Page 80 of Drive me Wild (South Island Shifters)

I shake my head. “No, that was my boyfriend’s brother. Seems he has gone missing and is nowhere to be found.”

“Go home! You’re going to be no good here today. Go and be with his family. I’m sure they’ll find him and soon.”

“Thanks, Pietra. I’ll work overtime one day for this,” I say.

She nods, but I know she won’t expect me to. I do enough overtime already and hardly ask for time off for myself. I exit her office and make my way into the staff room, where I find Mary and Lorraine.

“What happened?” Mary asks, rushing over to hug me.

“Declan’s missing,” I say.

“Oh, sweetie. If there is anything we can do, please let us know,” Mary says.

“Thanks.”

“I’m not meant to be working today, but you go, and I’ll cover the rest of your shift,” Lorraine offers.

I give her a sad smile. “Thank you.”

“Now go!” Mary grabs my things, and they march me out the door.

Heading to my car, my mind explodes with wild ferocity of all sorts of scenarios. Not nice ones either.Don’t think like this, woman!You’ll find him and bring him home. Perhaps he’s gone out for a drive somewhere?

I get in my car and make the journey to the housing estate, hoping that by the time I arrive, Declan might turn up alive and well, with some lame excuse along with his cheeky grin, making me mad for a moment, then forgetting all about it in the next.

Please be there.

* * *

DECLAN

I jerk awake, my entire body stiff and achy. I take a few moments to allow my eyes to adjust. I’m in a dark room. The air stinks like rotten meat making my stomach swirl, and bile rises in my throat. Looking around, I can make out shapes but have no clue what they are.

Where the fuck am I?

I try to move, only to discover I can’t. Looking down, I see I’m chained around my wrists and ankles. Anger boils within me as I try to shift to break the chains, but nothing happens.

Damn, these must be made of pure silver.

I exhale, trying to calm myself down while racking my brain to figure out what I last remember.

I left the rest home concerned for my mother and her health, thinking I needed to get hold of Zane and fast. I got into my car and was about to drive off when Scarlett tapped on my window. Then I was poked with a needle.

What was in that needle? I have no idea. I remember waking briefly last night, but she stuck me again, and everything faded into black.

My body burns as if fire has been pumped into my veins.

What the fuck has she given me?

I try to focus my mind on getting in touch with Winter. While I’m battered and bruised, I need her to know that I am okay. Though I have no idea where I am, I can’t help her find me, but I could still reassure her that I am alive. I should’ve paid more attention when Winter told me about her doubts about Scarlett. Now, I may never see her again.

Fear replaces the burning sensation as my heart beats harder. The sound of a lock unbolting catches my attention, but I bow my head, pretending to still be unconscious.

High heeled shoes come into my field of vision, but I keep my head down.

“How is my patient doing today? Do we need some more medicine, or are you willing to give me what is mine?” Her voice is so familiar. Scarlett’s? I snap my head up, and sure enough, I am staring at her.

I’m confused, unsure of where I am or how I came to be here. All I know is that I don’t have a good feeling about this right now.

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