Page 113 of Ensnared

Idiot.

Bored,Iconsider the truck.I’mgoing to have to move that thing into the clearing beside the barn soIcan dismantle this washing machine again properly.IfIdecide it’s worth the effort.

Thelethal look onJasper’sface eases as he watchesLucky.

“Shetold me she was spending the day working withJaykob,” he murmurs, then his face sharpens again.Adark brow crooks as he addresses me, “MayIassume that she told you she was spending the day withLucien?”

Thatpulls me from my inspection of the truck.

Huh.Soshe’s a sneak.

“Wait.Wait, what?”Luckyshoves off the car. “Areyou saying shelied?”

“AndhereIthoughtIwas the slow one,”Imock.

Wherethe fuck would she have gone?

“Thatstupid little girl,”Jasperhisses. “She’sgone afterDominicandBeaumont.”

Hestalks out of the barn, and we both follow on his heels.Jasper’salways been better at the leaps in logic.Butdamn.Myheart rate picks up.DomandBeauare going to take out four hunters.Thisisn’t a hiking trip.

Hell, she probably didn’t even manage to follow them.Shecould be lost.Thereare tons of treacherous trails in those woods, and wild animals, and other hunters.Itgets cold out.It’llbe night soon.Didshe even think to bring a jacket?

Imean... it’s nothing personal or anything.Obviously.Butshe’s like a kitten.Idon’t want to see a kitten get hurt either.Mighthave grown up rough, butI’mnot a complete asshole.

Notall the time, anyway.

“Whydidn’t you realize she was gone?”Isnarl, feeling dizzy. “There’recameras all through here.Outsidethe barn, the kitchen, the cave—”

Jasperstops sharply inside the glass sliding doors and then pushes into the kitchen. “Shewas in here earlier.”

Impatient,Ishrug. “Yeah, she made me breakfast.”

“Shemade you breakfast?”Luckyshoots me a disgruntled look.

There’sa piece of paper on the counter.Snaggingit,Iread the short note.

Goodmorning!

Atleast,Ihope it’s morning when you get this.Ifnot,I’mso sorry.IassumedLuckywould go to the kitchen because he never stays out of here and... well, it doesn’t matter.I’vedecided to helpDomandBeauwith the cameras.Don’tworry,I’mused to the woods andI’vebrought everythingIneed.I’llcatch up with them soon, so please, there isNOreason to come after me.

I’llsee you when we get back!

Lotsof l

Warmregards,

Eden

Stomachdropping,Ihand the note toLucky, who skims it with a groan and passes it toJasper.Heglances at it, then crumples the paper between his fingers.Takinga deep breath through his nose, he smooths it back out and puts it in his pocket.

“ItseemsDomwas right.Edenis in dire need of discipline.”Icystalactites drip from his words.

Iroll my eyes at him even as my own panic sets in. “Sheain’t a prisoner.Shecan leave whenever she wants.”

Jasper’supper lip curls. “She’sgoing to get herselfkilled.”

He’sso tense,Ibrace myself, wondering if he’s dumb enough to take a swing at me.Theshrink might be good at a lot of things, but brawling ain’t one of them.

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