Page 12 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

My trembling fingers dial the emergency number, and I quickly explain my growing unease about her sudden disappearance and the fact that she has been missing for a couple of days.

“Who did you say you left her with?” I can hear the judgment from the officer taking my statement.

“A bartender. I think his name was Jake.”

“And where is this Jake guy?” he asks.

“I am not sure.”

“Ishemissing?”

“I am not sure, sir. I just spoke to her neighbor, who says she never came home after that night, and that’s why I called.”

The voice on the other end of the line is quiet for a few seconds before he asks me to provide the name of the club and the descriptions of Alyssa and Jake so they can look into it. I give him the information, and our call is complete.

Fear and frustration gnaw at my insides. I can’t sit idly by and do nothing while fearing the worst for Alyssa. The slow-moving authorities have me determined to take matters into my own hands. She’s all I have, and I’ll find her myself if I have to.

I hate myself for letting so much time go by without noticing she was gone.

The first place I head is to the bar where we celebrated that night. It feels bittersweet walking in now. The owner, a stocky man with a thick beard, recognizes me as soon as I walk in.

“Jayda?”

“Jade,” I correct him,” Hey.”

“How can I help you today, sweetheart?”

“Actually, I’m looking for my friend, Alyssa. The girl I am always with. We were here on Sunday night, and I left her with the bartender…”

“You mean Jake?”

“Yes. Have you seen either of them since Sunday?”

The owner’s brow furrows as he studies me, a mixture of concern and curiosity in his eyes. He takes a deep breath as if preparing to deliver unwelcome news. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but Jake hasn’t shown up for work since Sunday.”

The weight of his words presses down on me, and I struggle to maintain my composure. Alyssa and Jake are both absent, and a growing sense of dread that I can’t shake. I take a deep breath, trying to push past the fear and uncertainty.

“Did anyone see them leave that night?” I ask, my voice quivering despite my best efforts to sound composed.

“Not that I know of.”

“Do you know where Jake lives? Or where can I find him?”

The owner rubs his beard thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for a hidden answer. “I’m not sure. He never had his papers, so I never pushed,” he finally admits. “But there may be some regulars who saw them leave together. That would be your best bet.”

I nod, grateful for any lead, no matter how small.

Chapter 4

Gabriel

My office feels like a fortress of solitude, a place where I can retreat from the chaos of the world outside. Yet, within these walls, I’m haunted by the unsettling presence of Jade. Her employment file lies open on my desk. After the incident in the conference room, I keep thinking about firing her, but that seems petty, even for me. I don’t want to draw any more attention to whatever this is between us, either.

No. I need something more concrete to get her out of my company.

I scrutinize the gaps in her years of employment. It’s a seemingly innocuous piece of information, but if we did a background check and it came back questionable, it would be a way to let her go without raising any alarms or risking a lawsuit.

I lean back in my plush leather chair, triumphantly. That’s it!

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