hey Matt, it’s Deacon. Is Lena there?”

There’s common familiarity in the conversation.

“Uhhh... Yeah, looks like she’s here. Don’t make me go get her. She got really mad last time.” His tone changes to nervousness.

“Nah, that won’t be necessary. Can you tell how many games she bought?” Deacon seems to know exactly what to ask.

He’s done this before.

“Uhhh two, on the eighteen-hole course,” Matt answers with a long pause. “She just got here. Second hole.”

“Cool, thanks.” He hangs up.

“Where?” I jingle my keys.

I’m so ready to go and find her. What the fuck is she thinking leaving alone?

My wolf paces inside. There’s no telling who has access to her, and the media has made it clear they’re not concerned with her privacy if they turned up at her work.

Deacon shakes his head. “You go down there now, she’ll blow up. And get mad at Matt. Then she won’t go back there for a while, so you’ll be chasing her around the Twin Cities to different courses.”

“What do you propose I do then?” I snarl.

Deacon, per usual, doesn’t even seem intimidated. He truly has no fear of anything.

But the brother of my mate takes pity on me. “Go back to your apartment, Finn. Break into her place, steal her favorite sweatpants and shirt. Then leave her a note and take them to your place. Toss the clothes in the dryer. Then if you’re fast, cook a meal or order in comfort food. She’ll be back at her apartment about three hours from now. When she gets back, listen. Because after mini-golf, she’s usually ready to talk.”

Deacon’s step-by-step instructions feel like he’s said these words before.

The glutton for my own call for violence presses the words out of my lips. “How many men have you taught this trick to?”

“You really don’t know her at all,” Deacon repeats the sentiment. He slides himself up the wall before standing. “Lena doesn’t date. She fucks and dumps. I’m telling you this because Cade likes you. Her favorite pj’s are the ones that are almost falling apart and are super soft.”

“I don’t know what I’ve done wrong,” I admit, hanging my head.

He’s done nothing but help me. Deacon doesn’t deserve the tone I’ve taken with him.

“She’ll tell you, once she gets over the breaking and entering.” Deacon sighs as he stumbles a bit.

I go to catch him, but he doesn’t fall. “You okay, Deacon?”

Laughing, he stands up, shaking his head. “Oh, and Finn, just because Cade won’t threaten you...” His voice goes hauntingly dark. His wolf’s dark eyes come forward, punctuating his point. “Hurt my little sister and some bodies from your past won’t stay buried. Ghosts are chatty, they’ll help me make sure you find an early grave. Count on it.”

Out of respect, I drop my head. “I understand.”

Maybe the fight with Deacon was a little too easy on purpose.

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